Asaiah

ASAIAH, ASAHIAH (a-sā'ya, ăs'a-hī'a, whom Jehovah made)

One of Josiah’s officers whom he sent to inquire of the Lord concerning the words of the law that Shaphan had read to the king (2Kgs.22.12-2Kgs.22.14).A Simeonite, c. 800 b.c. (1Chr.4.36).A Levite of the family of Merari in the time of David (1Chr.6.30).A Shilonite, one of the first after the Captivity to dwell in Jerusalem (1Chr.9.5).One of the chief Levites of the family of Merari in David’s day (1Chr.15.6, 1Chr.15.11). This may be the same as no. 3 above. He seems to have been the leader of about 220 Levites who assisted in bringing the ark from the house of Obed-Edom in Jerusalem.

2. A chieftain of the tribe of Simeon. He assisted in dispossessing the Meunim, or the shepherd people of Gedor (1 Chron 4:36, 39).

3. A Merarite Levite, son of Haggiah, among those who helped bring the Ark from the house of Obed-edom to Jerusalem (1 Chron 6:30; 15:6, 11).

4. The first-born of the Shilonites, who were among those who returned from the Babylonian Captivity (1 Chron 9:5). In Nehemiah 11:5 he is called Maaseiah.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915)

([`asayah], "Yahweh has made," written Asahiah twice in the King James Version (2Ki 22:12,14)):

(1) A Levite of the family of Merari, and one of those who helped bring the ark from the house of Obed-edom to Jerusalem (1Ch 6:30; 15:6,11).

(2) A leading man of the tribe of Simeon. He was in the incursion which attacked and dispossessed the MEUNIM (which see), or the shepherd people, in the valley of Gedor (1Ch 4:36).

(3) An officer of Josiah sent to Huldah the prophetess for advice regarding the law book found by Hilkiah (2Ki 22:12,14; see Asahiah).

(4) A Shilonite resident of Jerusalem (1Ch 9:5). He is called Maaseiah in Ne 11:5.