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Bible Encyclopedias
Asaph
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
or (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.
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McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Asaph'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/a/asaph.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.
