Genesis 36:20 - Esau's neighbors' lineage revealed

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Hebrew Text

אֵלֶּה בְנֵי־שֵׂעִיר הַחֹרִי יֹשְׁבֵי הָאָרֶץ לוֹטָן וְשׁוֹבָל וְצִבְעוֹן וַעֲנָה׃

English Translation

These are the sons of Se῾ir the Ḥorian who inhabited the land; Lotan, and Shoval, and Żiv῾on and ῾Ana.

Transliteration

Eleh venei-Se'ir haChori yoshvei ha'aretz Lotan veShoval veTziv'on va'Ana.

Hebrew Leining Text

אֵ֤לֶּה בְנֵֽי־שֵׂעִיר֙ הַחֹרִ֔י יֹשְׁבֵ֖י הָאָ֑רֶץ לוֹטָ֥ן וְשׁוֹבָ֖ל וְצִבְע֥וֹן וַעֲנָֽה׃

Parasha Commentary

Context in Sefer Bereishit

The verse (Bereishit 36:20) lists the descendants of Se'ir the Chori, who inhabited the land of Edom before the children of Esav took possession of it. This genealogy appears in the Torah to establish the lineage of the indigenous inhabitants before Esav's descendants displaced them (Rashi on Bereishit 36:20).

The Identity of Se'ir the Chori

Se'ir was a prominent figure whose name became associated with the mountainous region of Edom. The term "Chori" (הַחֹרִי) refers to the cave-dwelling inhabitants of the land, as the word is linguistically connected to "chor" (חור), meaning "cave" (Ibn Ezra on Bereishit 36:20). The Midrash (Bereishit Rabbah 82:14) notes that they were called "Chori" because they were freeborn (from the root "chorin," חורין), distinguishing them from slaves.

The Sons of Se'ir

Lotan (לוֹטָן): Rashi explains that Lotan was the father of Timna, who later became a concubine to Elifaz, son of Esav (Bereishit 36:22). This connection shows the intermingling of these families.
Shoval (שׁוֹבָל): The name may derive from "shovel" (שׁוֹבֶל), meaning "a flowing stream," possibly indicating a connection to water sources in their territory (Radak on Bereishit 36:20).
Tziv'on (צִבְעוֹן): The Talmud (Bava Batra 115b) identifies Tziv'on as the father of Aya, who was also connected to Esav's lineage (Bereishit 36:24). Some commentaries suggest that Tziv'on was a skilled hunter, as his name relates to "tzvi" (צבי), meaning "deer."
Anah (עֲנָה): Anah is noted for discovering "yemim" (יֵמִים), which Rashi interprets as mules (Bereishit 36:24). The Midrash (Bereishit Rabbah 82:15) debates whether this was a positive or negative discovery, as it involved crossbreeding animals.

Historical Significance

The Torah details these lineages to clarify the transfer of land ownership from the Chorim to the descendants of Esav, fulfilling the prophecy given to Rivka (Bereishit 25:23). The Ramban (on Bereishit 36:20) emphasizes that these records affirm the divine promise that Esav's descendants would inherit Se'ir, as later confirmed in Devarim 2:12.

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is not quoted in the Talmud.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who were the Horites mentioned in Genesis 36:20?
A: The Horites (חֹרִי) were an ancient people who lived in the land of Seir before the descendants of Esau conquered it. Rashi explains that they were called 'Horites' because they lived in caves (from the Hebrew word 'chor' meaning cave). They were eventually displaced by Esau's descendants as recorded later in Genesis 36.

Q: Why does the Torah list the sons of Seir the Horite?
A: The Torah lists these details to provide historical context about the land that would become Edom (through Esau's descendants). Ramban explains that these genealogies show how the land transitioned from the Horites to Esau's family, fulfilling God's promise that Esau would inherit Mount Seir (Deuteronomy 2:5).

Q: What is the significance of listing names like Lotan and Shoval in Genesis 36:20?
A: While these names might seem unimportant, the Talmud (Pesachim 54a) teaches that every detail in the Torah has significance. These names help establish the historical record of the region that would become Edom. Additionally, some Midrashim connect these names to later events - for example, Targum Yonatan identifies Zibeon from this verse as being the same person who appears later in the story of Judah and Tamar.