Meaning and Etymology of Asshur

Biblical Character. Second son of Shem, son of Noah (Genesis 10:22; 1 Chronicles 1:17). Assyria was named after him although the name Asshur is sometimes used to refer to the place where his descendants dwell (Numbers 24:22, 24; Ezekiel 27:23).  He is on the Timeline of the Bible after the Flood (after 2300 BC)

Biblical Name for Assyria.  Asshur, a city characterized by the mounds of Kalah Sherghat, on the west bank of the Tigris (Genesis 2:14) was the primary capital of Assyria. About 1700 BC, Bel-kap-kapu founded this city. Afterward, the capital was changed to Ninua, or Nineveh, now Koyunjik, on the eastern bank of river.

King of the Assyrian Gods. Asshur was the father of Assyrians. He gave power and life to every priestly king. A winged circle or globe with the human figure of a warrior god armed with a bow in its center was used to symbolize him as “the great god, king of all gods.”  Also, Asshur was used as part of a compound name for various Assyrian kings.
Spiritual Meaning of Asshur.

Genesis 10:11-12, “Out of that land went forth Asshur,” signifies that they who were in such external worship began to reason about the internals of worship; “Asshur” denotes reasoning; “and built Nineveh, and the city of Rehoboth, and Calah,” signifies that thereby they formed doctrines of faith for themselves; by “Nineveh” are signified the falsities of these doctrines; by ” Rehoboth and Calah,” the same from another origin; “Resen, between Nineveh and Calah,” signifies that they also formed for themselves doctrines of life. By ” Resen” are signified falsities of doctrines hence derived; “Nineveh” is falsity from reasoning ” Calah” is falsity from greediness; “between Nineveh and Calah,” is falsity from both; “this is that great city,” signifies that these doctrines increased and prevailed.

What Part of The Bible Mentions Asshur?

• Genesis 2:14. Asshur as the west bank of the Tigris.
• Genesis 10:22, 1 Chronicles 1:17.  Asshur as the son of Shem with siblings Elam, Arphaxad, Lud and Aram.
• Genesis 10:11. Asshur built Nineveh, and the city Rehoboth, and Calah.
• Genesis 25:18. Asshur as a border for the location of settlement of Ishmael’s descendants in the area from Havilah to Shur where they lived in aggression toward all the tribes related to them.
• Numbers 24:22 -24. Asshur as threat to Kenites’ destruction.
• Ezekiel 27:23.  Asshur as trading merchant together with Harran, Kanneh, Eden, Sheba and Kilmad.
• Hosea 14:3. Asshur as king of the Assyrian gods.

References:
http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Asshur.php4
http://www.bible-history.com/sketches/ancient/assyrian-symbol-asshur.html

http://www.abarim-publications.com/Meaning/Asshur.html

http://www.biblemeanings.info/Words/Place/Asshur.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashur

http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=Ashur&qs_version=NIV