Amasai was the name of several Levites and priests. One led men who joined David, another helped bring the ark to Jerusalem, and another belonged to the Kohathite line.
Definition
Amasai is the name of several Levites, priests, and military leaders. One Amasai belonged to the Kohathite genealogy and was associated with Elkanah. Another led men who joined David at Ziklag or the stronghold. A third was among the priests who blew trumpets when the ark was brought to Jerusalem. The name is also associated with the father of a Levite involved in cleansing the temple under Hezekiah.
Biblical Usage
Amasai is mentioned in genealogical, military, priestly, and temple-service contexts. The military Amasai pledged allegiance to David, while the priestly Amasai helped accompany the ark with trumpet music. The name also occurs in connection with Levites serving in the temple and in the ancestry of Samuel.
Historical Background
The name may be read Amasai or Ammishai. The identification of the military Amasai with Amasa or Abishai has been proposed, but the supplied material notes difficulties in making that identification certain.
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Burdensome. (1.) A Levite, son of Elkanah, of the ancestry of Samuel (1 Chr. 6:25, 35). (2.) The leader of a body of men who joined David in the “stronghold,” probably of Adullam (1 Chr. 12:18). (3.) One of the priests appointed to precede the ark with blowing of trumpets on its removal from the house of Obed-edom (1 Chr. 15:24). (4.) The father of a Levite, one of the two Kohathites who took a prominent part at the instance of Hezekiah in the cleansing of the temple (2 Chr. 29:12).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>a-ma'-si (`amasay, perhaps rather to be read `ammishay; so Wellhausen, IJG, II, 24, n.2):</p><p>(1) A name in the genealogy of Kohath, son of Elkanah, a Levite of the Kohathite family (compare 1Ch 6:25; 2Ch 29:12).</p><p>(2) Chief of the captains who met David at Ziklag and tendered him their allegiance. Some have identified him with Amasa and others with Abishai, who is called Abshai in 1Ch 11:20 m (compare 1Ch 18:12). The difficulty is that neither Amasa nor Abishai occupied the rank of the chief of thirty according to the lists in 2Sa 23 and 1Ch 11, the rank to which David is supposed to have appointed into (compare 1Ch 12:18).</p><p>(3) One of the trumpet-blowing priests who greeted David when he brought back the Ark of the Covenant (compare 1Ch 15:24).</p>
