The Avim, Avvim (Hebrew: עַוִּים, Modern: ʿAvvīm, Tiberian: ʿAwwīm) or Avvites of Philistia in the Old Testament were a people dwelling in Hazerim, or "the villages" or "encampments", on the south-west corner of the sea-coast.
[2] These verses mention that their land was considered part of the Canaanite land to be conquered by the Israelites: and the Avvim, that dwelt in villages as far as Gaza, the Caphtorim, that came forth out of Caphtor, destroyed them, and dwelt in their stead.While the Philistines at the time of the Judges and the monarchy are understood to be predominantly descended from the invading Caphtorites, the Talmud (Chullin 60b) notes that the Avim were part of the Philistine people in the days of Abraham and records that they originated from Teman (land to the south).
Rabbinic tradition in Genesis Rabba 26:16 views them as one of the early races of giant stature together with the Rephaites and others.
In the context of his New Chronology, David Rohl surmises that after the Inachids were conquered by Caphtor, the Avim, whom he identifies as Aamu, moved to adopt Hathor as patron, setting themselves up in lesser Hyksos Egypt as petty rulers such as Yakbim Sekhaenre, Ya'ammu Nubwoserre, Qareh Khawoserre and Ammu Aahotepre.
He suggests Ahhotep II, who drove the Greater Hyksos Caphtorim out of Egypt, was a descendant of this earlier Canaanite group, and became the inspiration behind the legend of Io.