ASAEL (Heb. 'Āšāh'ēl, “God has made”). — A very agile warrior, David’s nephew, the son of his sister Sarvia, and the younger brother of Joab and Abisai. After the Davidic army, commanded by Joab and Abisai, had defeated at Gabaon the troops of Isboseth led by Abner, the latter, pursued by the swift A., realizing that he was already at his heels, suddenly turned and, though against his will, killed him on the spot (II Sam. 2, 19-23). This death would provide Joab with a pretext for getting rid of Abner (ibid. 3, 27). Admired for his courage, A. was counted among David’s foremost warriors (ibid. 23, 24; I Par. 11, 26). He was buried in the ancestral tomb at Bethlehem.
The same name is borne in the Old Testament by: a Levite sent by King Josaphat to instruct the people in the divine law (II Par. 17, 8); a Levite appointed to guard the offerings at the Temple under Ezechia (ibid. 31, 13); the father of Jonathan, Esdra’s collaborator (Vulgate Azahēl; Esd. 10, 15). Giuseppe Priero