Asahel

Smith's Bible Dictionary

As'ahel. (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. See 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  1 Esdras 9:14. (B.C. before 459).

People's Dictionary of the Bible

Asahel ( Â'Sa-Hĕl, or Ăs'A-H Ĕl ), whom God Made. 1. The nephew of David, son of his sister Zeruiah, and brother of Joab and Abishai. He was fleet of foot, and pursued Abner so keenly after a skirmish, that that warrior was reluctantly compelled, in self-defence, to Mil him.  2 Samuel 2:18-32;  2 Samuel 3:27;  2 Samuel 3:30;  2 Samuel 23:24;  1 Chronicles 11:26;  1 Chronicles 27:7. 2. A Levite.  2 Chronicles 17:8. 3. Another Levite.  2 Chronicles 31:13. 4. Father of a person employed with Ezra.  Ezra 10:15.

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

ASAHEL . 1 . The youngest son of Zeruiah, David’s sister, and the brother of Joab and Abishai. He was famous for his swiftness of foot, a much valued gift in ancient times. He was one of David’s thirty heroes, probably the third of the second three (  2 Samuel 23:24 ). He was also commander of a division in David’s army (  1 Chronicles 27:7 ). He was slain by Ahner (  2 Samuel 2:18-23 ). 2 . A Levite, who taught the people in the reign of Jehoshaphat (  2 Chronicles 17:8 ). 3 . A subordinate collector of offerings and tithes in the reign of Hezekiah (  2 Chronicles 31:18 ). 4 . Father of Jonathan, who opposed Ezra’s action in connexion with the divorce of foreign wives (  Ezra 10:16 ).

Holman Bible Dictionary

 2 Samuel 2:18 2 Samuel 23:24 2 Samuel 3:27-30

2. A Levite during the reign of Jehoshaphat, Asa's son. Asahel was sent out along with several princes, other Levites, and priests to teach the people of Judah the book of the law of God ( 2 Chronicles 17:8 ).  3 . A Levite under Hezekiah, the king of Judah following Ahaz. Asahel, along with ten others, assisted the chief officers in charge of contributions, tithes, and dedicated objects. Asahel's title was that of overseer. 4. The father of Jonathan who along with Jahaziah opposed Ezra's direction for the men of Judah to separate themselves from the foreign wives they had married. Ezra indicated they had sinned in marrying foreign women ( Ezra 10:15 ).

Morrish Bible Dictionary

1. Nephew of David, being son of his sister Zeruiah; he was a valiant man and one of David's captains; was slain by Abner while pursuing him.  2 Samuel 2:18-32;  2 Samuel 3:27,30;  1 Chronicles 11:26;  1 Chronicles 27:7 .

2. Levite sent by Jehoshaphat to teach the law in the cities of Judah.  2 Chronicles 17:8 .

3. Levite in Hezekiah's time, an overseer of tithes, etc.  2 Chronicles 31:13 .

4. Father of Jonathan who returned from exile.  Ezra 10:15 .

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

("made by God".)

1. David's nephew, youngest son of Zeruiah, David's sister; brother of Joab and Abishai. Swift on foot, he pursued Abner after Ishbosheth's army was defeated at Gibeon, in spite of Abner's warning, and was pierced with the hinder end of his spear (2 Samuel 2). (See Abner .)

2. Three others ( 2 Chronicles 17:8;  2 Chronicles 31:18;  Ezra 10:15).

Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary

the son of Zeruiah, and brother of Joab. He was killed by Abner, in the battle of Gibeon,  2 Samuel 2:18-19 , while he obstinately persisted in the pursuit of that general. To revenge his death, his brother Joab, some years after, treacherously killed Abner, who had come to wait on David at Hebron, in order to procure him to be acknowledged king by all Israel,  2 Samuel 3:26-27 . See Abner .

Easton's Bible Dictionary

 2 Samuel 2:18,19 2 Samuel 23:24 1 Chronicles 11:26 2 Chronicles 17:8 31:13 Ezra 10:15

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Son of David's sister Zeruiah, and brother of Joab; one of David's thirty heroes, and extremely swift of foot; killed by Abner, at the battle of Gibeon,  2 Samuel 2:18,23 .

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

as´a - hel ( עשׂהאל , ‛ăsāh'ēl , "God hath made"; Ἀσαήλ , Asaḗl ):

(1) The brother of Joab and Abishai. The three were sons of Zeruiah, one of David's sisters ( 1 Chronicles 2:15 ,  1 Chronicles 2:16;  2 Samuel 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 Samuel 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 Samuel 23:24;  1 Chronicles 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 Chronicles 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 L evite 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 Chronicles 17:7-9 ).

(3) One of the keepers of the storexambers in the temple in the time of Hezekiah ( 2 Chronicles 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 ( Ezra 10:15 ). The text of the Revised Version (British and American) translates "stood up against this," while the margin has "were appointed over this."

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(Heb. Asah-el', עֲשָׂהאֵל , Creature Of God), the name of four men.

1. (Sept. Ἀσαήλ , Josephus, Ἀσάηλος , Ant. 7: 3, 1.) The youngest son of David's sister Zeruiah ( 2 Samuel 2:18), and brother of Joab and Abishai ( 1 Chronicles 2:16). He was one of David's early adherents ( 2 Samuel 23:24), and with his son Zebadiah was commander of the fourth division of the royal army ( 1 Chronicles 27:7). He was noted for his swiftness of foot, a gift much valued in ancient times (comp. Iliad, 15: 570; Plutarch, Vit. Romuli, 25; Liv. 9:16; Curt. 7:7, 32; Veget. Mil. i, 9); and after the battle at Gibeon he pursued and overtook Abner (q.v.), who, with great reluctance, in order to preserve his own life, slew him by a back- thrust with the sharp iron heel of his spear, B.C. cir. 1051 ( 2 Samuel 2:18-23). To revenge his death, his brother Joab some years after treacherously killed Abner, who had come to wait on David at Hebron ( 2 Samuel 3:26-27). (See Joab).

2. (Sept. Ἀσαήλ v. R. Ι᾿Ασιήλ . ) One of the Levites sent by Jehoshaphat to teach the people of Judah the law of the Lord ( 2 Chronicles 17:8), B.C. 909.

3. (Sept. Ἀσαήλ .) One of the Levites appointed by Hezekiah as overseer of the contributions to the house of the Lord ( 2 Chronicles 31:13), B.C. 726.

4. (Sept. Ἀσαήλ . ) The father of Jonathan, which latter was one of the elders who assisted Ezra in putting away the foreign wives of the Jews on the return from Babylon ( Ezra 10:15). B.C. ante 459.

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

As´ahel (God-created), son of David's sister Zeruiah, and brother of Joab and Abishai. He was noted for his swiftness of foot; and after the battle at Gibeon he pursued and overtook Abner, who, with great reluctance, and to preserve his own life, slew him with a backthrust of his spear, B.C. 1055 [ABNER] ( 2 Samuel 2:18-23).