Abiathar
אֶבְיָתָר · ev.ya.tar · H0054Ἀβιαθάρ · Abiathar · G0008“excellent father; father of the remnant” Hitchcock's 186929 mentions in 5 books, most in 2 Samuel (9)
Who he was
Abiathar was the son of Ahimelech, a priest at Nob. When King Saul ordered the execution of the priests at Nob, Abiathar was the only one who escaped and fled to David (1 Samuel 22:20–23). He brought with him the ephod, a sacred priestly garment used for seeking God's will (1Sa.23.6,9). Abiathar remained loyal to David throughout his reign, serving as one of his chief priests (2Sa.8.17; 15.24-36; 19.11; 20.25). However, near the end of David's life, Abiathar supported Adonijah's attempt to become king instead of Solomon (1Ki.1.7,19,25). When Solomon became king, he removed Abiathar from the priesthood, fulfilling the prophecy against the house of Eli (1Ki.2.26-27,35). Abiathar is also mentioned in the New Testament by Jesus, who referred to an incident during Abiathar's time as high priest (Mark 2:26).
Article: STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0
Family
Family relations: STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0
Every mention
29 references, counted from STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0 · verse text: World English Bible (public domain)
1 Samuel6 mentions
1 Samuel 22:20One of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled after David.1 Samuel 22:21Abiathar told David that Saul had slain Yahweh’s priests.1 Samuel 22:22David said to Abiathar, “I knew on that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul. I am responsible for the death of all the persons of your father’s house.1 Samuel 23:6When Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, he came down with an ephod in his hand.1 Samuel 23:9David knew that Saul was devising mischief against him. He said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod here.”1 Samuel 30:7David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, “Please bring the ephod here to me.” Abiathar brought the ephod to David.
2 Samuel9 mentions
2 Samuel 8:17Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were priests, Seraiah was scribe,2 Samuel 15:24Behold, Zadok also came, and all the Levites with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God; and they set down God’s ark; and Abiathar went up until all the people finished passing out…2 Samuel 15:27The king said also to Zadok the priest, “Aren’t you a seer? Return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz your son and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.2 Samuel 15:29Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried God’s ark to Jerusalem again; and they stayed there.2 Samuel 15:35Don’t you have Zadok and Abiathar the priests there with you? Therefore whatever you hear out of the king’s house, tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.2 Samuel 15:36Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz, Zadok’s son, and Jonathan, Abiathar’s son. Send to me everything that you shall hear by them.”2 Samuel 17:15Then Hushai said to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, “Ahithophel counseled Absalom and the elders of Israel that way; and I have counseled this way.2 Samuel 19:11King David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, “Speak to the elders of Judah, saying, ‘Why are you the last to bring the king back to his house, since the speech of all…2 Samuel 20:25Sheva was scribe, Zadok and Abiathar were priests,
1 Kings9 mentions
1 Kings 1:7He conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest; and they followed Adonijah and helped him.1 Kings 1:19He has slain cattle and fatlings and sheep in abundance, and has called all the sons of the king, Abiathar the priest, and Joab the captain of the army; but he hasn’t called Solomon your…1 Kings 1:25For he has gone down today, and has slain cattle, fatlings, and sheep in abundance, and has called all the king’s sons, the captains of the army, and Abiathar the priest. Behold, they are…1 Kings 1:42While he yet spoke, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came; and Adonijah said, “Come in; for you are a worthy man, and bring good news.”1 Kings 2:22King Solomon answered his mother, “Why do you ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Ask for him the kingdom also, for he is my elder brother; even for him, and for Abiathar the priest…1 Kings 2:26To Abiathar the priest the king said, “Go to Anathoth, to your own fields, for you are worthy of death. But I will not at this time put you to death, because you bore the Lord Yahweh’s ark…1 Kings 2:27So Solomon thrust Abiathar out from being priest to Yahweh, that he might fulfill Yahweh’s word which he spoke concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh.1 Kings 2:35The king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada in his place over the army; and the king put Zadok the priest in the place of Abiathar.1 Kings 4:4Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the army; Zadok and Abiathar were priests;
1 Chronicles4 mentions
1 Chronicles 15:11David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites: for Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab,1 Chronicles 18:16Zadok the son of Ahitub and Abimelech the son of Abiathar were priests; Shavsha was scribe;1 Chronicles 24:6Shemaiah the son of Nethanel the scribe, who was of the Levites, wrote them in the presence of the king, the princes, Zadok the priest, Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and the heads of the…1 Chronicles 27:34After Ahithophel was Jehoiada the son of Benaiah, and Abiathar. Joab was the captain of the king’s army.
What the dictionary says
Father of abundance, or my father excels, the son of Ahimelech the high priest.
Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)
Read the article →Sources
- STEPBible TIPNR · Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References · CC BY 4.0 · github.com/STEPBible/STEPBible-Data
- Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary (1869) · Public domain