This chapter details the genealogy of Esau, the brother of Jacob. It also details the genealogy of the inhabitants of Seir who occupied Seir before Esau and his descendants drove them out. These were known as the Horites. They were the descendants of Hori, the son of Seir. The Horites were of the aboriginals and were giants. Esau and his descendants were blessed of God to drive out the Horites and occupy the land of Seir as God gave this land to the Edomites: Deu. 2:5 “Meddle not with them; for I will not give you of their land, no, not so much as a foot breadth; because I have given mount Seir unto Esau for a possession.”

22 “And the children of Lotan were Hori and Hemam; and Lotan's sister was Timna.”

12 “And Timna was concubine to Eliphaz Esau's son; and she bare to Eliphaz Amalek: these were the sons of Adah Esau's wife.”

As can be seen by the above Timna was a Horite but she was also concubine to an Edomite. Amalek came of both the Horites and the Edomites. It was Amalek and his descendants that were continually in war against the children of Israel. It was the Amalekites that attacked the children of Israel in the wilderness.

The heads of the tribes of Edom and the heads of the Horites were known as Dukes. The name duke means a bull. The dukes were also called kings. There were eleven dukes listed in Edom and they were the descending sons and grandsons of Edom. There were seven dukes listed of the descendants of Hori.

Names of some of the descendants of Esau are found later in the scriptures and this chapter gives us a genealogical reference to those individuals.