Asaph

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

Asaph (‘gatherer’). 1 . The father of Joah, the ‘recorder’ or chronicler at the court of Hezekiah (  2 Kings 18:18;   2 Kings 18:37 etc.). 2 . The ‘keeper of the king’s forest,’ to whom king Artaxerxes addressed a letter directing him to supply Nehemiah with timber (  Nehemiah 2:8 ). 3 . A Korahite (  1 Chronicles 26:1 ), same as Abiasaph (wh. see). 4 . The eponym of one of the three guilds which conducted the musical services of the Temple in the time of the Chronicler (  1 Chronicles 15:16 f., etc.). The latter traces this arrangement to the appointment of David, in whose reign Asaph, who is called ‘the seer’ (  2 Chronicles 29:30 ), is supposed to have lived. At first the Asaphites alone seemed to have formed the Temple choir, and in the time of Ezra and Nehemiah (wherever we have the memoirs of the latter in their original form) they are not yet reckoned among the Levites . At a later period they share the musical service with the ‘sons of Korah’ (see Korahites).   Psalms 50:1-23;   Psalms 73:1-28;   Psalms 74:1-23;   Psalms 75:1-10;   Psalms 76:1-12;   Psalms 77:1-20;   Psalms 78:1-72;   Psalms 79:1-13;   Psalms 80:1-19;   Psalms 81:1-16;   Psalms 82:1-8;   Psalms 83:1-18 have the superscription le-Asaph , which means in all probability that they once belonged to the hymn-book of the Asaphite choir (see Psalms).

People's Dictionary of the Bible

Asaph ( Â'Saf ), Collector. 1. The father of Joan, recorder to King Hezekiah.  2 Kings 18:18;  2 Kings 18:37;  Isaiah 36:3;  Isaiah 22:2. A Levite musician, one of the leaders of the singers in the reign of David.  1 Chronicles 6:39. He is called a "seer," and is said to have composed several of the Psalms; of which 50, 73, 83 are in the titles attributed to him; several of these must, however, be of later date than the times of David. His descendants, or a school of musicians founded by him, are called sons of Asaph; and some of these returned from captivity with Zerubbabel.  Ezra 2:41;  Nehemiah 7:44. We often find Asaph spoken of in later ages with distinction.  2 Chronicles 29:30;  Nehemiah 12:46. 3. The keeper of the king's forest to Artaxerxes.  Nehemiah 2:8. 4. A Levite.  Nehemiah 11:17.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

A'saph. (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;  2 Kings 18:37;  Isaiah 36:3;  Isaiah 36:22, probably the same as Asaph, 1 .

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 Asaph, 1 and 2 .

Morrish Bible Dictionary

1. A leader of the choir in David's time, and once called a 'seer.'  2 Chronicles 29:30 . He was descended from Gershom the Levite.  1 Chronicles 6:39;  1 Chronicles 15:17,19;  1 Chronicles 16:5,7,37 , etc. Twelve psalms are attributed to him, namely, 50,73 to 83. His office seems to have been hereditary.  Ezra 2:41;  Ezra 3:10;  Nehemiah 7:44 , etc.

2. Father of Joah recorder to Hezekiah.  2 Kings 18:18,37;  Isaiah 36:3,22 .

3. A Levite, whose descendants dwelt in Jerusalem after the exile.  1 Chronicles 9:15 .

4. A Korhite, whose posterity were porters in the tabernacle in the time of David.  1 Chronicles 26:1 .

5. An officer, probably a Jew, controller of the forests of king Artaxerxes in Judaea.  Nehemiah 2:8 .

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

("assembler".)

1. A Levite, son of Berachiah; one of David's choir leaders ( 1 Chronicles 6:39). An inspired seer, as well as a composer of music ( 2 Chronicles 29:30;  Nehemiah 12:46). "The sons of Asaph" were poets and musical composers of the school founded by him; as Heman and Jeduthun also were heads of schools of sacred inspired music.  1 Chronicles 25:1;  2 Chronicles 20:14;  Ezra 2:41; Psalm 50; 73; 83, are all attributed to his authorship; but 83, celebrates the victory of Jehoshaphat long after Asaph's time, therefore "Asaph" in this psalm's title must mean "one of the school of Asaph."

2.  2 Kings 18:18;  2 Kings 18:37.

3.  Nehemiah 2:8.

4.  Nehemiah 11:17.

Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary

a celebrated musician in the time of David, was the son of Barachias of the tribe of Levi. Asaph, and also his descendants, presided over the musical band in the service of the temple. Several of the psalms, as the fiftieth, the seventy-third to the eighty-third, have the name of Asaph prefixed; but it is not certain whether the words or the music were composed by him. With regard to some of them, which were written during the Babylonish captivity, they cannot in any respect be ascribed to him. Perhaps they were written or set to music by his descendants, who bore his name, or by some of that class of musicians of which the family of Asaph was the head,  1 Chronicles 6:39;  2 Chronicles 29:30;  2 Chronicles 35:15;  Nehemiah 12:46 . The psalms which bear the name of Asaph are doctrinal or preceptive: their style, though less sweet than that of David, is more vehement, and little inferior to the grandeur of Isaiah.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

1. Assembler, a celebrated musician in David's time, and one of the leaders of the temple music.  1 Chronicles 16:5   25:1,2 . This service appears to have been hereditary in his family,  Nehemiah 7:44   11:22 . He is also called a seer,  2 Chronicles 29:30; and his name is prefixed to twelve Psalms, (  Psalm 50:1-23   73:1-83:18 ) but whether they were written by him, or for him or his family to sing, is unknown. See Music .

2. A recorder of King Hezekiah,  2 Kings 18:18   Isaiah 36:3

3. Keeper of forests under Artaxerxes,  Nehemiah 2:8 .

Holman Bible Dictionary

 2 Kings 18:1 2 1 Chronicles 6:39 1 Chronicles 9:15 1 Chronicles 15:19 1 Chronicles 16:7 1 Chronicles 16:37 1 Chronicles 25:1-7 2 Chronicles 20:14-19 2 Chronicles 29:30 Psalm 50:1 Psalm 73-83  Psalm 73-83

Easton's Bible Dictionary

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 ( Nehemiah 2:8 ).

Copyright Statement These dictionary topics are from M.G. Easton M.A., DD Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition, published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain.

Bibliography Information Easton, Matthew George. Entry for 'Asaph'. Easton's Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/ebd/a/asaph.html. 1897.

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(Heb. Asaph', אָסָ Š , Assembler; Sept. Ἀσάφ ), the names of three persons. (See Ebiasaph).

1. A Levite of the family of Gershom (see below), son of Barachiah ( 1 Chronicles 6:39;  1 Chronicles 15:17), eminent as a musician, and appointed by David to preside over the sacred choral services which he organized ( 1 Chronicles 16:5), B.C. 1014. The "sons of Asaph" are afterward mentioned as choristers. of the Temple ( 1 Chronicles 25:1-2;  2 Chronicles 20:14;  2 Chronicles 29:13;  Ezra 2:41;  Ezra 3:10;  Nehemiah 7:44;  Nehemiah 11:22); and this office appears to have been made hereditary in his family ( 1 Chronicles 25:1-2). Asaph was celebrated in after times as a prophet ( הֹזֶה , Seer) and poet ( 2 Chronicles 29:30;  Nehemiah 12:46), and the titles of twelve of the Psalms (50, 73, to 83) bear his name, in some of which he evidently stands (as a patronymic,  Nehemiah 11:17) for the Levites generally (see Huetii Demonstr. Ev. p. 332; Bertholdt, v, 1956; Herder, Ebr. Poesie, ii, 331; comp. Niemeyer, Charakterist. 4:356 sq.; Carpzov, Introd. 103 sq.; Eichhorn, Einl. v, 17 sq.); or he may have been the founder of a school of poets and musical composers, who were called after him " the sons of Asaph" (comp. the Homeridae). (See Psalms). The following is his ancestry (see Reinhard, De Asapho, Vien. 1742).

Name	1 Chronicles 6	1 Chronicles 6	Born, cir. B.C.
Levi	1	16	1917
Gershom	20	43	1860?
Libni	20	17	1805?
Jahath	20	43	1750?
Shimei		42	1695?
Zimmah	20	42	1640?
Joah	21
or Ethan		42	1585?
Adaiah		41
or Iddo	21		1530?
Zerah	21	41	1475?
Ethni		41
or Jeaterai	21		1420?
Malchiah		40	1365?
Baaseiah		40	1310?
Michael		40	1255?
Shimea		39	1200?
Berachiah		39	1145?
Asaph		39	1090?

2. The "father" of Joah, which latter was "recorder" in the time of Hezekiah ( 2 Kings 18:18;  2 Kings 18:37;  Isaiah 36:3;  Isaiah 36:22). B.C. ante 726. Perhaps i. q. No. 1. 3. A "keeper of the king's forests" (prob. in Lebanon), to whom Nehemiah requested of Artaxerxes Longimanus an order for timber to rebuild the Temple at Jerusalem ( Nehemiah 2:8). B.C. 446.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ā´saf ( אסף , 'āṣāph ): 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 Chronicles 15:16-19 ). He conducted with cymbals the music performed in the tent where the ark was housed ( 1 Chronicles 16:4 ,  1 Chronicles 16:5 ,  1 Chronicles 16:7 ,  1 Chronicles 16:37 ), while his two coadjutors discharged the same office at Gibeon ( 1 Chronicles 16:41 ,  1 Chronicles 16:42 ). In  1 Chronicles 25:1 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 Chronicles 5:12 ). A., H., and J. were called the king's seers (1 Ch 25;  2 Chronicles 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 .

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

A´saph (assembler), a Levite, son of Barachias ( 1 Chronicles 6:39;  1 Chronicles 15:17), eminent as a musician, and appointed by David to preside over the sacred choral services which he organized. The 'sons of Asaph' are afterwards mentioned as choristers of the temple ( 1 Chronicles 25:1-2;  2 Chronicles 20:14;  2 Chronicles 29:13;  Ezra 2:41;  Ezra 3:10;  Nehemiah 7:44;  Nehemiah 11:22): and this office appears to have been made hereditary in his family ( 1 Chronicles 25:1-2). Asaph was celebrated in after times as a prophet and poet ( 2 Chronicles 29:30;  Nehemiah 12:46), and the titles of twelve of the Psalms (Psalms 73-83) bear his name. The merits of this appropriation are elsewhere examined [[[Psalms, Book Of]]]

There were two other persons named Asaph: one who occupied the distinguished post of 'recorder' to king Hezekiah ( 2 Kings 18:18;  Isaiah 36:3); another who was keeper of the royal forests under Artaxerxes ( Nehemiah 2:8).

The Nuttall Encyclopedia

A musician of the temple at Jerusalem.