Who were the Zamzummim?
Answered from the commentary of William Kelly, Leslie M. Grant and Morrish Bible Dictionary
The Zamzummim were a great, numerous and tall race, like the Anakim, who lived in the land later held by the Ammonites; the Ammonites called them Zamzummim, and succeeded them there. They were among the giant peoples of the region, and the term’s meaning is uncertain: it has been understood as “noisy nations” or as “powerful, vigorous.”
Verses: Deuteronomy 2:20, Deuteronomy 2:21
The above is AI generated summary based on the writers below.
What the commentators say
The passages the answer is drawn from, the most direct first, with the words that bear on the question marked.
A giant race who inhabited the district afterwards held by the Ammonites: they were smitten early by Chedorlaomer. The meaning of the term is doubtful: Gesenius says the first name is perhaps from the fertility of their country, and the second signifies 'noisy nations.' Fürst judges the first to signify 'prominent ones, giants,' and the second 'powerful, vigorous.' Gen. 14:5; Deut. 2:20.
The same command not to distress the Moabites and Ammonites (blood relations to Israel) is given. The races of giants are mentioned, which occupied the territories of Moab, Ammon and Edom. They had different names as stated in the text. Emim means "the terrible ones;" Zamzumim has the meaning "to murmur and meditate." This may have some reference to demon possession as seen in some of the present day mediums of spiritism. They were powerful and extremely vicious beings, given up to the control and service of Satan.
They were tried after this by another case of forbearance. "So it came to pass when all the men of war were consumed from among the people, that Jehovah spake to me, saying, Thou art to pass over through Ar, the coast of Moab, this day: and when thou comest nigh over against the children of Ammon, distress them not, nor meddle with them." But the same duty abides for them. We see from this that it is mere ignorance to suppose that there is not a divine system in the book; and this is more remarkable, I think, in Deuteronomy, if possible, than in the preceding books. We can all understand an orderly arrangement where there are types all arranged in a consecutive manner; but here in these moral exhortations it is, though in another way, just as sensible. In this case too we have the fact that there had been a great deal of fighting in previous days. The children of Moab had had their wars. Was there any reason in this why the children of Israel should have wars with them now? And as for the children of Ammon, they too had passed through similar experience. Giants had dwelt there in times past, and the Ammonites called them Zamzummims. They were "a people great, and many, and tall, as the Anakims; but Jehovah destroyed them before them; and they succeeded them, and dwelt in their stead." But this was no reason why they were to expect Jehovah to destroy the Ammonites now. Both were powerful motives not to dread the Canaanite races, who were destined to extirpation.
Israel was now told to proceed further, for it had been 38 years since leaving Kadesh Barnea at the time of their refusal to enter the land and the men of that previous generation had died as the Lord had told them they would (vs.14-15). They crossed the boundary of Moab and came near to Ammon. But they were told not to harass or interfere with Ammon, for God had given it to those descendants of Lot (v.19). As with Moab, it is said that giants had possessed that land, called Zanzummins. But since God had decreed that the Ammonites were to have this, the Lord destroyed the giants before them (vs.20-21).
It may at first sight seem strange, however, if this be true, that God should have distinctly provided a place for Moab and Ammon, and not suffer Israel to dispossess them. We have seen, however, the same to be the case as to Edom, and how the fact answers to the type. As to the tares in the field too, which would correspond essentially to Ammon, the word is, "Let them grow with the wheat unto the harvest," which is very similar to what we have here. If we find, too, that Lot's children have their use, and that they have been the means of destroying certain giants, the Emim and the Zamzummim, out of the lands which they have occupied, this is true also of Edom and the Horites, and the Avvim before the Caphtorim, who seem to have become united with the Philistines. It is no new thing for God to overrule the growth of one evil for the destruction of another, that the world may be at least more tolerable for those that inhabit it. Those that mean nothing less than to serve God are thus compelled to do it; just as "He maketh the wrath of man to praise Him, and the remainder of wrath He will restrain." (Ps. 76:10.)
Zaanaim. Zaanan. Zaanannim. Zaavan. Zabad. Zabbai. Zabbud. Zabdi. Zabdiel. Zabud. Zabulon. Zaccai. Zacchaeus. Zacchur. Zaccur. Zachariah. Zacharias. Zacher. Zadok. Zaham. Zair. Zalaph. Zalmon. Zalmon, Mount. Zalmonah. Zalmunna. Zamzummims. Zanoah. Zaphnathpaaneah. Zaphon. Zara. Zareah. Zareathites. Zared. Zarephath. Zaretan. Zarethshahar. Zarhites. Zartanah. Zarthan. Zatthu. Zattu. Zavan. Zaza. Zebadiah. Zebah. Zebaim. Zebedee. Zebina. Zeboim. Zeboim. Zebudah. Zebul. Zebulonites. Zebulun. Zebulun. Zebulunites. Zechariah. Zechariah, Prophecy of. Zedad. Zedekiah. Zeeb. Zelah. Zelek. Zelophehad. Zelotes. Zelzah. Zemaraim. Zemaraim. Zemarite. Zemira. Zenan. Zenas. Zephaniah. Zephaniah, Prophecy of. Zephath. Zephathah. Zephi. Zephon. Zer. Zerah. Zerahiah. Zered. Zereda. Zeredathah. Zererath. Zeresh. Zereth. Zeri. Zeror. Zeruah. Zerubbabel. Zeruiah. Zetham. Zethan. Zethar. Zia. Ziba. Zibeon. Zibia. Zibiah. Zichri. Ziddim. Zidkijah. Zidon. Zidonians. Zif. Ziha. Ziklag. Zillah. Zilpah. Zilthai. Zimmah. Zimran. Zimri. Zin, Wilderness of. Zina. Zion, Sion, Mount Zion. Zior. Ziph. Ziphah. Ziphims. Ziphion. Ziphron. Zippor. Zipporah. Zithri. Ziz. Ziza. Zizah. Zoan. Zoar. Zoba. Zobebah. Zohar. Zoheleth. Zoheth. Zophah. Zophai. Zophar. Zophim. Zorah. Zorathites. Zoreah. Zorites. Zorobabel. Zuar. Zuph. Zur. Zuriel. Zurishaddai. Zuzims.
A people, described as "great, and many, and tall, as the Anakims," who dwelt on the east of the Dead Sea. They were smitten by Chedorlaomer and his confederate kings and their land eventually passed to the Moabites, who called the people EMIM, that is, 'terrible.' Gen. 14:5; Deut. 2:10-11 .
rapha, 'a fearful one.' In the plural and with the article it is treated as a proper name, the REPHAIM, or sons of Raphah, a race of giants who lived beyond the Jordan, from whom Og the giant king of Bashan descended. The sons of Raphah were afterwards found among the Philistines. At times the term Rephaim applies to any people in Canaan who were of great stature. Deut. 2:11, 20; Deut. 3:11, 13; Joshua 12:4; Joshua 13:12; Joshua 15:8; Joshua 17:15; Joshua 18:16; 1 Chr. 20:4, 6, 8. The word Rephaim is untranslated in Gen. 14:5; Gen. 15:20.
raphah, same as rapha. 2 Sam. 21:16-22.
City of the Rephaims who were smitten by Chedorlaomer. Gen. 14:5. Identified with Tell Ashary, 32 46' N, 36 1' E.
A place somewhere on the east of the Dead Sea, where the Zuzims dwelt who were smitten by Chedorlaomer. Gen. 14:5.
Verses
- Deuteronomy 2:20–2120(That also is reckoned a land of giants giants dwelt therein in time past, and the Ammonites call them Zamzummim; 21a people great, and many, and tall as the Anakim; and Jehovah destroyed them before them, and they dispossessed them, and dwelt in their stead;