Atomic Bible

Levite musician, psalmist, and ancestor of temple singers

Asaph

Named in 21 verses across 4 books, first in 1 Chronicles 6:39.

אָסָףAsaph

The name means “who gathers together.” Hitchcock's Bible Names, 1869

Father
Berechiah
Children
Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, Asharelah
People
Tribe of Levi

About Asaph Written by AI

Asaph was a prominent Levite musician and psalmist during the reign of King David. He was appointed by David as one of the leaders of music in the tabernacle and later in the temple. Asaph, along with Heman and Ethan, was responsible for leading the musical worship and prophesying with lyres, harps, and cymbals. He also composed and collected psalms, with 12 psalms (50, 73-83) attributed to him in the Book of Psalms. Asaph's descendants continued to serve as temple singers and musicians for generations, as evidenced by their mention in the reigns of subsequent kings and in the post-exilic period. The "sons of Asaph" are often referred to as a distinct group of temple singers, highlighting the enduring legacy of Asaph's musical contributions to Israelite worship.

Drafted by an AI model for STEPBible's TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Check it against the verses below.

Easton's Bible Dictionary, 1897

This entry is on the name Asaph, and may cover more than one person or place by that name.

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).

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(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).

M. G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary, third edition (1897), public domain, from CrossWire. Shown as written; its Scripture quotes are from older translations.

GenesisMatthewRevelation

Where the Bible names him

  1. 1 Chronicles 6:39

    Heman’s kinsman was Asaph, who served at his right hand: Asaph the son of Berechiah, the son of Shimea,

  2. 1 Chronicles 15:17

    So the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel; from his brothers, Asaph son of Berechiah; from their brothers the Merarites, Ethan son of Kushaiah;

  3. 1 Chronicles 15:19

    The musicians Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were to sound the bronze cymbals.

  4. 1 Chronicles 16:5

    Asaph was the chief, Zechariah was second, then Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel. They were to play the harps and lyres, while Asaph sounded the cymbals

  5. 1 Chronicles 16:7

    On that day David first committed to Asaph and his associates this song of thanksgiving to the LORD:

  6. 1 Chronicles 16:37

    So David left Asaph and his associates there before the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to minister there regularly according to the daily requirements,

  7. 1 Chronicles 25:1

    Additionally, David and the commanders of the army set apart some of the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun to prophesy with the accompaniment of lyres, harps, and cymbals. The following is the list of the men who performed this service:

  8. 1 Chronicles 25:2

    From the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asarelah. These sons of Asaph were under the direction of Asaph, who prophesied under the direction of the king.

  9. 1 Chronicles 25:6

    All these were under the direction of their fathers for the music of the house of the LORD with cymbals, harps, and lyres, for the service of the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman were under the direction of the king.

  10. 1 Chronicles 25:9

    The first lot, which was for Asaph, fell to Joseph, his sons, and his brothers—12 in all; the second to Gedaliah, his sons, and his brothers—12 in all;

  11. 2 Chronicles 5:12

    all the Levitical singers—Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, and their sons and relatives—stood on the east side of the altar, dressed in fine linen and playing cymbals, harps, and lyres, accompanied by 120 priests sounding trumpets.

  12. 2 Chronicles 20:14

    Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite from Asaph’s descendants, as he stood in the midst of the assembly.

  13. 2 Chronicles 29:13

    Shimri and Jeuel from the Elizaphanites; Zechariah and Mattaniah from the Asaphites;

  14. 2 Chronicles 29:30

    Then King Hezekiah and his officials ordered the Levites to sing praises to the LORD in the words of David and of Asaph the seer. So they sang praises with gladness and bowed down and worshiped.

  15. 2 Chronicles 35:15

    The singers, the descendants of Asaph, were at their stations according to the command of David, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun the king’s seer. And the gatekeepers at each gate did not need to leave their posts, because their fellow Levites made preparations for them.

  16. Ezra 2:41

    The singers: the descendants of Asaph, 128.

  17. Ezra 3:10

    When the builders had laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites (the sons of Asaph) with cymbals, took their positions to praise the LORD, as David king of Israel had prescribed.

  18. Nehemiah 7:44

    The singers: the descendants of Asaph, 148.

  19. Nehemiah 11:22

    Now the overseer of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Mica. He was one of Asaph’s descendants, who were the singers in charge of the service of the house of God.

  20. Nehemiah 12:35

    and some of the priests with trumpets, and also Zechariah son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micaiah, the son of Zaccur, the son of Asaph,

  21. Nehemiah 12:46

    For long ago, in the days of David and Asaph, there were directors for the singers and for the songs of praise and thanksgiving to God.

From STEPBible's TIPNR, Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0): names, family, references and the AI written article. Verse text is the BSB.