Asahel
Asahel (
Name
The name means 'made by God. It is made up of two parts: the verb עשה, Hebrew "to do, make" 3rd m.sg. perfect, and the theophorous element (deity name), אל, the Hebrew God El, or Elohim. This would make it a name of "thanksgiving", thanking God for what he has "made" or "done".
History
Asahel was the youngest son of David's sister Zeruiah (
After a battle at Gibeon between Abner, commanding the army of Ish-bosheth son of Saul and Joab, commanding the army of David, Asahel pursued Abner while he attempted to escape. Young Asahel soon caught up with Abner. Abner begged Asahel to stop pursuing him, but when Asahel refused to desist, Abner thrust the blunt end of a spear through Asahel's stomach, and Asahel died on the spot (cf. 2 Samuel 2:23).[1]
Although Joab won the battle, Abner escaped with his life; Asahel was buried in his father's tomb at Bethlehem. In retaliation, Joab murdered Abner with help from his brother Abishai, against the wishes of David.[3]
According to 1 Chronicles 27:7, Asahel had a son named Zebadiah, who succeeded him in command of his military division after his death.
References
- ^ a b Easton, Matthew George (1897). . Easton's Bible Dictionary (New and revised ed.). T. Nelson and Sons.
- ^ Flavius Josephus, Jewish Antiquaties, VII, 1, 3.
- ^ Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews,
VII.1.
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