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Mount Seir: The Importance of Mountains in the Bible

9/25/2019

18 Comments

 
There are at least forty different mountains mentioned in the Bible. Some appear several times and others only once. The majority of these are written about in the Old Testament and have helped scholars to map out the locations of Biblical characters, towns and cities. To most of us, however, the names of these mountains mean very little. Borderlines change and mountains become part of different regions; they get renamed. Rock falls, volcanoes, and erosion may have changed the shape or obliterated some of the Biblical mountains. So, where are these mountains today? Do they still exist? Let’s have a look.
 
One of the first mountains written about in the Bible is Mount Seir. “And the Horites in their mount Seir, unto Elparan, which is by the wilderness.” (Genesis 14:6, KJV) The Horites were the aboriginal inhabitants of the area during the life of Abraham. Elparan was a city and harbour by the Red Sea. 
 
The next we hear about Mount Seir is in Genesis 36:8-9 where “Thus dwelt Esau in mount Seir: Esau is Edom. And these are the generations of Esau the father of the Edomites in mount Seir:”
 
One thing we need to be aware of is the Hebrew Bible mentions “Mount Seir” and the “land of Seir.” We can assume the mountain is in the geographical region of Seir, south of the Dead Sea. Mount Seir was named after Seir the Horite, whose offspring inhabited the area. We also know from Genesis 36 that Esau, the son of Isaac, made Seir his home.
 
Mount Seir still exists today, however, it is known by its Arabic name, Jibāl ash-Sharāh. Rather than being a single mountain, the name Mount Seir refers to a mountainous region stretching from the Dead Sea, which lies between Jordan and Israel, and the Gulf of Aqaba, at the northern tip of the Red Sea. Deuteronomy 1:2 tells us that there was an eleven-day journey between Horeb (also known as Sinai) via Mount Seir to Kadeshbarnea, on the border of Canaan. 
 
The next notable mentions of Mount Seir are written in 1 and 2 Chronicles:
  • 1 Chronicles 4:42 (KJV): And some of them, even of the sons of Simeon, five hundred men, went to mount Seir, having for their captains Pelatiah, and Neariah, and Rephaiah, and Uzziel, the sons of Ishi.
  • 2 Chronicles 20:10 (KJV): And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and mount Seir, whom thou wouldest not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them, and destroyed them not
  • 2 Chronicles 20:22-23 (KJV): And when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten. For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another.
 
1 Chronicles 4 contains a list of the sons and descendants of Simeon and the places they inhabited. Verse 42 tells us that some of them went to mount Seir, which is where the Simeonites lived after annihilating the remainder of the Amalekites, who had escaped there. The Amalekites were one of the Biblical enemies of Israel and had been defeated in a previous battle. 
 
Later, as recorded in 2 Chronicles 20, the people living in Seir, the Edomites, joined the Ammonites (a Semitic-speaking nation on the east of the River Jordan) and Moabites (a nation in Jordan) to fight against Jehoshaphat, the King of Judah. As verses 22-23 record, God intervened, causing the Edomites, Ammonites and Moabites to destroy each other instead of the king.
 
Since Mount Seir is also a mountainous region, some versions of the Bible use the name as an alternative for Edom, i.e. the land of the Edomites. The prophet Ezekiel mentions Mount Seir four times in a record of one of his visions from God. In Ezekiel 35:2-3 (KJV), God tells the prophet to “set thy face against mount Seir, and prophesy against it” and say, “O mount Seir, I am against thee, and I will stretch out mine hand against thee, and I will make thee most desolate.”The Edomites “had a perpetual hatred, and hast shed the blood of the children of Israel by the force of the sword” (35:5), therefore, God is punishing them by making them desolate.We do not hear what becomes of Mount Seir after this. 
 
Earlier in the Bible, Joshua 24:4 (KJV) mentioned Mount Seir: “and I gave unto Esau mount Seir, to possess it; but Jacob and his children went down into Egypt.” There is also another verse in the book about mount Seir; however, it appears to be in a completely different location. Confusing!Joshua 15 speaks of a Mount Seir in the northern region of Judah near a city called Hebron, which is now in the south of Jerusalem. Today, this mountain can be found near the modern town of Sa’ir in the west of the Palestinian territories. Could the reference to Mount Seir be an error due to its similarity to Sa’ir? We will never know for sure.  
 
Just for fun, I have found a list of all the reasons for Seir/Edom’s destruction:
  1. Edom's violence against Jacob, his brother. (Obadiah 1:10) 
  2. Edom was an enemy of Judah at the time of their destruction. (Obadiah 1:11)
  3. Edom gave assent to the judgment on Judah. (Obadiah 1:12) 
  4. Edom rejoiced at Judah's downfall. 
  5. Edom spoke proudly in the day of the distress of Judah.  
  6. Edom entered fallen Jerusalem as an enemy to take a spoil. (Obadiah 1:13) 
  7. Edom looked on the affliction of Judah in the day of calamity.
  8. Edom laid hands on the substance of Judah when they were defeated.  
  9. Edom stood at the crossways to kill those of Judah that would escape. (Obadiah 1:14)
  10. Edom delivered up captives of Judah to be destroyed. 
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18 Comments
Dena A Behringer
10/23/2020 11:49:15 am

Very helpful and well written article. Thank you.

Reply
Nutan Siony
3/1/2021 07:16:02 am

Thank you
I love historical and Biblical significance of a places and some mountains and some trees do not easily change its location for years.

Thank you for your facts and your insights in such great details

Reply
James
1/23/2022 09:53:22 am

Details about mount seir is useful and wondering the nature of history of the mountseir. Thank you for giving useful details for preachers.

Deborah
2/11/2023 09:36:10 am

I was reading Ezekiel this day. I was curious about the location of Seir. Imagine my joy to find your information. It made today’s journey come alive and I thank you for that blessing. Deborah

Jane Magiri Zachariah Kirianki
7/27/2021 07:45:38 am

I see in others ancient Maps Jerusalem appered to be in Africa but not where its show in this map.

Reply
Mariette
12/13/2021 02:36:09 pm

Great historical and spiritual insight into Mnt Seir. Found it very interesting and helpful. Thank you!

Reply
Edward Fairfax
5/30/2023 04:46:41 am

Thank you the great insight and information. This has been a great help with my Bible study.

Reply
Kathy
3/9/2021 06:07:59 pm

Interesting article! In BSF, we are studying Genesis. I read Chapter 36 about Esau’s descendants, saw “the hill country of Seir” and was curious about this place. The last question asked what stood out in the life and family of Esau? Your article further illuminated that. Thank you!

Reply
Deb
9/7/2021 07:45:10 am

Thank you for this information, it’s very helpful with my Bible studies.

Reply
Jacklin Mushi
9/27/2021 11:14:01 am

Thank you for this awesome article. I was doing my morning Bible devotion and I came across some verses and place’s that mentioned mount seir and Edom, and want to know where. who resides in these location now days. The info was helpful thanks. Jackie M

Reply
K Wiggan
10/27/2021 06:14:44 am

I was reading the book of Ezekiel in my morning devotional and became curious about this region and place called “Edomite” of “Mt. Seir”. I searched the other biblical references as well but your article definitely provided insight to understanding the connection and meaning of this region. Thank you.

Reply
Chuck Lowell
11/19/2021 12:03:35 pm

Reading this morn re Mt. Seir and Edom in Ezek. Thank you for your informative article.

Reply
Marilyn Apple
1/2/2022 12:30:31 pm

I came to this article because I have been watching a documentary about Petra. The assertion is that Mt Seir is the same as Petra.
Do you agree?

Thank you and God bless your ministry.
Marilyn Apple

Reply
Susie
2/27/2022 07:04:11 am

Thank you for your insights on Mount Seir/Edom! My question has to do with actual vs traditional site of Mount Sinai/Horeb and is: if Mount Seir is around/between southern Dead Sea area and northern Red Sea area - why would the Israelites have that option if supposedly Mount Sinai is in Sinai peninsula instead of in Arabia as Galations mentions??? and Kadesh is west of Mt Seir area??? referring to Deut. 1:2 . Wouldn't that be totally out of their way. (I get the 40 yr wandering-so question is not about that). I keep thinking the maps in my Bible are based on traditioin & not facts...?

Reply
William Phillips link
3/8/2022 09:11:02 pm

https://youtu.be/XObk07uabLI

Check out this Documentary on the Exodus and Moses. (Potential new Geographical finds). It may help poiny you in the right direction and understand Moses path to Isreal from Egypt!!

Reply
Richard L Miller
5/18/2022 07:23:56 am

I will try to help on your question. When the Israelites left Egypt, Moses was trying to take them to the mountain in Midian where Moses had met the Lord at the "burning bush." Because Pharaoh was pursuing the Israelites to destroy them, God had Moses turn and lead the people through a canyon that lead to Nueva Beach on the Gulf of Aqaba. The water is only about 1200 ft deep there and the ocean bottom is sand all the way across. Remnants of Pharaoh's chariots are still there to this day on the ocean floor. There is a mountain in Saudi Arabia in the area previously called the Land of Midian called Jabal al Lauz, or something like that (sorry, no map in front of me) where Moses met God at the burning bush and where God gave Moses the 10 Commandments. Upon discovering the significance of this location, the Saudi government promptly put a fence around the area advising "No Trespassing" to any would-be visitors. Hope that helps clear up your questions about locations. Our Bible maps don't always have things correctly labeled. By the way, one of the most infamous individuals to come out of this region was Herod who killed the babies in Bethlehem. God takes a dim view of those who kill babies. Thankfully, there's forgiveness in Jesus.

Reply
Sistem Informasi link
4/10/2023 11:44:43 pm

What's interesting about Mount Seir? has anything ever happened there?

Reply
Benjamin ngugi kenya
8/2/2023 02:10:38 am

Very helpful an eye opener keep it up

Reply

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    Author

    Rev'd Martin Wheadon
    I have been ordained as a minister since 2001, working on my own and within a team. I was the minister at Gants Hill URC until 30th September 2021. I also have 34 years of banking behind me, during which I enjoyed developing teams and working to deadlines. Pastoral care, preaching, being alongside people and journeying with members of congregations on their spiritual journeys are my delights. 

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