Bible Dictionary
ASHHUR
Ashhur was called the father of Tekoa and was probably regarded as its founder. The name or a related reading also appears in a difficult passage concerning the subjects of Ish-bosheth.
Definition
Ashhur was called the father of Tekoa and was probably regarded as the founder of that village. A related or disputed reading also appears in the description of subjects belonging to Ish-bosheth.
Biblical Usage
Ashhur is named in the genealogical records as the father of Tekoa. The related expression in 2 Samuel may refer to the people of Asher rather than the Geshurites.
Historical Background
The name is explained as “man of Horus.” Proposed readings include “the Geshurites” and “those of the house of Asher,” with the latter placing them west of the Jordan above Jezreel.
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>ash'-ur (ashchur, the King James Version Ashur): The "father of Tekoa" (1Ch 2:24; 4:5), probably the founder of the village. The original meaning of the name is the "man of Horus," Ashurites (ha-'ashuri). This name occurs in the list of Ish-bosheth's subjects (2Sa 2:9).</p><p>The Syriac, Arabic, and Vulgate (Jerome's Latin Bible, 390-405 A.D.) versions read ha-geshuri, "the Geshurites," designating the small kingdom to the South or Southeast of Damascus. This reading, though adopted by Ewald, Thenius and Wellhausen, is untenable, for during the reign of Ish-bosheth Geshur was ruled by its own king Talmai, whose daughter was married to David (2Sa 3:3; 13:37). Furthermore Geshur was too far away from the rest of Ishbosheth's territory. A more consistent reading is ha- 'asheri, as given in the Targum of Jonathan and accepted by Kohler, Klost, Kirkpatrick and Budde, "those of the house of Asher" (compare Jud 1:32). The term would, then, denote the country to the West of Jordan above Jezreel.</p><p>Samuel Cohon</p>