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 Exile and Return, first mentioned at 1Ch.9.15
- father of: Zichri (זִכְרִי)
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
| Book | Refs |
|---|---|
| 2 Kings | 18:18 · 18:37 |
| 1 Chronicles | 6:18* · 6:24* · 6:29* · 9:15 · 9:19 · 15:17 · 15:19 · 16:5 · 16:7 · 16:37 · 16:41 · 16:42 · 25:1 · 25:2 · 25:6 · 25:9 · 26:1 |
| 2 Chronicles | 5:12 · 20:14 · 29:13 · 29:30 · 35:15 |
| Ezra | 2:41 · 3:10 |
| Nehemiah | 2:8 · 7:44 · 11:17 · 11:22 · 12:35 · 12:46 |
| Psalms | 50:1 |
| Isaiah | 36:3 · 36:22 |
Profile
Male • Returned from exile • Levite descendant who resettled in Jerusalem
Levite living at the time of Exile and Return
Asaph was a Levite descendant who resettled in Jerusalem after the exile (1 Chr 9:15; Neh 11:17).
- A man from the tribe of Levi living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at 1Ch.9.15;
- only referred to as Asaph אָסָף;
- father of Zichri זִכְרִי.
Asaph is mentioned in the lists of Levites who resettled in Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile, recorded in 1 Chronicles 9 and Nehemiah 11. He is described as a descendant of Gershom, one of the sons of Levi. In the parallel passage in Nehemiah, he is called "Zabdi the son of Asaph." These lists highlight the importance of the Levites in restoring worship and community life in Jerusalem after the exile. As a Levite descendant living in Jerusalem, Asaph would have likely been involved in the various duties and responsibilities assigned to the Levites in the post-exilic period.
All entries for Asaph: אָסָף
Related Profiles:
- Zichri (child)