ENEMESSAR en’ ə mes’ ər (Ενεμσσάρος, meaning uncertain). The name given to the king of Assyria (Tobit 1:2, 15, 16). It is found only in the LXX. Shalmaneser appears instead of Enemessar in the Heb., Aram., and Lat. MSS.

Several explanations have been given for this variation in name: (1) Some have tried to identify Enemessar with Senemessar. (2) Rawlinson feels that the Shal in Shalmaneser has been mistaken for a genitive. He transposes the m and n. Identification between Enemessar and Shalmaneser is virtually eliminated, for in Tobit 1:15 Shalmaneser is made the father of Sennacherib, whereas the father of Sennacherib was Sargon. (3) Others feel it is an unrecorded private name for Sargon. (4) In more recent times the name has been looked upon as an Assyrian compound SARRU-KINU, “the legitimate king,” an epithet for Sargon.