Biblical Hebrew Forum

[JimStinehart AT aol.com]

Karl:
 
Genesis 33: 14 may enable us to confirm the geography.  Everyone, including 
Laban and Esau, knows that Jacob is naturally heading for his homeland of 
Canaan.  Esau might logically (though incorrectly) have guessed that Jacob 
was heading for the general vicinity of Jerusalem.  If so, then it would be 
logical for Jacob to go from Penuel south to Seir/Shar/Jazer in Gilead, 
before 
turning west to go into Canaan.  Esau well knows that Jacob is certainly 
not planning to drive his exhausted flock through the entire Transjordan 
south 
to a locale south of the Dead Sea, some 100 miles distant!
 
“[Jacob speaking to Esau:]  ‘Let my lord [Esau] pass on ahead of his 
servant [Jacob], and I [Jacob] will lead on slowly, at the pace of the 
livestock 
that are ahead of me and at the pace of the children, until I come to my 
lord [Esau] in Seir.’"  Genesis 33: 14 (ESV)
 
In chapters 32, 33 and 14 of Genesis, the Seir being referenced must be in 
Gilead.
 
Jim Stinehart
Evanston, Illinois