The name Asarelah (Hebrew: ’Asar’elah) is believed to mean “upright toward God” or “God has bound.” He is an ancestor noted exclusively in the records detailing the organization of the Temple music ministry during the time of King David.
1. The Son of Asaph
Asarelah’s sole mention in the biblical text establishes his lineage as one of the four sons of Asaph, the famous chief musician, prophet, and author of twelve Psalms. He belonged to the great family of Temple singers, the Sons of Asaph, who held a prestigious and permanent office in the worship life of Israel.
His name is recorded in 1 Chronicles 25:2, in the section detailing the assignment of the Levitical musicians:
“Of the sons of Asaph; Zaccur, and Joseph, and Nethaniah, and Asarelah, the sons of Asaph under the hands of Asaph, which prophesied according to the order of the king.” (KJV, emphasis added).
2. The Ministerial Duty
The context of this passage is the systematic organization of the Temple musicians into twenty-four courses (divisions) by King David, which was a vital preparation for the building of Solomon’s Temple. This complex system ensured that sacred music and praise would be a continuous and orderly form of worship.
As Asarelah was listed with his brothers, he was part of the group that ministered “under the hands of Asaph,” meaning he trained and worked directly under his father’s leadership. These individuals were not just musicians but also functioned as prophets who “prophesied” (meaning they sang inspired songs) with musical instruments.
The verse emphasizes that this entire division was dedicated to the service of the Lord, operating “according to the order of the king,” underscoring the royal authority given to the music ministry.
3. Change of Name in Genealogy
It is important to note that the very next genealogical listing, which summarizes the assignments of the courses, records a variant of his name. In 1 Chronicles 25:14, where the seventh lot of the music ministry is assigned to the family line:
“The seventh to Jesharelah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:” (KJV, emphasis added).
Most scholars agree that Jesharelah is an alternative spelling or a slightly later variant of the name Asarelah, indicating a minor textual variation. This suggests that the course assigned to Asarelah was later known by the name Jesharelah.
The Theological Significance
Asarelah is a representative figure for the hereditary nature of service in the Old Testament. His life highlights the following:
- The Valued Ministry of Music: His very existence in the biblical record confirms that musical worship was not an incidental activity but a sacred, organized, and essential component of Israel’s covenant relationship with God.
- A Link in the Chain: Though we know none of his specific deeds, his name is preserved as a vital link in the long-lasting line of the Sons of Asaph, whose ministry continued through the centuries, even to the restoration after the Babylonian exile.
In conclusion, Asarelah was a Levite singer and a son of the chief musician Asaph, whose life was dedicated to the organized and inspired ministry of sacred music in the house of the LORD, thus helping to establish the formal structure of Temple worship.