or אַשּׁוּרִי; from a patrial word of the same form as אַשּׁוּר; an Ashurite (collectively) or inhabitant of Ashur, a district in Palestine; Asshurim, Ashurites.
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **ʼĂshûwrîy**, represented by `{{H805}}`, refers to an **Ashurite** or an inhabitant of Ashur, a district in Palestine. It is used collectively to describe this people group. This term is rare, appearing only **2 times** in **2 unique verses** in the Bible, but each instance provides a distinct context for understanding who the Ashurites were.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The two biblical appearances of `{{H805}}` place the Ashurites in both a genealogical and a political context. First, in Genesis, they are identified by their lineage as the **Asshurim**, listed as one of the sons of **Dedan** `{{H1719}}`, who descended from Jokshan [[Genesis 25:3]]. Later, in the book of Samuel, the **Ashurites** are mentioned as a distinct territory over which a king was made, alongside other well-known regions like **Gilead** `{{H1568}}`, **Jezreel** `{{H3157}}`, and the tribes of **Ephraim** `{{H669}}` and **Benjamin** `{{H1144}}` [[2 Samuel 2:9]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help clarify the identity and role of the Ashurites:
* `{{H1719}}` **Dᵉdân**: Defined as "Dedan, the name of two Cushites and of their territory," this is the direct patriarch of the Asshurim, establishing their ancestral line [[Genesis 25:3]].
* `{{H4427}}` **mâlak**: This verb, meaning "to reign; inceptively, to ascend the throne," is used to describe the action of making a king over the Ashurites, defining their status as a political entity within a larger kingdom [[2 Samuel 2:9]].
* `{{H1568}}` **Gilʻâd**: As a "region East of the Jordan," the mention of Gilead alongside the Ashurites helps to situate them geographically as part of the territories consolidated under a single ruler [[2 Samuel 2:9]].
### Theological Significance
The significance of `{{H805}}` lies in how it defines a people through both ancestry and geography.
* **Patriarchal Lineage:** The reference in [[Genesis 25:3]] anchors the Ashurites within the broader table of nations, identifying them by their descent from a specific patriarch, **Dedan** `{{H1719}}`. This establishes their ethnic and familial identity.
* **Territorial Significance:** The mention in [[2 Samuel 2:9]] elevates the Ashurites from a mere name in a genealogy to a recognized political and geographical entity. They were a people with a land, considered a component of the kingdom of **Israel** `{{H3478}}` at that time.
### Summary
In summary, **ʼĂshûwrîy** `{{H805}}` provides a concise identity for a specific biblical people group. Though its use is limited, it effectively illustrates how scripture defines peoples through two critical lenses: their place in the genealogical record of nations and their role as a distinct territory on the political landscape of ancient Israel.
TRV