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Bible Encyclopedias
Emim
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
or (Hebrews Eynim', אֵימַים , terrors; Sept. Ο᾿μμαῖοι and Ο᾿μμείν; Auth. Vers. "Emims"), a numerous and warlike tribe of the ancient Canaanites, of gigantic stature, defeated by Chedorlaomer and his allies in the plain of Kiriathaim; they occupied, in the time of Abraham, the country east of the Jordan, afterwards possessed by the Moabites (Genesis 14:5; Deuteronomy 2:10-11). (See CANAAN). An ingenious writer in the Jour. of Sac. Lit. (April, 1852, page 55 sq.; January 1853, page 296) argues, but upon rather slender grounds, that their original title was Shittim, and identifies them with the Chetta so often referred to in the Egyptian inscriptions. It would appear, from a comparison of Genesis 14:5-7 with Deuteronomy 2:10-12; Deuteronomy 2:20-23, that the whole country east of Jordan was, in primitive times, held by a race of giants, all probably of the same stock, comprehending the Rephaim on the north, next the Zuzim, after them the Emim, and then the Horim on the south; and that afterwards the kingdom of Bashan embraced the territories of the first; the country of the Ammonites, the second; that of the Moabites, the third; while Edom took in the mountains of the Horim. The whole of them. were attacked and pillaged by the Eastern kings who destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. (See REPHAIM). The Emim were related to the Anakim, and were generally called by the same name; but their conquerors, the Moabites, termed them Emimthat is, "Terrible men" (Deuteronomy 2:11) — most probably on account of their fierce aspect. (See ANAKIM).
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McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Emim'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/e/emim.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.
