Awa
LocationsGeographical Setting
An ancient Assyrian province identified with the region of Avava, from which populations were deported to Samaria by Shalmaneser V.
What is the meaning of Awa in the Bible?
AWA was a province in ancient Assyria whose population was deported by Shalmaneser V to Samaria to replace the exiled Israelites, a group likely corresponding to the region known as Avava.
SIGNIFICANCE
Recognizing the AWA deportation helps explain the complex ethnic and religious origins of the Samaritans, clarifying why they are portrayed as outsiders in biblical narratives and how their mixed heritage influenced the religious tensions described in the books of Kings and Ezra.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
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Source Attribution
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.