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Asaphic

Asaphic is an adjective relating to Asaph, a prominent figure in the Hebrew Bible who served as a Levite and musician in the temple during the Davidic era. In biblical tradition, Asaph is described as the leader of a guild of temple singers, the "sons of Asaph," and ascribed with exhorting and guiding worship in Jerusalem. As a result, several psalms are attributed to Asaph or to his guild.

In modern biblical scholarship the term Asaphic is used to designate psalms that are attributed to Asaph

Historically, the Asaphic group is thought to originate in the Israelite temple cult of the First Temple

Today, Asaph remains a focal point for discussions of biblical poetry and temple worship, and the label

See also: Book of Psalms, Asaph, Levitical musicians.

or
that
are
stylistically
and
liturgically
associated
with
his
collection.
The
most
commonly
cited
Asaphic
psalms
are
Psalm
50
and
Psalms
73–83,
although
the
exact
authorship
and
grouping
vary
among
scholars.
These
psalms
tend
to
emphasize
worship
in
the
sanctuary,
divine
justice,
the
problem
of
the
righteous
and
the
wicked,
and
exhortations
to
praise.
period,
and
the
"sons
of
Asaph"
are
described
in
Chronicles
as
performers
who
supervised
music,
key
to
liturgical
life.
The
term
is
used
in
exegesis
to
discuss
recurring
motifs,
musical
forms,
and
liturgical
functions
within
the
Psalter.
"Asaphic"
helps
scholars
categorize
a
subset
of
psalms
by
authorship
tradition
and
liturgical
context.