Bible Encyclopedias
Avvites, Avva, Avvim

The 1901 Jewish Encyclopedia

1. A people mentioned in Deuteronomy 2:23 as being dispossessed by the Caphtorim. This, however, could not have taken place before the days of Joshua, for it is stated in Joshua 13:3 that the Israelites upon entering Canaan failed to conquer them; and their place of settlement is identical with the one mentioned in Deuteronomy 2:23. Although settled in the Philistine district, they do not appear to have had anything in common with the Philistines; they resemble rather the class of Bedouins who had made some progress toward the stage of permanent settlements.
2. A city in the domain of Benjamin, which may once have been a city of the Avvites (Joshua 18:23).
3. The place from which the king of Assyria brought people, worshipers of Nibhaz and Tartak, whom he settled in Samaria (2 Kings 17:31). Called "Ivvah" in 2 Kings 18:34, 19:13; Isaiah 37:13.