Original Word: אֲשׁוּרִי
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: Ashuwriy
Pronunciation: ah-shoo-REE
Phonetic Spelling: (ash-oo-ree')
KJV: Asshurim, Ashurites
Word Origin: [from a patrial word of the same form as H804 (אַשּׁוּר אַשּׁוּר - Assyria)]

1. an Ashurite (collectively) or inhabitant of Ashur, a district in Israel

Asshurim, Ashurites

Or iashshuwriy {ash-shoo-ree'}; from a patrial word of the same form as 'Ashshuwr; an Ashurite (collectively) or inhabitant of Ashur, a district in Palestine -- Asshurim, Ashurites.

see HEBREW 'Ashshuwr

אַשּׁוּרִם proper name, of a people, plural an Arab tribe traced back to Abraham & Keturah Genesis 25:3 compare Di.

אֲשׁוּרִי adjective, of a people ׳הָא as collective noun 2 Samuel 2:9, but read perhaps הַגְּשׁוּרִי q. v., compare also We Dr; Köh Klo and others read הָאָֽשֵׁרִי & compare Judges 1:32.

אַשְׁחוּר see שׁחר.

Biblical Occurrences

The term appears twice in the Old Testament and in both instances is rendered “Ashurites”.
• Genesis 25:3 records, “Jokshan was the father of Sheba and Dedan. Dedan’s descendants were the Ashurites, the Letushites, and the Leummites.”
• 2 Samuel 2:9 states that Abner “made him king over Gilead, over the Ashurites, over Jezreel, over Ephraim, and over Benjamin and over all Israel.”

Genealogical Significance in Genesis

The Ashurites are first introduced within the genealogy of Abraham through Keturah. Their placement under Dedan positions them among a cluster of Arabian tribes associated with commerce and caravan routes that stretched from northern Arabia to the Levant. By including them in the sacred genealogy, Scripture confirms that every branch of Abraham’s family fulfills the divine promise that he would be “the father of many nations” (Genesis 17:5). Although not in the covenant line of Isaac, the Ashurites nevertheless bear witness to God’s expansive faithfulness: nations outside Israel’s theocratic center are still known, numbered, and providentially situated by the Lord.

Political Context in 2 Samuel

Centuries later, the name surfaces in the volatile transition between the house of Saul and the rising dynasty of David. Abner, seeking regional support for Ish-Bosheth, installs him as king “over the Ashurites.” The grouping of Gilead, Jezreel, Ephraim, and Benjamin alongside the Ashurites suggests a people living east or northeast of the Jordan, contiguous with Gilead. Their inclusion under Saul’s heir highlights their strategic relevance; control of trans-Jordanian tribes secured the eastern approaches to the land and the lucrative trade corridors running toward Babylon and Arabia. Thus, what began as a genealogical footnote in Genesis becomes a significant element in Israel’s royal power struggle.

Historical and Geographical Insights

1. Near-Arabian Orientation: The Genesis context points to an Arabian connection, distinct from the great Mesopotamian Assyrian Empire.
2. Trans-Jordanian Presence: The 2 Samuel reference implies a settlement area adjacent to Gilead, perhaps migrating northward over time or representing a separate clan that shared the ancestral name.
3. Commercial Networks: Both Dedan and Sheba—relatives of the Ashurites—are elsewhere depicted as traders in precious goods (Ezekiel 27:15, 20-22). The Ashurites likely participated in these mercantile activities, bridging desert and river civilizations.
4. Name Overlap with Assyria: The phonetic similarity to “Assyrians” is noteworthy but remains a coincidence in Scripture’s usage; the canonical text treats them as distinct.

Theological Themes

• Covenant Universality: The Ashurites illustrate how the Abrahamic blessing radiates beyond Israel, preparing the ground for the ultimate inclusion of all nations in the gospel.
• Sovereignty Over Peoples: Their reappearance in Israel’s monarchy era underscores God’s governance over political events, using even relatively obscure tribes to advance His redemptive plan.
• Memory of Minor Tribes: Scripture’s meticulous preservation of smaller clans like the Ashurites reinforces the value the Lord places on every people group, encouraging believers to honor and evangelize the “forgotten” nations of today.

Ministry Reflections

1. Genealogies Matter: Teaching through Genesis 25 can encourage congregations to see divine purpose in every family line, prompting personal gratitude for God’s providence in their own ancestry.
2. Prayer for Unreached Peoples: The Ashurites, virtually lost to history except for these verses, remind the church to intercede for modern groups with little biblical exposure.
3. Leadership Discernment: Abner’s political maneuvering with the Ashurites warns against establishing authority without divine endorsement. Ministry leaders should ensure their platforms rest on God’s calling rather than mere human alliances.
4. Hope in Obscurity: Believers serving in small or remote contexts can draw comfort from the Ashurites’ inclusion: no community is beyond the reach of God’s narrative or His saving purposes.

Summary

Though mentioned only twice, the Ashurites weave together patriarchal promise, geopolitical strategy, and missional concern. Their brief biblical footprint magnifies God’s detailed oversight of history and His unwavering intent to bless all the families of the earth through the seed of Abraham, ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

אַשּׁוּרִ֥ם אשורם הָאֲשׁוּרִ֖י האשורי ’aš·šū·rim ’aššūrim ashshuRim hā’ăšūrî hā·’ă·šū·rî haashuRiInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts