Deuteronomy 2:12
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This verse draws a direct parallel between Esau's dispossession of the Horites and Israel's future conquest of Canaan. It subtly highlights that the "possession" God gave Israel was not merely a grant of land, but a divinely ordained process of taking what was already occupied, just as it had been for Esau. This comparison serves as a powerful encouragement, showing that God's actions for His people often involve displacing others to fulfill His promises.
The Horites also lived in Seir formerly, but the people of Esau dispossessed them and destroyed them from before them and settled in their place, as Israel did to the land of their possession, which the LORD gave to them.)
English Standard Version (ESV)
As Israel journeys towards the promised land, Moses recounts the history of peoples who previously inhabited the territories they will soon encounter. He first explains how Esau's descendants dispossessed the Horites from Mount Seir, and this narrative serves as a precedent for how Israel will take possession of their own promised land. This sets the stage for the prohibitions against troubling the Moabites and Ammonites, who also came to possess lands formerly held by others.
Ever wonder how nations rise and fall, and who gets the land? This verse shows a pattern that spans centuries.
The Bible often records historical shifts in land ownership. Here, we see the descendants of Esau taking over the land of Seir from the Horites.
A Pattern of Succession
This isn't just a historical footnote; it's meant to show that land can change hands through conquest and settlement, and that God is sovereign over these movements.
Whose land is it anyway? This verse suggests a divine hand in who occupies the earth.
The text emphasizes that God is the ultimate giver and determiner of land. Both Esau's possession of Seir and Israel's future possession of Canaan are framed as gifts from the LORD.
Divine Appointment
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It's a reminder that human history, including territorial changes, unfolds under God's sovereign rule.
Facing a daunting future? Moses reminds Israel of God's track record.
Moses uses the successful displacement of the Horites by Esau as a precedent to encourage the Israelites. If Esau, a nation not chosen in the same way as Israel, could dispossess an existing people, then Israel, with God's direct promise and command, should be emboldened to take the land of Canaan.
Learning from History
It’s a way of saying, 'Look at what has happened before; God has done this. He will do it for you too.'
Understand the original words
yārash · Hebrew Verb
To drive out, dispossess, or take the place of another people, often through conquest or divine providence. In the context of Israel, this denotes the Lord giving land previously occupied by other nations to His people.
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The personal name of the God of Israel, the covenant-keeping Creator who reveals Himself to His people. He is the sovereign orchestrator of history, justice, and redemption.
This verse draws a parallel between the Edomites taking the land of Seir from the Horites and Israel's future possession of Canaan, highlighting a pattern of divine providence in land distribution.
c. 18th century BC
Horites live in Seir
The Horites, an ancient people likely dwelling in caves, inhabited the mountainous region of Seir before the arrival of Esau's descendants.
c. 15th century BC— this verse
Esau's descendants settle Seir
The descendants of Esau, also known as Edom, dispossess the Horites and establish their own kingdom in the land of Seir.
c. 1446-1406 BC
Israelites wander in the wilderness
After their exodus from Egypt, the Israelites spend 40 years wandering in the wilderness, approaching but not entering the lands of Edom and Moab.
c. 1406 BC
Israelites cross the Zered
The Israelites cross the Zered Brook, marking the end of their 38-year period of wandering and the beginning of their advance into the territory east of the Jordan River.
This passage describes the initial blessing of Esau and his brother Jacob, foreshadowing the eventual displacement of peoples like the Horites by the descendants of Abraham, which is the context for Deuteronomy 2:12.
Numbers 21:21-30This account shows the Israelites directly dispossessing the Amorites, paralleling the action of Esau's descendants (and later Israel) in claiming lands previously inhabited by others.
Joshua 24:11-13This passage directly references the conquest of lands by Israel, including the expulsion of peoples, reinforcing the theme of God giving land to His people, as mentioned in Deuteronomy 2:12.
Jeremiah 49:7-11This prophecy speaks of Edom's pride and eventual downfall, highlighting the divine judgment that can lead to the displacement of peoples and the transfer of land, echoing the dispossession described in Deuteronomy 2:12.
Psalm 136:17-22This psalm recounts God's mighty acts in giving land to Israel, specifically mentioning the defeat of powerful kings and the possession of their land, which aligns with the principle of divine enablement for land acquisition seen in Deuteronomy 2:12.
gillDeuteronomy 2:12: "The Horims also dwelt in Seir beforetime; but the children of Esau succeeded them, when they had destroyed them from before them, and dwelt in their stead; as Israel did unto the land of his possession, which the LORD gave unto them."
The Horims also dwelt in Seir before time,.... Which is the name of a mount, and so of the country, from it; so called from Seir the Horite, who dwelt in it before it was possessed by Esau and his sons; but who the Horim or Horites were, from wh…
clarkeDeuteronomy 2:12: "The Horims also dwelt in Seir beforetime; but the children of Esau succeeded them, when they had destroyed them from before them, and dwelt in their stead; as Israel did unto the land of his possession, which the LORD gave unto them."
The Horims also dwelt in Seir - The whole of this verse was probably added by Joshua or Ezra.
This verse draws a direct parallel between Esau's dispossession of the Horites and Israel's future conquest of Canaan. It subtly highlights that the "possession" God gave Israel was not merely a grant of land, but a divinely ordained process of taking what was already occupied, just as it had been for Esau. This comparison serves as a powerful encouragement, showing that God's actions for His people often involve displacing others to fulfill His promises.
As Israel journeys towards the promised land, Moses recounts the history of peoples who previously inhabited the territories they will soon encounter. He first explains how Esau's descendants dispossessed the Horites from Mount Seir, and this narrative serves as a precedent for how Israel will take possession of their own promised land. This sets the stage for the prohibitions against troubling the Moabites and Ammonites, who also came to possess lands formerly held by others.
As Israel journeys towards the promised land, Moses recounts the history of peoples who previously inhabited the territories they will soon encounter. He first explains how Esau's descendants dispossessed the Horites from Mount Seir, and this narrative serves as a precedent for how Israel will take possession of their own promised land. This sets the stage for the prohibitions against troubling the Moabites and Ammonites, who also came to possess lands formerly held by others.
"The Horites also lived in Seir formerly, but the people of Esau dispossessed them and destroyed them from before them and settled in their place, as Israel did to the land of their possession, which the LORD gave to them.)" — This verse draws a direct parallel between Esau's dispossession of the Horites and Israel's future conquest of Canaan. It subtly highlights that the "possession" God gave Israel was not merely a gran…
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Last reviewed October 2026
