Asaph

In Bible versions:

Asaph: NET AVS NIV NRSV NASB TEV

father of Joah, Hezekiah's recorder
son of Berechiah the Levite; music minister under David
father of Zichri; a Levite ancestor of some returnees
an official over the (Persian) king's forest in Judah

---

who gathers together

Arts:

Arts Topics: Portraits of Asaph the Levite

Hebrew

Strongs #0623: Poa 'Acaph

Asaph = "gatherer"

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

623 'Acaph aw-sawf'

from 622; collector; Asaph, the name of three Israelites, and
of the family of the first:-Asaph.
see HEBREW for 0622

Asaph [EBD]

convener, or collector. (1.) A Levite; one of the leaders of David's choir (1 Chr. 6:39). Psalms 50 and 73-83 inclusive are attributed to him. He is mentioned along with David as skilled in music, and a "seer" (2 Chr. 29:30). The "sons of Asaph," mentioned in 1 Chr. 25:1, 2 Chr. 20:14, and Ezra 2:41, were his descendants, or more probably a class of poets or singers who recognized him as their master.

(2.) The "recorder" in the time of Hezekiah (2 Kings 18:18, 37).

(3.) The "keeper of the king's forest," to whom Nehemiah requested from Artaxerxes a "letter" that he might give him timber for the temple at Jerusalem (Neh. 2:8).

Asaph [NAVE]

ASAPH
1. Father of Joah, 2 Kin. 18:18; Isa. 36:3, 22.
2. Son of Berachiah. One of the three leaders of music in David's organization of the tabernacle service, 1 Chr. 15:16-19; 16:5-7; 25:1-9; 2 Chr. 5:12; 35:15; Neh. 12:46.
Appointed to sound the cymbals in the temple choir, 1 Chr. 15:17, 19; 16:5, 7.
A composer of sacred lyrics, 2 Chr. 29:13-30.
See titles of Psa. 50 and 73-83, inclusive. Descendants of, in the temple choir, 1 Chr. 25:1-9; 2 Chr. 20:14; 29:13; Ezra 2:41; 3:10; Neh. 7:44; 11:22.
3. A Levite, whose descendants dwelt in Jerusalem after the exile, 1 Chr. 9:15.
4. A Kohath Levite, 1 Chr. 26:1.
5. Keeper of forests, Neh. 2:8.

ASAPH [SMITH]

(collector of the people).

1. A Levite, son of Berechiah, one of the leaders of David?s choir. (1 Chronicles 6:39) Psalms 50 and 73-83 are attributed to him; and he was in after times celebrated as a seer as well as a musical composer. (2 Chronicles 29:30; Nehemiah 12:46) (B.C. 1050.)
2. The father or ancestor of Joah, the chronicler to the kingdom of Judah in the reign of Hezekiah, (2 Kings 18:18,37; Isaiah 36:3,22) probably the same as the preceding.
3. The keeper of the royal forest or "paradise" of Artaxerxes, (Nehemiah 2:8) a Jew, in high office at the court of Persia. (B.C. 536.)
4. Ancestor of Mattaniah, the conductor of the temple-choir after the return from Babylon. (1 Chronicles 9:16; Nehemiah 11:17) Most probably the same as 1 and 2.

ASAPH [ISBE]

ASAPH - a'-saf ('acaph): Is the name of three men in the Old Testament, of whom one is the reputed author of Psalms 50 and 73 through 83. He was one of David's three chief musicians, the other two being Heman, and Ethan or Jeduthun, and we first hear of him when the ark was taken to Jerusalem (1 Ch 15:16-19). He conducted with cymbals the music performed in the tent where the ark was housed (1 Ch 16:4,5,7,37), while his two coadjutors discharged the same office at Gibeon (1 Ch 16:41,42). In 1 Ch 25:1 ff we are told that four of his sons were appointed to conduct under him detachments of the great chorus, the families of Heman and Jeduthun also furnishing leaders, and all took part at the dedication of the temple (2 Ch 5:12). A., H., and J. were called the king's seers (1 Ch 25; 2 Ch 35:15), no doubt an official title of rank or dignity. The "Sons of Asaph" are mentioned in later times. They formed a guild, and played a prominent part at each revival of the national religion.

See MUSIC; PSALMS.

James Millar