Ashkenaz

Ashkenaz is one of the sons of Gomer in the Table of Nations and the eponym of a kingdom later mustered alongside Ararat and Minni against Babylon.

Son of Gomer

In the Genesis Table of Nations, Ashkenaz heads the list of Gomer's sons: "And the sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, and Riphath, and Togarmah" (Gen 10:3). The Chronicler repeats the same lineage with one variant spelling for the second son: "And the sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, and Diphath, and Togarmah" (1Ch 1:6). The placement under Gomer makes Ashkenaz a Japhetic line, grouped with the northern peoples of the table.

A Kingdom Against Babylon

The descendants reappear as a political power in Jeremiah's oracle, called up to fight Babylon: "Set⁺ 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 marshal against her; cause the horses to come up as the rough cankerworm" (Jer 51:27). Ashkenaz is here listed third in the trio of northern kingdoms summoned against Babylon, alongside Ararat and Minni.