Ashan
A'shan (Heb. Ashan', עָשָׁן, smoke; Sept. Α᾿σάν; in 1Ch 4:32, Α᾿ισάν v. r. Α᾿ισάρ; in Jos 15:42, omits), a Levitical city in the low country of Judah named in Jos 15:42 with Libnah and Ether. In Jos 19:7, and 1Ch 4:32, it is mentioned again as belonging to Simeon, but in company with Ain and Rimmon, which (see Jos 15:31) appear to have been much more to the south. In 1Ch 6:59, it is given as a priests' city, occupying (perhaps 1)- error of transcription) the same place as the somewhat similar word Ain (עין) does in the list of Joshua 21:I 16. In 1Sa 30:30, the fuller form Chor- ashan is named with Hormah and other cities of "the South." Eusebius and Jerome (Onomast. s.v.) mention a village named Bethasan as 15 or 16 miles west of Jerusalem; but this, though agreeing sufficiently with the position of the place in Jos 15:42, is not far enough south for the indications of the other passages; and indeed this is a doubtful intimation (Cellar. Notit. ii, 496). SEE ASHNAH. It appears to have been situated in the southern part of the hilly region adjoining the plain (Keil, Comment. on Jos 15:42); perhaps not far from the present Deir Samil. SEE AIN. The above conflicting notices of its position would almost seem to require two cities of the name of Ashan, one in Judah (? =Eshean), and the other in Simeon (distinctively Chorashan); but, on the whole, they may best be reconciled by supposing one locality, properly in the plain of Judah, but assigned (with Ether, q.v.) to Simeon. SEE TRIBE.
