Mount Seir refers to the mountainous region within Seir, often associated with the Edomites (Deut. 1:2; 2:1, 5; 1Chr. 4:42; Ezek. 35:2, 3, 7, 15).
Also known as Mount Seir
Mount Seir is a specific mountain or mountainous region within the larger area of Seir, which was inhabited by the Edomites. It is mentioned several times in the Bible, often in the context of the Israelites' interactions with the Edomites during their wilderness wanderings and later in their history.
Mount Seir is first mentioned in the book of Deuteronomy, where it is described as an eleven-day journey from Horeb (Sinai) by way of Mount Seir to Kadesh-barnea (Deut. 1:2). The Israelites were instructed to turn away from Mount Seir and pass through the territory of their brothers, the descendants of Esau, without provoking them (Deut. 2:1, 5).
During the reign of King Jehoshaphat of Judah, the Moabites, Ammonites, and some of the Meunites came against Judah by way of Mount Seir (2Chr. 20:10, 22, 23). However, God caused these enemies to turn against each other, resulting in their defeat and the deliverance of Judah.
The prophet Ezekiel also delivered oracles against Mount Seir, declaring God's judgment against the Edomites for their hostility towards Israel (Ezek. 35:2, 3, 7, 15). This judgment would result in the desolation of Mount Seir and the recognition of God's sovereignty.
The specific location of Mount Seir within the region of Seir is not clearly defined in the Bible. However, its association with the Edomites and its strategic importance in military campaigns suggest that it was a prominent and well-fortified area within the mountainous region of Seir.
Approximate location: 30.735, 35.606 · view on a map · on the Bible atlas
11 verses in 4 books · English text: BSB (change it from the menu at the top) · Strong’s H8165
It is an eleven-day journey from Horeb to Kadesh-barnea by way of Mount Seir.
Then we turned back and headed for the wilderness by way of the Red Sea, as the LORD had instructed me, and for many days we wandered around Mount Seir.
Do not provoke them, for I will not give you any of their land, not even a footprint, because I have given Mount Seir to Esau as his possession.
And five hundred of these Simeonites led by Pelatiah, Neariah, Rephaiah, and Uzziel, the sons of Ishi, went to Mount Seir
And now, here are the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, whom You did not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt. So Israel turned away from them and did not destroy them.
The moment they began their shouts and praises, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir who had come against Judah, and they were defeated.
The Ammonites and Moabites rose up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, devoting them to destruction. And when they had finished off the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another.
“Son of man, set your face against Mount Seir and prophesy against it,
and declare that this is what the Lord GOD says: Behold, I am against you, O Mount Seir. I will stretch out My hand against you and make you a desolate waste.
I will make Mount Seir a desolate waste and will cut off from it those who come and go.
As you rejoiced when the inheritance of the house of Israel became desolate, so will I do to you. You will become a desolation, O Mount Seir, and so will all of Edom. Then they will know that I am the LORD.
Names, family links and references: STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Short descriptions were drafted with AI assistance by STEPBible. Family links follow STEPBible’s scholarly decisions where genealogies are ambiguous.