ASSHUR

ASSHUR second son of Shem (Genesis 10=>22; 1 Chronicles 1=>17). He went from the land of Shinar and built Nineveh, etc. (Genesis 10=>11,12). He probably gave his name to Assyria, which is the usual translation of the word, although the form Asshur is sometimes retained (Numbers 24=>22, 24; Ezekiel 27=>23, etc.). In Genesis 2=>14 “Assyria” ought to be “Asshur,” which was the original capital of Assyria, a city represented by the mounds of Kalah Sherghat, on the west bank of the Tigris. This city was founded by Bel-kap-kapu about B.C. 1700. At a later date the capital was shifted to Ninua, or Nineveh, now Koyunjik, on the eastern bank of the river. (See CALAH; NINEVEH.)