Asahel

  1. A warrior among David’s mighty men known as "the thirty" (2 Samuel 23:24; 1 Chronicles 11:26). Asahel was the son of David’s half-sister Zeruiah and the brother of Joab and Abishai (2 Samuel 2:18; 1 Chronicles 2:16). In the battle of Gibeon, David’s general Joab engaged the forces of Abner, leader of Ishbosheth’s army. Asahel, who "could run like a deer," pursued Abner. In the encounter that happened after that, Abner killed Asahel (2 Samuel 2:18–23, 32).

  2. One of the Levites sent out by King Jehoshaphat of Judah to teach the people the law of the Lord (2 Chronicles 17:8).

  3. A temple aide appointed by King Hezekiah to take care of the tithed offerings given to support the Levites (2 Chronicles 31:13).

  4. The father of Jonathan. Jonathan (not Saul’s son) opposed appointing a commission to take action about the foreign (pagan) wives of some of the Jews after the Babylonian exile (Ezra 10:15).

People and places

Asahel: Son of Zeruiah, brother of Joab, killed by Abner Asahel: Levite sent by Jehoshaphat to teach the Law Asahel: Levite in charge of tithes under Hezekiah Asahel: Opposed Ezra's dissolution of mixed marriages