ashkenaz Summary and Overview

one of the three sons of Gomer (Gen. 10:3), and founder of one of the tribes of the Japhetic race. They are mentioned in connection with Minni and Ararat, and hence their original seat must have been in Armenia (Jer. 51:27), probably near the Black Sea, which, from their founder, was first called Axenus, and afterwards the Euxine.

(spreading fire), one of the three sons of Gomer, son of Japhet. #Ge 10:3| We may probably recognize the tribe of Ashkenaz on the northern shore of Asia Minor in the name of Lake Ascanius, and in Europe in the name Scandia, Scandinavia. Knobel considers that Ashkenaz is to be identified with the German race.

ASH'KENAZ (strong, fortified), a district probably in Armenia, the home of a tribe of the same name. In 1 Chr 1:6; Jer 51:27 it is called Ashchenaz. See Armenia.

One of the three sons of Gomer, Japhet's son, i.e. of the Gomerian branch of the Japhetic division of the human race. Mentioned by Jeremiah (Jeremiah 51:27) in connection with Ararat and Minni, so that their locality then must have been the Armenan highland. (See ARARAT.) Their accompanying Cyrus to the siege of Babylon (588 B.C.) is there foretold. Probably a Cymric tribe. The name perhaps appears in Ascanias, a river in Asia Minor, and in Scandinavia. Knobel derives the German race from Ashkenaz, the name still given by the robbins to Germany. He derives the name from As (the original of As-ia) and genos, gens, "a race," our "kin." Hasse suggests a connection with Axenus, Euxine Sea.