Interesting Facts

• Ashunach is identified as the father of Adichorom, who served as one of the four witnesses to the written and attested transaction where Abraham purchased the field and cave of Machpelah from Ephron.
• His son, Adichorom, is identified as a Hivite.

Genealogy

• Ashunach was the father of Adichorom the Hivite.
• No other genealogical information regarding Ashunach, such as his ancestry, birth, marital connections, or other offspring, is provided in the sources.

Historical Context

The reference to Ashunach arises within the historical setting of Abraham’s acquisition of a burial plot for Sarah in the vicinity of Hebron, also known as Kirjath Arba. This event involved negotiations with the local inhabitants, identified as the children of Heth. The transaction with Ephron the Hittite was a significant communal event, necessitating formal documentation and attestation by witnesses, reflecting the prevailing customs for land ownership and transfer. The presence of Adichorom, son of Ashunach the Hivite, as a witness alongside individuals of Hittite, Gomerite, and Zidonite origin, indicates the diverse ethnic composition of the population in this region of Canaan at the time. Ashunach’s existence and his son’s role in this witnessed agreement offer a glimpse into the broader social fabric of the land during Abraham’s sojourn.

Narrative

Ashunach himself does not directly feature in the unfolding narrative of Abraham’s purchase of the burial ground. His significance is solely derived from the identification of his son, Adichorom, as one of the four individuals who witnessed and attested to the written record of this transaction between Abraham and Ephron. The fact that Adichorom, as the son of Ashunach, was considered a credible witness underscores a potential standing or recognition held by Ashunach within his Hivite community or the broader local populace. While no direct actions or words are attributed to Ashunach in the provided texts, his lineage is noted in the context of a pivotal event that secured a permanent burial place for Abraham’s family, a narrative detail laden with implications for the subsequent history of Abraham’s descendants in the promised land. Therefore, Ashunach’s contribution to the narrative, though indirect, lies in his connection to Adichorom, whose witnessing played a part in formalizing Abraham’s claim to the cave of Machpelah.