Chronological Nations and Tribes
Zamzummim, Emim, Zuzim, Anakim: Other giant tribes in Canaan, mentioned alongside the Rephaim.
Chedorlaomer killed the Nephilim
In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him came and defeated the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emim in Shaveh-kiriathaim
Emim: Another group of giants, dwelling in Shaveh Kiriathaim.
The earlier victories over the Rephaim, Zuzim, Emim, and Horites demonstrate the might and reach of Chedorlaomer's coalition before they confront the kings of the Dead Sea area.
Anakim
The prior information sheds interesting light on Genesis 14:5-7, where Chedorlaomer “defeated the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emim in Shaveh-kiriathaim, and the Horites in their hill country of Seir,” in addition to defeating Amalekites and Amorites.
It seems Chedorlaomer fought three groups of giants—the Rephaim (the Septuagint actually translates Rephaim in Genesis 14:5 as γίγαντας, “giants”), the Zuzim (which is probably the Zamzummim of Deuteronomy 2:20), and the Emim (Deuteronomy 2:10-11).
Emites
Emim
The Emims dwelt therein in times past, a people great, and many, and tall, as the Anakim
The Emim, known as Emites in English, were identified in the Moabite language as the Repha'im, a term found in the Hebrew Bible.
Description in Biblical Texts: The Emim are described in the Book of Deuteronomy, particularly in chapter 2, as a formidable and populous people.
Conquest by the Moabites: The biblical narrative states that the Emim were eventually defeated by the Moabites, who then took possession of their land.
Additional Biblical References: Besides Deuteronomy, the Emim are mentioned in Genesis 14:5, indicating their presence and relevance in multiple biblical accounts and contexts.
Etymology and Interpretation: According to Rashi, a medieval Jewish commentator, the name "Emim" translates as "the dreaded ones." The singular form in Hebrew, "Ema" or "Emma" (אימה), means "horror" or "terror." This etymology suggests that the Emim were feared or held in awe, potentially due to their size, strength, or reputation as formidable warriors.
The depiction of the Emim as both a powerful people and a group that evoked fear or horror reflects the broader narrative themes of conflict, conquest, and the cultural perceptions of different peoples in the Hebrew Bible.
Zuzites
The Zuzim are mentioned alongside the Emim, a tribe later identified in the Book of Deuteronomy as the Moabite term for the Rephaim, a race of giants or mighty people in ancient texts.
The Zamzummim, like the Emim, were noted for their size and strength.
The identification of the Zuzim with the Rephaim, specifically the Zamzummim, and their connection to the Emim reflect the complex ethnographic and cultural landscape of the ancient Near East as depicted in biblical texts.
Rephaites
Emim
Different Names by Other Peoples: The Moabites referred to them as "Emim," and the Ammonites as "Zamzummim."