The name (
Hebrew characters) is now generally regarded as a geographical designation,
identical with the Ḫaru of the Eg. monuments (Müller, AE, 137,
149 ff., 240; Jen. ZA, x. 332 f., 346 f.; Schw. ZATW, xviii. 126; Mey.
INS, 330 f.), The older theory that the name is derived from (Hebrew characters) and
means 'cave-dwellers,' is not necessarily discredited by this identification.
Even if the Ḥorites were a stratum of population that once
covered the region from the Egyptian frontier to the neighbourhood of
Damascus, there still seems no reason why they should not have been
largely an old troglodyte race, from whom the country derived its
name.
The Classification.—According to 20f. 29f. there were seven main branches of the Ḥorites in Se'ir, represented by Loṭānān below], Šôbāl, Ẓib'ôn, 'Ănāh, Dîšôn, 'Ēẓer, and Rîšān (see below). Of these, however, 'Anah and Dišon reappear as subdivisions of Ẓib'on and 'Anah respectively. The duplication has been explained by supposing that parts of these tribes had amalgamated with kindred branches, and thus came to figure both as sons and grandsons of the original ancestor (Di. Gu. al.). It is more likely that 'Anah and Dišon were at first subordinate septs of Ẓib'on (so Mey. 341); that they came into the list of 'allûphîm (29f.) as heads of clan groups; and, finally, obtained a primary position amongst the 'sons' of Se'ir. The relationship as thus reconstructed may be exhibited as follows:
(a) Lôṭān (Timna'). (b) Šôbāl. (c) Ẓib'ôn. (d) 'Ēẓer. (e) Rîšān.
| | | | |
Ḥōrî, Hēmām. 'Alwān, 'Ayyāh, 'Ănāh, Bilhān, 'Ûẓ,
Mānaḥat, | Za'ăvān [Zû'ān], 'Ărān.
Êbāl, Dîšôn [Ya]'ăkān.
Šĕphô, (Oh[)o]lîbāmāh),
'Ônām. |
Ḥemdān, 'Ešbān,
Yithrān, Kĕrān.
The Names.—(a) (Hebrew characters) is plausibly connected with (Hebrew characters) (also a cave-dweller,
1930), who may have been originally an ancestral deity worshipped
in these regions.—Philologically it is interesting to observe the
frequency of the endings -ān, -ōn in this list, pointing to a primitive
nunation, as constrasted with sporadic cases of mimation in the
Edomite names.—(Hebrew characters) (v.22)] The occurrence of the national name (v.20) as
a subdivision of itself is surprising. Mey. (339) suspects confusion with
another genealogy in which Lôṭan figured as ancestor of the whole
Ḥorite race.—(Hebrew characters) (1 Ch. (Hebrew characters), G Αἱμάν)] cf. (Hebrew characters), 1 Ki. 511, 1 Ch. 26, Ps. 891.—(Hebrew characters), strangely introduced as the 'sister' of Lôṭan, is the same as the concubine of Eliphaz (v.12): probably interpolated in both places.—(b) (Hebrew characters) (Σωβάλ)] also a Kalebite tribe settled in Ḳiryath-Ye'arim, incorporated in Judah (1 Ch. 250. 52 41f.). The name was connected by Rob. Sm. with Ar. šibl, 'young lion.' Ar. ش ought to be (Hebrew characters) in Heb.; but the objection is perhaps not final in a borrowed name (but see Nö. ZDMG, xl. 168; Gray, HPN, 109).—(Hebrew characters) (1 Ch. (Hebrew characters), G Γωλών, Γωλάμ, etc.)] cf. (Hebrew characters), v.40; otherwise unknown.—(Hebrew characters)] It cannot be accidental that in
