Asahel

In Bible versions:

Asahel: NET AVS NIV NRSV NASB TEV

son of Zeruiah, David's sister; brother of Joab
a Levite assigned to teach in Judah under Jehoshaphat
a Levite assistant to the temple treasurer under Hezekiah
father of Jonathan who opposed Ezra's policies

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creature of God

Hebrew

Strongs #06214: lahse `Asah'el

Asahel = "God-made"

1) nephew of David, son of David's sister Zeruiah, and brother of
Joab and Abishai; swift of foot he was killed by Abner when he
pursued him in battle and caught him
2) a Levite in the reign of king Jehoshaphat of Judah who went
through the kingdom giving instruction in the law
3) a Levite in the reign of king Hezekiah of Judah in charge of the
tithes and dedicated things in the temple
4) a priest, father of Jonathan, in the time of Ezra

6214 `Asah'el as-aw-ale'

from 6213 and 410; God has made; Asahel, the name of four
Israelites:-Asahel.
see HEBREW for 06213
see HEBREW for 0410

Asahel [EBD]

made by God, the youngest son of Zeruiah, David's sister. He was celebrated for his swiftness of foot. When fighting against Ish-bosheth at Gibeon, in the army of his brother Joab, he was put to death by Abner, whom he pursued from the field of battle (2 Sam. 2:18, 19). He is mentioned among David's thirty mighty men (2 Sam. 23:24; 1 Chr. 11:26). Others of the same name are mentioned (2 Chr. 17:8; 31:13; Ezra 10:15).

Asahel [NAVE]

ASAHEL
1. Nephew of David, and one of his captains, 2 Sam. 2:18-24, 32; 3:27; 23:24; 1 Chr. 2:16; 11:26; 27:7.
2. A Levite, commissioned by Jehoshaphat to teach the law to Judah, 2 Chr. 17:8.
3. A Levite, who had charge of tithes, 2 Chr. 31:13.
4. Father of Jonathan, Ezra 10:15.

ASAHEL [SMITH]

(made by God).

1. Nephew of David, being the youngest son of his sister Zeruiah. He was celebrated for his swiftness of foot. When fighting under his brother Joab at Gibeon, he pursued Abner, who was obliged to kill him in self-defence. (2 Samuel 2:18) ff. [ABNER] (B.C. 1050.)
2. One of the Levites in the reign of Jehoshaphat, who went throughout the cities of Judah to instruct the people in the knowledge of the law. (2 Chronicles 17:8) (B.C. 910.)
3. A Levite in the reign of Hezekiah, who had charge of the tithes and dedicated things in the temple. (2 Chronicles 31:13) (B.C. 927.)
4. A priest, father of Jonathan, in the time of Ezra. (Ezra 10:15) He is called AZAEL in 1Esd 9:14. (B.C. before 459.)

ASAHEL [ISBE]

ASAHEL - as'-a-hel (`asah'el, "God hath made"; Asael):

(1) The brother of Joab and Abishai. The three were sons of Zeruiah, one of David's sisters (1 Ch 2:15,16; 2 Sam 2:18, etc.). The three brothers seem to have been from the beginning members of David's troop of strangely respectable brigands. Asahel was distinguished for his swift running, and this fact brought misfortune upon him and upon Israel. When Abner and the forces of Ish-bosheth were defeated near Gibeon, Asahel pursued Abner. Abner knew that he could outright Asahel, though he could not outrun him. He also knew that the time had come for making David king, and that a blood feud among the leaders would be a calamity. He expostulated with Asahel, but in vain. It came to a fight, and Abner slew Asahel (2 Sam 2:3). As a result the coming of David to the throne of all Israel was delayed; and when at last Abner brought it about, he himself was treacherously killed by Joab in alleged blood revenge for Asahel. Asahel is mentioned as sixth in the list of David's "mighty men" (2 Sam 23:24; 1 Ch 11:26). The earlier of the names in this list are evidently arranged in the order of seniority. If it be assumed that the list was not made till after the death of Asahel, still there is no difficulty in the idea that some of the names in the list were placed there posthumously. Asahel is also mentioned as the fourth of David's month-by-month captains (1 Ch 27:7). Superficial criticism describes this position as that of "commander of a division of David's army," and regards the statement, "and Zebadiah his son after him," as a note added to explain the otherwise incredible assertion of the text. This criticism is correct in its implication that the fourth captain was, as the text stands, the dead Asahel, in the person of his son Zebadiah. Coming from an annotator, the criticism regards this meaning as intelligible; is it any the less so if we regard it as coming from the author? In fact, the statement is both intelligible and credible. The second of David's month-by-month captains is Dodai, the father of the second of David's "mighty men"; and the fourth is Asahel, with his son Zebadiah. With these two variations the twelve month-by-month captains are twelve out of the nineteen seniors in the list of mighty men, and are mentioned in practically the same order of seniority. The 24,000 men each month were not a fighting army mobilized for war. The position of general for a month, whatever else it may have involved, was an honor held by a distinguished veteran. There is no absurdity in the idea that the honor may in some cases have been posthumous, the deceased being represented by his father or his son or by someone else.

(2) A Levite member of the commission of captains and Levites and priests which Jehoshaphat, in his third year, sent among the cities of Judah, with the book of the law, to spread information among the people (2 Ch 17:7-9).

(3) One of the keepers of the storechambers in the temple in the time of Hezekiah (2 Ch 31:13).

(4) The father of Jonathan who was one of the two men who "stood upon this," at the time when Ezra and the people appointed a court to consider the cases of those who had married foreign wives (Ezr 10:15). The text of the Revised Version (British and American) translates "stood up against this," while the margin has "were appointed over this."

Willis J. Beecher