Simeonite patriarch mentioned in the Books of Chronicles
Le royaume diviséPatriarchc. 800–700 B.C.E.
Asiel is one of the prominent ancestors in the tribe of Simeon, known from the genealogy in 1 Chronicles (1 Chron 4:35), where he appears in the line Asiel → Seraja → Josibja → Jehu. Although there is no independent account of his life, his significance emerges through his descendants, who belonged to the leading Simeonite heads. During the reign of King Hezekiah (ca. 715–686 BC), these leaders set out to seek new grazing lands and expanded the territory of the Simeonites by going to the area near Gedor, where they drove out the Hamitic inhabitants and settled there. Asiel's place in this genealogy testifies that his family held a prominent position within a tribe that otherwise has a modest role in the biblical writings.
Asiel is listed as part of the genealogy of the tribe of Simeon in 1 Chronicles, in the line Asiel → Serajah → Josibjah → Jehu. He is counted among the prominent ancestors of Simeonite leaders.
Asiel's descendants were among the named Simeonite leaders who went out to seek grazing land for their flocks. They found lush and spacious pasture areas in the region near Gedor.
During the reign of King Hezekiah, Simeonite leaders, including descendants of Asiel, went to the region near Gedor and drove out the Hamitic inhabitants there. Some Simeonites also went to Mount Seir and struck down the remaining Amalekites.
41These men, recorded by name, came in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah and attacked their tents and the Meunites who were found there. They destroyed them completely, and so it remains to this day, and they settled in their place, because there was pasture for their flocks.