Abiasaph
(father of gathering, i.e. gathered), ( Exodus 6:24 ) otherwise written Ebi/asaph. ( 1 Chronicles 6:23 , 37 ; 9:19 ) one of the descendants of Korah, and head of the Korhites. Among the remarkable descendants of Abiasaph were Samuel the prophet, ( 1 Samuel 1:11 ) and Heman the singer.
Abigail
(father, i.e. source, of joy). The beautiful wife of Nabal, a wealthy owner of goats and sheep in Carmel. (B.C. 1060.) When David’s messengers were slighted by Nabal, Abigail supplies David and his followers with provisions, and succeeded in appeasing his anger. The days after this Nabal died, and David sent for Abigail and made her his wife. ( 1 Samuel 25:14 ) etc. By her he had a son, called Chileab in ( 2 Samuel 3:3 ) but Daniel in ( 1 Chronicles 3:1 ) A sister of David, married to Jether the Ishmaelite, and mother, by him, of Amasa. ( 1 Chronicles 2:17 ) In ( 2 Samuel 17:25 ) for Israelite read Ishmaelite. (B.C. 1068.)
Abishai, Or Abishai
(father of a gift), The eldest of the three sons of Zeruiah, David’s sister, and brother to Joab and Asahel. ( 1 Chronicles 2:16 ) Like his two brothers he was the devoted follower of David. He was his companion in the desperate night expedition to the camp of Saul. ( 1 Samuel 26:6-9 ) (B.C. 1055.) On the outbreak of Absalom’s rebellion he remained true to the king, and commanded a third part of the army in the decisive battle against Absalom. He rescued David from the hands of the gigantic Philistine, Ishbi-benob. ( 2 Samuel 21:17 ) His personal prowess on this, as on another occasion, when he fought singlehanded against three hundred, won for him a place as captain of the second three of David’s mighty men. ( 2 Samuel 23:18 ; 1 Chronicles 11:20 )
Abner
(father of light). Son of Ner, who was the brother of Kish, ( 1 Chronicles 9:36 ) the father of Saul. (B.C. 1063.) Abner, therefore, was Saul’s first cousin, and was made by him commander-in-chief of his army. ( 1 Samuel 14:51 ; 17:57 ; 26:5-14 ) After the death of Saul David was proclaimed king of Judah; and some time subsequently Abner proclaimed Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, king of Israel. War soon broke out between the two rival kings, and a “very sore battle” was fought at Gibeon between the men of Israel under Abner and the men of Judah under Joab. ( 1 Chronicles 2:16 ) Abner had married Rizpah, Saul’s concubine, and this, according to the views of Oriental courts, might be so interpreted as to imply a design upon the throne. Rightly or wrongly, Ish-bosheth so understood it, and he even ventured to reproach Abner with it. Abner, incensed at his ingratitude, opened negotiations with David, by whom he was most favorably received at Hebron. He then undertook to procure his recognition throughout Israel; but after leaving his presence for the purpose was enticed back by Joab, and treacherously murdered by him and his brother Abishai, at the gate of the city, partly, no doubt, from fear lest so distinguished a convert to their cause should gain too high a place in David’s favor, but ostensibly in retaliation for the death of Asahel. David in sorrow and indignation, poured forth a simple dirge over the slain hero. ( 2 Samuel 3:33 , 34 ) The father of Jaasiel, chief of the Benjamites in David’s reign, ( 1 Chronicles 27:21 ) probably the same as the preceding.
Adaiah
(adorned by Jehovah). Maternal grandfather of King Josiah, and native of Boscath in the lowlands of Judah. ( 2 Kings 22:1 ) (B.C. 648.) A Levite of the Gershonite branch, and ancestor of Asaph. ( 1 Chronicles 6:41 ) In v. ( 1 Chronicles 6:21 ) Heb Isa called Iddo . A Benjamite, son of Shimhi, ( 1 Chronicles 8:21 ) who is apparently the same as Shema in v. ( 1 Chronicles 8:13 ) A priest, son of Jehoram. ( 1 Chronicles 9:12 ; Nehemiah 11:12 ) Ancestor of Maaseiah, one of the captains who supported Jehoiada. ( 2 Chronicles 23:1 ) One of the descendants of Bani, who had married a foreign wife after the return from Babylon. ( Ezra 10:29 ) (B.C. 459). The descendant of another Bani, who had also taken a foreign wife. ( Ezra 10:39 ) A man of Judah, of the line of Pharez. ( Nehemiah 11:5 )
Adasa
(new), a place in Judea, about four miles from Beth-horon. 1Ma 7:40 , 45 [ Hadashah ]
Ahasai
(whom Jehovah holds), a priest, ancestor of Maasiai, ( Nehemiah 11:13 ) called Jahzerah in ( 1 Chronicles 9:12 )
Amasa
(a burden). Son of Ithra, or Jether, by Abigail, David’s sister. ( 2 Samuel 17:25 ) He joined in Absalom’s rebellion, B.C. 1023, was appointed commander-in-chief and suffered defeat by Joab. ( 2 Samuel 18:6 ) David, incensed against Joab for killing Absalom, forgave Amasa and appointed him Joab’s successor. ( 2 Samuel 19:13 ) Joab afterwards, when they were both in pursuit of the rebel Sheba, pretending to salute Amasa stabbed him with his sword. ( 2 Samuel 20:10 ) A prince of Ephraim, son of Hadlai, in the reign of Ahaz. ( 2 Chronicles 28:12 )
Amasai, Or Amasai
(burdensome) A Kohathite, father of Mahath and ancestor of Samuel ( 1 Chronicles 6:25 , 35 ) Chief of the captains of Judah and Benjamin, who deserted to David while an outlaw at Ziklag. ( 1 Chronicles 12:18 ) (B.C. 1060.) One of the priests who blew trumpets before the ark. ( 1 Chronicles 15:24 ) Another Kohathite, in the reign of Hezekiah. ( 2 Chronicles 29:12 )
Anklet
This word does not occur in the Authorized Version; but anklets are referred to in ( Isaiah 3:16 , 18 , 20 ) They were fastened to the ankle band of each leg; were as common as bracelets and armlets and made of much the same material. The pleasant jingling and tinkling which they made as they knocked against each other was no doubt one of the reasons why they were admired, They are still worn in the East.
Arioch
(venerable). The king of Eliasar, one of the allies of Chedorlaomer in his expedition against his rebellious tributaries. ( Genesis 14:1 ) (B.C. 1921-1912.) The captain of Nebuchadnezzar’s body-guard. ( Daniel 2:14 ) etc. Properly Eirioch, or Erioch, mentioned in Judith 1:6 as king of the Elymaeans.
Asa
(physician, or cure). Son of Abijah and third king of Judah. (B.C. 956-916.) (His long reign of 41 years was peaceful in its earlier portion, and he undertook the reformation of all abuses, especially of idolatry. He burnt the symbol of his grandmother Maachah’s religion and deposed her from the dignity of “king’s mother,”) and renewed the great altar which the idolatrous priests apparently had desecrated. ( 2 Chronicles 15:8 ) Besides this he fortified cities on his frontiers, and raised an army, amounting, according to ( 2 Chronicles 14:8 ) to 580,000 men, a number probably exaggerated by an error of the copyist. During Asa’s reign, Zerah, at the head of an enormous host, ( 2 Chronicles 14:9 ) attacked Mareshah. There he was utterly defeated, and driven back with immense loss to Gerar. The peace which followed this victory was broken by the attempt of Baasha of Israel to fortify Ramah. To stop this Asa purchased the help of Benhadad I. king of Damascus, by a large payment of treasure, forced Baasha to abandon his purpose, and destroyed the works which he had begun at Ramah. In his old age Asa suffered from gout, He died, greatly loved and honored, in the 41st year of his reign. Ancestor of Berechiah a Levite who resided in one of the villages of the Netophathites after the return from Babylon. ( 1 Chronicles 9:16 )
Asahel
(made by God). 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. [ Abner ] (B.C. 1050.) 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.) 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.) A priest, father of Jonathan, in the time of Ezra. ( Ezra 10:15 ) He is called AZAEL in 1Esd 9:14 . (B.C. before 459.)
Asahiah
(the Lord hath made), a servant of King Josiah, sent by him to seek information of Jehovah respecting the book of the law which Hilkiah found in the temple, ( 2 Kings 22:12 , 14 ) also called Asaiah . ( 2 Chronicles 34:20 ) (B.C. 641.)
Asaiah
(the Lord hath made). A prince of one of the families of the Simeonites in the reign of Hezekiah. ( 1 Chronicles 4:36 ) (B.C. 910.) A Levite in the reign of David, chief of the family of Merari. ( 1 Chronicles 6:30 ) With 120 of his brethren he took part in bringing the ark from the house of Obed-edom to the city of David. ( 1 Chronicles 15:6 , 11 ) The first-born of “the Shilonite,” from Shiloni, ( 1 Chronicles 9:5 ) who with his family dwelt in Jerusalem after the return from Babylon. (B.C. 536.) In ( Nehemiah 11:5 ) he is called Maaseiah . ( 2 Chronicles 34:20 ) [ Asahiah ]
Asaph
(collector of the people). 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.) The father or ancestor of Joah, the chronicler to the kingdom of Judah in the reign of Hezekiah, ( 2 Kings 18:18 , 37 ; Isaiah 36:3 , 22 ) probably the same as the preceding. 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.) 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 1 and 2.
Asaph, Sons Of
(A school of poetry and musical composers founded by Asaph.)
Asareel
(whom God hath bound (by an oath)), a son of Jehaleleel, in the genealogies of Judah. ( 1 Chronicles 4:16 )
Asarelah
(upright toward God), one of the sons of Asaph, a musician, ( 1 Chronicles 25:2 ) called Jesharelah in ver. 14
Assir
(captive). Son of Korah. ( Exodus 6:24 ; 1 Chronicles 6:22 ) Son of Ebiasaph, and a forefather of Samuel ( 1 Chronicles 6:23 , 37 ) Son of Jeconiah, ( 1 Chronicles 3:17 ) unless “Jeconiah the captive” be the true rendering.
Azariah
(whom the Lord helps) a common name in Hebrew, and especially in the families of the priests of the line of Eleazar, whose name has precisely the same meaning as Azariah. It is nearly identical, and is often confounded, with Ezra as well as with Zerahiah and Seraiah. The principal persons who bore this name were— Son of Ahimaaz. ( 1 Chronicles 6:9 ) He appears from ( 1 Kings 4:2 ) to have succeeded Zadok, his grandfather, in the high priesthood, in the reign of Solomon, Ahimaaz having died before Zadok. (B.C. About 1000.) [ Ahimaaz ] A chief officer of Solomon’s, the son of Nathan, perhaps David’s grandson. ( 1 Kings 4:5 ) Tenth king of Judah, more frequently called Uzziah. ( 2 Kings 14:21 ; 15:1 , 6 , 8 , 17 , 23 , 27 ; 1 Chronicles 8:12 ) Son of Ethan, of the sons of Zerah, where, perhaps, Zerahiah is the more probable reading. ( 1 Chronicles 2:8 ) Son of Jehu of the family of the Jerahmeelites, and descended from Jarha the Egyptian slave of Sheshan. ( 1 Chronicles 2:38 , 39 ) He was probably one of the captains of hundreds in the time of Athaliah mentioned in ( 2 Chronicles 23:1 ) (B.C. 886.) The son of Johanan. ( 1 Chronicles 6:10 ) He must have been high priest in the reign of Abijah and Asa. (B.C. 939.) Another Azariah is inserted between Hilkiah, in Josiah’s reign, and Seraiah who was put to death by Nebuchadnezzar, in ( 1 Chronicles 6:13 , 14 ) Son of Zephaniah, a Kohathite, and ancestor of Samuel the prophet. ( 1 Chronicles 6:36 ) Apparently the same as Uzziah in ver. 24. Azariah; the son of Oded, ( 2 Chronicles 15:1 ) called simply Oded in ver. 8, was a remarkable prophet in the days of King Asa, and a contemporary of Azariah the son of Johanan the high priest, and of Hanani the seer. (B.C. 939.) Son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah. ( 2 Chronicles 21:2 ) (B.C.910.) Another son of Jehoshaphat, and brother of the preceding. ( 2 Chronicles 21:2 ) In ( 2 Chronicles 22:6 ) Azariah is a clerical error for Ahaziah. Son of Jeroham, one of the captains of Judah in the time of Athaliah. ( 2 Chronicles 23:1 ) The high priest in the reign of Uzziah king of Judah. The most memorable event of his life is that which is recorded in ( 2 Chronicles 26:17-20 ) (B.C. 810.) Azariah was contemporary with Isaiah the prophet and with Amos and Joel. Son of Johanan, one of the captains of Ephraim in the reign of Ahaz. ( 2 Chronicles 28:12 ) A Kohathite, father of Joel, in the reign of Hezekiah. ( 2 Chronicles 29:12 ) (B.C. 726.) A Merarite, son of Jehalelel, in the time of Hezekiah. ( 2 Chronicles 29:12 ) The high priest in the days of Hezekiah. ( 2 Chronicles 31:10 , 13 ) He appears to have co operated zealously with the king in that thorough purification of the temple and restoration of the temple service, which was so conspicuous a feature in his reign. He succeeded Urijah, who was high priest in the reign of Ahaz. Son of Maaseiah who repaired part of the wall of Jerusalem in the time of Nehemiah. ( Nehemiah 3:23 , 24 ) (B.C. 446-410.) One of the leaders of the children of the province who went up from Babylon with Zerubbabel. ( Nehemiah 7:7 ) One of the Levites who assisted Ezra in instructing the people in the knowledge of the law. ( Nehemiah 8:7 ) One of the priests who sealed the covenant with Nehemiah ( Nehemiah 10:2 ) and probably the same with the Azariah who assisted in the dedication of the city wall. ( Nehemiah 12:33 ) ( Jeremiah 13:2 ) (Jezaniah). The original name of Abednego. ( Daniel 1:6 , 7 , 11 , 19 ) He appears to have been of the seed-royal of Judah. (B.C. 603.)