Asaph (II)

II. ASAPH, the Son of Barachias, of the Tribe of Levi. He was the Father of Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Arsarelah. Asaph was a celebrated Musician in David’s time. In the distribution of the Levites which this Prince made for the service of singing in the Temple, he appointed those of Kohath’s Family to be placed in the middle about the Altar of burnt Sacrifices; those of Merari’s Family had the left, and those of Gerson’s the right. Asaph, who was of this last Family, presided over that band, whose station was appointed to the right; and his Descendants kept the same place, and had the same rank in the Temple. We find several Psalms¹ with Asaph’s name in the title, as the xlix, and others from the lxxii to the lxxxii, whether Asaph composed them, or David address’d them to him to be set; or lastly, which we think most probable, whether some of Asaph’s Descendants wrote them, and fixed the name to them of this eminent Master of the Temple Musick: for it appears, that these Psalms do not suit Asaph’s times, and were written some during the Captivity, as the xlix, the lxxiii, lxxviii, lxxix; others in Jehoshaphat’s time, as the lxxxi, and lxxxii. The lxxvii we fix to Asa’s time. See our Preface concerning the xlix Psalm.

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