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Asshurites

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—Biblical Data:

A nation descended from Abraham and Keturah (Genesis 25:3). In prophetic literature the nation is mentioned as being engaged in making benches of ivory for Tyre (Ezekiel 27:6). The Asshurites in 2 Samuel 2:9can not refer to the same people as Genesis 25:3, or to the Assyrians. Either we have here a text corruption for Geshurites (Ewald, Wellhausen), or the name is to be explained according to Targum Jonathan as the Asherites.

—In Rabbinical Literature:

The Palestinian exegetes consider Asshurim, and also Letushim and Leummim in the passage Genesis 25:3, to be appellatives of the nations recorded as the children of Dedan; and explain Asshurim as "merchants," or more exactly as "those who travel with their wares from place to place" ("ashur" = footstep). Similarly, Letushim are those who sharpen weapons, from "laṭash," to whet; Leummim are the chiefs of peoples ("leüm" = people), or island-inhabitants (Targumim on the passage Gen. R. 61:5). In the Onkelos passage, according to Jerome, ad loc., (for ) should be read (see Ginzberg, "Haggada bei den Kirchenvätern," p. 117).