The BibleGospel Companion

Abiel

אֲבִיאֵל · a.vi.el · H0022Gיְעִיאֵל · ye.i.el · H3273P4 other spellings“God my father” Hitchcock's 18696 mentions in 2 books, most in 1 Chronicles (4)

Who he was

Abiel, also referred to as Jeiel, Ner, or Abigibeon (or '[re]-founder of Gibeon'), was a Benjaminite and the father of Kish, who was the father of King Saul, Israel's first king. In 1 Samuel 9:1, Abiel is mentioned as the father of Kish and is described as a mighty man of power. The genealogies in 1Chronicles 8 and 9 provide additional information about Abiel's family.

In 1 Chronicles 8:33 and 1 Chronicles 9:39, he is called Ner, while in 1 Chronicles 8:29 and 1 Chronicles 9:35, he is referred to as Jeiel and Abigibeon or '[re]-founder of Gibeon'. These variations in names suggest that he may have been known by multiple names or that there might have been some discrepancies in the genealogical records. Abiel's son Kish became the father of Saul, who was anointed as the first king of Israel by the prophet Samuel.

Article: STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0

Family

FatherZerorSpouseMaacahChildrenKish, Ner, Abdon, Zur, Baal, Nadab, Gedor, Ahio, Zecher, MiklothFoundedGibeon
Family relations: STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0

Every mention

6 references, counted from STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0 · verse text: World English Bible (public domain)

1 Samuel 2 mentions

1 Samuel 9:1Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah, the son of a Benjamite, a mighty man of valor.1 Samuel 14:51Kish was the father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.

1 Chronicles 4 mentions

1 Chronicles 8:29The father of Gibeon, whose wife’s name was Maacah, lived in Gibeon1 Chronicles 8:33Ner became the father of Kish. Kish became the father of Saul. Saul became the father of Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Eshbaal.1 Chronicles 9:35Jeiel the father of Gibeon, whose wife’s name was Maacah, lived in Gibeon.1 Chronicles 9:39Ner became the father of Kish. Kish became the father of Saul. Saul became the father of Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Eshbaal.

What the dictionary says

Father (i.e., “possessor”) of God = “pious.”

Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)
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Sources