Abiasaph was a descendant of Kohath, son of Levi, and a member of the family of Korah. He is also called Ebisaph and is associated with the Korahite line of Levites.
Definition
Abiasaph was a descendant of Kohath, the son of Levi, and a descendant of Korah. He was regarded as the head of a family of Korahites, or Korhites. The name means “father of gathering,” “the gatherer,” or “my father has gathered.” He is also written Ebisaph, a variant spelling found especially in Chronicles.
Biblical Usage
Abiasaph appears in genealogical lists as a descendant of Korah and head of the Korahites. The recorded lines associated with him lead to Samuel the prophet, Heman the singer, and later Korahite porters. These lists present the line selectively rather than naming every generation.
Historical Background
The lists in Exodus and Chronicles place Abiasaph within the Levitical and Korahite descent. The Exodus list ends with him as a contemporary of Phinehas, while the Chronicles lists extend toward Samuel, the singers organized by David, and Korahite porters of the time of Nehemiah. Ebisaph is a variant form of the name.
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Father of gathering; the gatherer, the youngest of the three sons of Korah the Levite, head of a family of Korhites (Ex. 6:24); called Ebisaph (1 Chr. 6:37).
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(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.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>a-bi'-a-saf, ab-i-a'-saf ('abhi-'acaph, "my father has gathered"): A descendant of Kohath the son of Levi (Ex 6:24; 1Ch 6:23,37 (1Ch 8,22);1Ch 9:19). In Chronicles the name is 'ebh-yacaph, which seems to be a mere variant spelling. The Samaritan version has the same form in Exodus. The list in Exodus terminates with Abiasaph, who is to be regarded as the contemporary of Phinehas, the grandson of Aaron. The two lists in 1Ch 6 lead up to the prophet Samuel and the singing companies which David is said to have organized. The list in 1Ch 9 leads up to the Korahite porters of the time of Nehemiah. Apparently all the lists intentionally omit names, just names enough being given in each to indicate the line. Willis J. Beecher</p>
