Lexical Definition

‎אָסָף‎ ʼÂçâph (aw-sawf') Asaph ^N:N-M-P
from ‎אָסַף‎; collector

Asaph.

• § Asaph = "gatherer"
• Asaph, the name of three Israelites, and of the family of the first

1) the father of Hezekiah's secretary
2) a son of Berechiah, chief Levite musician under David
3) a Persian officer over the royal forest

Extended Information

• A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ch.6.39
• son of: Berechiah (בֶּרֶכְיָה)
• father of: Zaccur (זַכּוּר), Joseph (יוֹסֵף), Nethaniah (נְתַנְיָה) and Asharelah (אֲשַׂרְאֵלָה)

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎אָסָף‎ proper name, masculine (gatherer, compare Phoenician proper name, feminine ‎אספת‎)

1. father of ‎יוֺאָח‎ the recorder 2Kgs 18:18; 2Kgs 18:37 = Isa 36:3; Isa 36:22.

2. one of David's chief musicians, a Levite, son of Berechiah 1Chr 6:24* (twice in verse) (|| ‎הֵימָן‎ v.1Chr 6:18*, ‎אֵיתָן‎ v.1Chr 6:29* see these names); 1Chr 15:17 (|| Heman & Ethan, all called) ‎הַמְּשֹׁרֲרִים‎ v1Chr 15:19 see also 1Chr 16:5 (twice in verse); 1Chr 16:7 compare v1Chr 16:37 (|| Heman & Jeduthun v1Chr 16:41 v1Chr 16:42); 1Chr 25:9, named with Heman & Jeduthun also 1Chr 25:6; 2Chr 5:12; 2Chr 35:15; Ps 50:1; Ps 73:1-83:18 are ascribed to Asaph; compare also ‎בִּימֵי דָוִיד וְאָסָף‎ Neh 12:46 he is called also ‎הַחֹזֶה‎ 2Chr 29:30, compare ‎אָסָף הַנִּבָּא עַליְֿדֵיהַמֶּלֶךְ‎ 1Chr 25:2 repeated mention is made also of sons of Asaph ‎בְּנֵיאָֿסָף‎, sons, descendants, and pupils, or those who sang and played after his manner 1Chr 25:1 (|| Heman & Jeduthun) v1Chr 25:2 v1Chr 25:2 called ‎הַמְּשֹׁרֲרִים‎ 2Chr 35:15; Ezra 2:41; Neh 7:44; Neh 11:22, compare Ezra 3:10 performing service of purification, Hezekiah's time 2Chr 29:13 one of them prophesying 2Chr 20:14 — 1Chr 26:1 for ‎בְּנֵי אָסָף‎ read ‎בְּנֵי אֶבְיָסָף‎, compare 1Chr 9:19 on ‎זִכְרִי‎ 1Chr 9:15, ‎זַבְדִּי‎ Neh 11:17, ‎זַכּוּר‎Neh 12:35, called ‎בֶּןאָֿסָף‎, see these names.

3. keeper of king's park Neh 2:8.

Brown-Driver-Briggs References

Profile

Male • Returned musician • Levite musician, psalmist, and ancestor of temple singers

Singer living at the time of Divided Monarchy

Asaph was a Levite musician and psalmist during David's reign, and his descendants served as temple singers (1 Chr 6:39; 15:17, 19; 16:5, 7, 37; 25:1, 2, 6, 9; 2 Chr 5:12; 20:14; 29:13, 30; 35:15; Ezra 2:41; 3:10; Neh 7:44; 11:22; 12:35, 46; Psalms 50, 73-83).

• A Singer from the tribe of Levi living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ch.6.39;
• only referred to as Asaph אָסָף;
• a son of Berechiah בֶּרֶכְיָה;
• father of Zaccur זַכּוּר, Joseph יוֹסֵף, Nethaniah נְתַנְיָה and Asharelah אֲשַׂרְאֵלָה.

Asaph was a prominent Levite musician and psalmist during the reign of King David. He was appointed by David as one of the leaders of music in the tabernacle and later in the temple. Asaph, along with Heman and Ethan, was responsible for leading the musical worship and prophesying with lyres, harps, and cymbals. He also composed and collected psalms, with 12 psalms (50, 73-83) attributed to him in the Book of Psalms. Asaph's descendants continued to serve as temple singers and musicians for generations, as evidenced by their mention in the reigns of subsequent kings and in the post-exilic period. The "sons of Asaph" are often referred to as a distinct group of temple singers, highlighting the enduring legacy of Asaph's musical contributions to Israelite worship.

All entries for Asaph: אָסָף

Related Profiles:

• Berechiah (father)
• Zaccur (child)
• Joseph (child)
• Nethaniah (child)
• Asharelah (child)