Shephi, Shepho
Identity and Name Variants
Shephi and Shepho are two spellings of the same person, a descendant of the Horite clan chief Shobal. The form Shepho appears in Genesis 36:23, while the variant Shephi is used in 1 Chronicles 1:40. Both passages list him among the sons of Shobal, who was himself a son of Seir the Horite.
The Horite Peoples
The Horites were the pre-Edomite inhabitants of the mountainous region of Seir, located south and east of the Dead Sea. The name "Horite" may be related to the Hebrew word for "cave" or "cave dweller," suggesting they inhabited the many caves found in the rugged terrain of southern Jordan. Genesis 36:20-30 provides a detailed genealogy of the Horite clans, indicating they were a well-organized people with recognized chiefs and family structures.
Displacement by Esau's Descendants
According to Deuteronomy 2:12 and 2:22, the descendants of Esau (the Edomites) eventually drove out the Horites and settled in their land. This displacement paralleled what God did for Israel in giving them the land of Canaan. The detailed listing of Horite genealogies in Genesis 36 likely preserves the memory of these original inhabitants and helps explain the complex ethnic makeup of the region during the patriarchal and later periods.
Biblical Significance
The inclusion of Shephi and other Horite names in Scripture serves to document the peoples who inhabited the lands surrounding Israel. These genealogies provide context for understanding the relationships between Israel, Edom, and the pre-existing populations of the region. The intermarriage between Esau's family and the Horites (Genesis 36:2, 25) shows how the Edomite nation emerged from a blend of Abrahamic and Horite ancestry.
Biblical Context
Shephi/Shepho appears in Genesis 36:23 and 1 Chronicles 1:40 within the genealogies of the Horite inhabitants of Seir. These lists are embedded within the broader account of Esau's descendants and the peoples of Edom. The Horite genealogies in Genesis 36:20-30 document the original population that Esau's descendants eventually displaced.
Theological Significance
The record of Horite genealogies, including Shephi, demonstrates God's sovereign oversight of all nations, not just Israel. Deuteronomy 2:12 and 2:22 explicitly state that God gave the Horites' land to Esau's descendants, just as He gave Canaan to Israel. This shows that God directs the movements and settlements of all peoples according to His purposes (Acts 17:26).
Historical Background
The Horites of Seir are sometimes identified with the Hurrians, a major people group known from ancient Near Eastern texts. However, this identification is debated. Archaeological evidence from the region of Edom (modern southern Jordan) shows continuous habitation from the Early Bronze Age. The terrain of Seir, with its sandstone cliffs and numerous caves, matches the description of the Horites as cave-dwelling peoples.