Asahel
As'ahel (Heb. Asah-el', עֲשָׂהאֵל, creature of God), the name of four men.
1. (Sept. Α᾿σαήλ, Josephus, Α᾿σάηλος, Ant. 7:3, 1.) The youngest son of David's sister Zeruiah (2Sa 2:18), and brother of Joab and Abishai (1Ch 2:16). He was one of David's early adherents (2Sa 23:24), and with his son Zebadiah was commander of the fourth division of the royal army (1Ch 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 (2Sa 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 (2Sa 3:26-27). SEE JOAB.
2. (Sept. Α᾿σαήλ v. r. Ι᾿ασιήλ.) One of the Levites sent by Jehoshaphat to teach the people of Judah the law of the Lord (2Ch 17:8), B.C. 909.
⇒Bible concordance for ASAHEL.
3. (Sept. Α᾿σαήλ.) One of the Levites appointed by Hezekiah as overseer of the contributions to the house of the Lord (2Ch 31:13), B.C. 726.
4. (Sept. Α᾿σαήλ.) 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 (Ezr 10:15). B.C. ante 459.
