ASHURITES . One of the tribes over whom Ishbosheth ruled ( 2 Samuel 2:9 ). The name is clearly corrupt, for neither the Assyrians ( Asshur ) nor the Arabian tribe Asshurim ( Genesis 25:3 ) can be intended. The Pesh. and Vulg. [Note: Vulgate.] read ‘the Geshurites,’ whose territory bordered on that of Gilead ( Joshua 12:5; Joshua 13:11 ), and who might therefore be suitably included here. It has been urged, however, against this view, that Geshur was an independent kingdom at this time (cf. 2 Samuel 3:3; 2 Samuel 13:37 ), so that Ishbosheth could not have exercised control over it. We should probably read hâ-Ashçri ‘the Asherites,’ i.e. the tribe of Asher (cf. Judges 1:32 ).