Interesting Facts

• Asshur was one of the sons of Dedan.
• The Asshurim were the descendants of Asshur.

Genealogy

• Asshur was the son of Dedan.
• Dedan was a son of Jokshan.
• Jokshan was a son of Abraham and Keturah.
• Asshur had two brothers: Letushim and Leummim.
• The descendants of Asshur were known as the Asshurim.

Historical Context

Asshur lived during a time when Abraham had additional children through Keturah, and these children and their descendants, including the lineage of Jokshan and Dedan, were given gifts and sent away from Isaac to dwell in the east country. The descendants of Abraham through Keturah and Ishmael mingled with each other and were called Arabs and Ishmaelites. This period was also marked by Abraham’s instructions to his children and grandchildren to observe the ways of the Lord and to remain separate from the Canaanites. Abraham’s emphasis on his seed inheriting the land of Canaan through Isaac sets a context where the lines of descent became significant. The text mentions that the children of Jokshan and Midian did not dwell in cities with their brethren but journeyed and encamped in wildernesses and countries.

Narrative

The narrative concerning Asshur the son of Dedan and his descendants, the Asshurim, is quite limited within these sources. The primary information provided is genealogical, establishing their place within the broader family of Abraham through Keturah and Jokshan. It is mentioned that Dedan’s children, including Asshur, did not settle in the cities of their brethren but instead journeyed and encamped in countries and wildernesses. This suggests a more nomadic or dispersed existence compared to other branches of Abraham’s descendants. The text does not offer specific accounts of Asshur’s actions or interactions, nor does it detail the history or specific events involving the Asshurim, beyond noting their lineage and general dwelling patterns in relation to their wider family.