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Abiathar

Abiathar, son of Ahimelech, was a high priest who served during the reigns of David and Solomon.

The name Abiathar means “excellent father; father of the remnant”

MaleHigh PriestTribe of LeviUnited Monarchy eraOld & New Testaments5 books30 verses

Summary

A high priest living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1 Samuel 22:20; referred to as Abiathar (אֶבְיָתָר) or Abiathar (Ἀβιαθάρ); a son of Ahimelech; father of Ahimelech, Jonathan.

Profile

Abiathar served as high priest during the reigns of David and Solomon. He first met David before David became king. When David fled from Saul, he stopped in the city of Nob. Pretending to follow Saul's orders, David obtained food and supplies from the priests there. Saul found out and became so angry that he killed all the priests except one; only Abiathar survived.

Abiathar was one of the first from Saul's administration to support David. His support was strong. He represented Eli's priestly line and brought the holy ephod with the Urim and Thummim (Exodus 28:29–30). (The ephod was a sacred garment worn by the high priest, and the Urim and Thummim were used for seeking God's guidance.) This allowed him to seek God's guidance for David during crises (1 Samuel 23:1–12; 30:7–8).

After David became king, Abiathar served as a priest alongside Zadok, who was not from Eli's line (1 Chronicles 6:8; 18:16; 24:3). Both served David well. During Absalom's rebellion, they informed David about events in the capital (2 Samuel 15:27–37; 17:15–16).

In David's old age, Abiathar wrongly supported Adonijah's attempt to become king instead of his father. Zadok stayed loyal to David and supported Solomon (1 Kings 1:5–8). As a result, once Solomon became king, he removed Abiathar's priestly authority and sent him to his estate in Anathoth, a village about four miles northeast of Jerusalem (1 Kings 2:26–27). Zadok became the high priest, and his descendants inherited that role instead of Abiathar's. This fulfilled the prophecy the Lord gave at Shiloh about Eli's descendants (1 Kings 2:27; see 1 Samuel 2:27–36).

Passages for Further Study

1 Samuel 22:20–23; 23:6, 9; 30:7; 2 Samuel 15:27–37; 17:15; 1 Kings 1:1–2:35; 1 Chronicles 15:11

Glossary entries

Abiathar

Family members

Father

Ahimelech

Children

Ahimelech Jonathan

Alternative names

Mentions

Includes 1 verse that refer to Abiathar without naming them, as “he”, “she”, or the subject of a verb.

  1. 1 Samuel 22:20
    But one of the sons of Ahimelech son of Ahitub escaped. His name was Abiathar, and he fled to David.
  2. 1 Samuel 22:21
    And Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the LORD.
  3. 1 Samuel 22:22
    Then David said to Abiathar, “I knew that Doeg the Edomite was there that day, and that he was sure to tell Saul. I myself am responsible for the lives of everyone in your father’s house.
  4. 1 Samuel 22:23Referred to, not named
    Stay with me; do not be afraid, for he who seeks your life is seeking mine as well. You will be safe with me.”
  5. 1 Samuel 23:6
    (Now Abiathar son of Ahimelech had brought the ephod with him when he fled to David at Keilah.)
  6. 1 Samuel 23:9
    When David learned that Saul was plotting evil against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod.”
  7. 1 Samuel 30:7
    Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, “Bring me the ephod.” So Abiathar brought it to him,
  8. 2 Samuel 8:17
    Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests; Seraiah was the scribe;
  9. 2 Samuel 15:24
    Zadok was also there, and all the Levites with him were carrying the ark of the covenant of God. And they set down the ark of God, and Abiathar offered sacrifices until all the people had passed out of the city.
  10. 2 Samuel 15:27
    The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Are you not a seer? Return to the city in peace—you with your son Ahimaaz, and Abiathar with his son Jonathan.
  11. 2 Samuel 15:29
    So Zadok and Abiathar returned the ark of God to Jerusalem and stayed there.
  12. 2 Samuel 15:35
    Will not Zadok and Abiathar the priests be there with you? Report to them everything you hear from the king’s palace.
  13. 2 Samuel 15:36
    Indeed, their two sons, Ahimaaz son of Zadok and Jonathan son of Abiathar, are there with them. Send them to me with everything you hear.”
  14. 2 Samuel 17:15
    So Hushai told Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, “This is what Ahithophel has advised Absalom and the elders of Israel, and this is what I have advised.
  15. 2 Samuel 19:11
    Then King David sent this message to Zadok and Abiathar, the priests: “Say to the elders of Judah, ‘Why should you be the last to restore the king to his palace, since the talk of all Israel has reached the king at his quarters?
  16. 2 Samuel 20:25
    Sheva was the scribe; Zadok and Abiathar were priests;
  17. 1 Kings 1:7
    So Adonijah conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, who supported him.
  18. 1 Kings 1:19
    And he has sacrificed an abundance of oxen, fattened calves, and sheep, and has invited all the other sons of the king, as well as Abiathar the priest and Joab the commander of the army. But he has not invited your servant Solomon.
  19. 1 Kings 1:25
    For today he has gone down and sacrificed an abundance of oxen, fattened calves, and sheep, and has invited all the sons of the king, the commanders of the army, and Abiathar the priest. And behold, they are eating and drinking before him, saying, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’
  20. 1 Kings 1:42
    As he was speaking, suddenly Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest arrived. “Come in,” said Adonijah, “for you are a man of valor. You must be bringing good news.”
  21. 1 Kings 2:22
    King Solomon answered his mother, “Why do you request Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Since he is my older brother, you might as well request the kingdom for him and for Abiathar the priest and for Joab son of Zeruiah!”
  22. 1 Kings 2:26
    Then the king said to Abiathar the priest, “Go back to your fields in Anathoth. Even though you deserve to die, I will not put you to death at this time, since you carried the ark of the Lord GOD before my father David, and you suffered through all that my father suffered.”
  23. 1 Kings 2:27
    So Solomon banished Abiathar from the priesthood of the LORD and thus fulfilled the word that the LORD had spoken at Shiloh against the house of Eli.
  24. 1 Kings 2:35
    And the king appointed Benaiah son of Jehoiada in Joab’s place over the army, and he appointed Zadok the priest in Abiathar’s place.
  25. 1 Kings 4:4
    Benaiah son of Jehoiada was in charge of the army; Zadok and Abiathar were priests;
  26. 1 Chronicles 15:11
    David summoned the priests Zadok and Abiathar and the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab.
  27. 1 Chronicles 18:16
    Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests; Shavsha was the scribe;
  28. 1 Chronicles 24:6
    The scribe, Shemaiah son of Nethanel, a Levite, recorded their names in the presence of the king and of the officers: Zadok the priest, Ahimelech son of Abiathar, and the heads of families of the priests and the Levites—one family being taken from Eleazar, and then one from Ithamar.
  29. 1 Chronicles 27:34
    Ahithophel was succeeded by Jehoiada son of Benaiah, then by Abiathar. Joab was the commander of the king’s army.
  30. Mark 2:26
    During the high priesthood of Abiathar, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which was lawful only for the priests. And he gave some to his companions as well.”