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(Heb. Asah-el', òֲùָׂäàֵì , creature of God), the name of four men.
1. (Sept. Á᾿óáήë , Josephus, Á᾿óÜçëïò , 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. Á᾿óáήë v. r. É᾿áóéήë .) One of the Levites sent by Jehoshaphat to teach the people of Judah the law of the Lord (2Ch_17:8), B.C. 909.
3. (Sept. Á᾿óáήë .) 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. Á᾿óáήë .) 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.