אַשִׁימָא
Ashima, a deity of Hamath
Definition
Ashima is a proper noun referring to a foreign deity worshipped by the people of Hamath, who were resettled in Samaria by the Assyrians. The name appears only in 2 Kings 17:30, where it is listed among the gods of various transplanted peoples. The text specifies that the men of Hamath made an image of Ashima. This single biblical reference presents Ashima exclusively as an idolatrous object of worship, in direct violation of the First Commandment. No other meanings or senses are attested in the biblical text.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in 2 Kings 17:30. It is used in a historical narrative context detailing the religious syncretism that arose in Samaria after the Assyrian conquest of the northern kingdom of Israel. The usage is straightforward, serving to name a specific foreign god imported by a transplanted population. There are no patterns of usage across different books or literary forms.
Etymology
The etymology of 'Ashima' is explicitly noted in the biblical text as being 'of foreign origin' (2 Kings 17:30). It is not derived from a Hebrew root. Scholars generally agree it is the name of a West Semitic deity, possibly related to the Phoenician god 'Eshmun' or an Aramaic word for 'the Name,' which could be a divine title. Its meaning and derivation remain uncertain due to its singular, foreign biblical attestation.
Semantic Range
The mention of Ashima is theologically significant as a stark example of the idolatry that led to God's judgment on Israel. It illustrates the fulfillment of covenant curses for disobedience (Deuteronomy 28) and the pervasive syncretism that corrupted pure worship. Understanding this foreign name enriches the reading of 2 Kings 17 by highlighting the specific, named rivals to Yahweh's exclusive sovereignty, demonstrating how completely the people embraced false gods.
In its original cultural setting, Ashima was understood as a legitimate deity by the people of Hamath, likely a god associated with fortune or protection. The biblical author, from a Yahwistic perspective, presents it not as a real power but as a 'vanity' or 'nothing' (cf. Isaiah 41:29), a man-made idol. The modern understanding aligns with this biblical view, recognizing it as part of the ancient Near Eastern pantheon of false gods that Israel was commanded to reject.
gillûlîm (gillulim, H1544) — A general term for idols or dung pellets; Ashima is a specific instance of a gillul. pesel (pecel, H6459) — A carved or graven image; the text states the men of Hamath 'made' (ʿāśâ) Ashima, implying it was a pesel. ʾĕlōhîm (elohim, H430) — The generic word for god/deity; Ashima was an ʾĕlōhîm of the Hamathites, but a false one.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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