A primitive root meaning to smoke or send up smoke. Used literally of mountains smoking in God's presence and figuratively of God's anger.
Ashan connects God's fearsome presence and righteous anger. When God descends on Sinai, the mount smoked (Exodus 19:18). When God's anger burns, His nostrils 'smoke' (Psalm 74:1). Fire and smoke mark every theophany because God's presence exposes and consumes what is impure.