The name Ashkenaz (Hebrew: ’Aškenaz) is an ancestral name that gives rise to a specific nation or geographical region, appearing in the biblical Table of Nations in the Book of Genesis. He is recorded as the grandson of Japheth, one of the three sons of Noah.
Ashkenaz holds the critical position of being an ancestor of the people who would settle in regions far to the north of Israel, making him a figure of prophecy and historical geography.
1. The Lineage from Noah
Ashkenaz’s lineage is traced back to the post-Flood patriarch Noah. He is a son of Gomer, who was one of the seven sons of Japheth.
His name is listed in the comprehensive genealogical record of the nations, a key chapter in Genesis that lays the foundation for all subsequent world history:
“The sons of Gomer; Ashkenaz, and Riphath, and Togarmah.” (Genesis 10:3, KJV, emphasis added).
This list establishes Ashkenaz as one of the ancestors of the peoples who settled in Asia Minor, the Black Sea region, and parts of Europe, aligning with the traditional migration routes of the Japhethites.
2. The Figure of Prophecy
Ashkenaz is mentioned one other time in the Old Testament, not as an individual, but as a nation called to participate in the judgment of Babylon. This appearance occurs in the Book of Jeremiah.
Jeremiah delivers a prophecy to the exiled people of Judah, assuring them that God would eventually judge Babylon for its cruel treatment of His people. The prophecy calls upon numerous nations to rise up and attack Babylon:
“Set ye up a standard in the land, blow the trumpet among the nations, prepare the nations against her; call together against her the kingdoms of Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz; appoint a captain against her; cause the horses to come up as the rough caterpillers.” (Jeremiah 51:27, KJV, emphasis added).
This text confirms that by the time of the Babylonian exile (6th century B.C.), the descendants of Ashkenaz had grown into a significant and powerful nation located in the regions bordering the Assyrian and Babylonian empires.
3. Historical and Traditional Identity
Scholars traditionally associate the descendants of Ashkenaz with ancient peoples of Asia Minor and the Black Sea region, such as the Scythians (or related peoples) who were known for their horsemanship and military prowess. This identification aligns geographically with the other nations listed alongside Ashkenaz (Ararat and Minni, which are generally located in the area of ancient Armenia).
Historically, Ashkenaz is particularly important due to its later identification in Jewish tradition. Beginning in the Middle Ages, the term Ashkenaz became the geographical and cultural designation for the Jews who settled in the regions of Germany and Eastern Europe, distinguishing them from the Sephardic Jews (from Spain and Portugal). This later traditional usage, though not the original biblical reference, is the primary reason the name is widely known today.
In conclusion, Ashkenaz is an ancestral figure in the biblical genealogies, the grandson of Japheth, who serves as the eponymous ancestor for a powerful nation that later existed in the northern regions. His name is found in the prophets as a nation summoned by God to execute judgment upon the Kingdom of Babylon.