Abiathar
아비아달
Named at 1 Samuel 22:20: “One of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled after David.” At 22:21–23 Abiathar tells David that Saul has slain the LORD’s priests, and David says to him, “Stay with me. Don’t be afraid, for he who seeks my life seeks your life. You will be safe with me.” At 23:6 Abiathar the son of Ahimelech flees to David to Keilah and comes down with an ephod in his hand, and at 23:9 David says to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod here.” 2 Samuel 15:24 says that Zadok came, and all the Levites with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God, and that Abiathar went up until all the people finished passing out of the city; 15:29 that Zadok and Abiathar carried God’s ark to Jerusalem again, and stayed there; and 15:35 gives David’s words to Hushai, “Therefore whatever you hear out of the king’s house, tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.” 1 Kings 1:7 says that Joab the son of Zeruiah and Abiathar the priest followed Adonijah and helped him; and 2:26–27 that the king said to Abiathar the priest, “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 GOD’s ark before David my father, and because you were afflicted in all in which my father was afflicted”, and that Solomon thrust Abiathar out from being priest to the LORD, “that he might fulfill the LORD’s word which he spoke concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh.” Mark 2:26 names him as the high priest at the time when David entered into God’s house and ate the show bread, which is not lawful to eat except for the priests; he is named in Jesus’ answer to the Pharisees about the Sabbath and is not present in that scene.
Direct relationships 14
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Source-backed narrative relations; not independent historical verification. Legacy dates and coordinates are outside this review.
Collection & rightsSource evidence (22)
AI-assisted comparison with the cited narrative; not independent historical verification.
- 1CH 15:11–15, engwebp
11David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites: for Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab,
12and said to them, “You are the heads of the fathers’ households of the Levites. Sanctify yourselves, both you and your brothers, that you may bring the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel, up to the place that I have prepared for it.
13For because you didn’t carry it at first, the LORD our God broke out in anger against us, because we didn’t seek him according to the ordinance.”
14So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel.
15The children of the Levites bore God’s ark on their shoulders with its poles, as Moses commanded according to the LORD’s word.
- 1CH 18:14–17, engwebp
14David reigned over all Israel; and he executed justice and righteousness for all his people.
15Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder;
16Zadok the son of Ahitub and Abimelech the son of Abiathar were priests; Shavsha was scribe;
17and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and the sons of David were chief officials serving the king.
- 1CH 24:1–6, engwebp
1These were the divisions of the sons of Aaron. The sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
2But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and had no children; therefore Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests.
3David, with Zadok of the sons of Eleazar and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, divided them according to their ordering in their service.
4There were more chief men found of the sons of Eleazar than of the sons of Ithamar; and they were divided like this: of the sons of Eleazar there were sixteen, heads of fathers’ houses; and of the sons of Ithamar, according to their fathers’ houses, eight.
5Thus they were divided impartially by drawing lots; for there were princes of the sanctuary and princes of God, both of the sons of Eleazar, and of the sons of Ithamar.
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 fathers’ households of the priests and of the Levites; one fathers’ house being taken for Eleazar, and one taken for Ithamar.
- 1CH 27:32–34, engwebp
32Also Jonathan, David’s uncle, was a counselor, a man of understanding, and a scribe. Jehiel the son of Hachmoni was with the king’s sons.
33Ahithophel was the king’s counselor. Hushai the Archite was the king’s friend.
34After Ahithophel was Jehoiada the son of Benaiah, and Abiathar. Joab was the captain of the king’s army.
- 1KI 1:5–10, engwebp
5Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, “I will be king.” Then he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.
6His father had not displeased him at any time in saying, “Why have you done so?” and he was also a very handsome man; and he was born after Absalom.
7He conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest; and they followed Adonijah and helped him.
8But Zadok the priest, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and the mighty men who belonged to David, were not with Adonijah.
9Adonijah killed sheep, cattle, and fatlings by the stone of Zoheleth, which is beside En Rogel; and he called all his brothers, the king’s sons, and all the men of Judah, the king’s servants;
10but he didn’t call Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother.
- 1KI 1:15–21, engwebp
15Bathsheba went in to the king in his room. The king was very old; and Abishag the Shunammite was serving the king.
16Bathsheba bowed and showed respect to the king. The king said, “What would you like?”
17She said to him, “My lord, you swore by the LORD your God to your servant, ‘Assuredly Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne.’
18Now, behold, Adonijah reigns; and you, my lord the king, don’t know it.
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 servant.
20You, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are on you, that you should tell them who will sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.
21Otherwise it will happen, when my lord the king sleeps with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon will be considered criminals.”
- 1KI 1:22–27, engwebp
22Behold, while she was still talking with the king, Nathan the prophet came in.
23They told the king, saying, “Behold, Nathan the prophet!” When he had come in before the king, he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground.
24Nathan said, “My lord, King, have you said, ‘Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne’?
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 eating and drinking before him, and saying, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’
26But he hasn’t called me, even me your servant, Zadok the priest, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and your servant Solomon.
27Was this thing done by my lord the king, and you haven’t shown to your servants who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?”
- 1KI 1:41–48, engwebp
41Adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard it as they had finished eating. When Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, “Why is this noise of the city being in an uproar?”
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.”
43Jonathan answered Adonijah, “Most certainly our lord King David has made Solomon king.
44The king has sent with him Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and they have caused him to ride on the king’s mule.
45Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gihon. They have come up from there rejoicing, so that the city rang again. This is the noise that you have heard.
46Also, Solomon sits on the throne of the kingdom.
47Moreover the king’s servants came to bless our lord King David, saying, ‘May your God make the name of Solomon better than your name, and make his throne greater than your throne;’ and the king bowed himself on the bed.
48Also thus said the king, ‘Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who has given one to sit on my throne today, my eyes even seeing it.’”
- 1KI 2:19–25, engwebp
19Bathsheba therefore went to King Solomon, to speak to him for Adonijah. The king rose up to meet her and bowed himself to her, and sat down on his throne and caused a throne to be set for the king’s mother; and she sat on his right hand.
20Then she said, “I ask one small petition of you; don’t deny me.” The king said to her, “Ask on, my mother, for I will not deny you.”
21She said, “Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah your brother as wife.”
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, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah.”
23Then King Solomon swore by the LORD, saying, “God do so to me, and more also, if Adonijah has not spoken this word against his own life.
24Now therefore as the LORD lives, who has established me and set me on my father David’s throne, and who has made me a house as he promised, surely Adonijah shall be put to death today.”
25King Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he fell on him, so that he died.
- 1KI 2:26–27, engwebp
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 GOD’s ark before David my father, and because you were afflicted in all in which my father was afflicted.”
27So Solomon thrust Abiathar out from being priest to the LORD, that he might fulfill the LORD’s word which he spoke concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh.
- 1KI 2:28–35, engwebp
28This news came to Joab; for Joab had followed Adonijah, although he didn’t follow Absalom. Joab fled to the LORD’s Tent, and held onto the horns of the altar.
29King Solomon was told, “Joab has fled to the LORD’s Tent; and behold, he is by the altar.” Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, “Go, fall on him.”
30Benaiah came to the LORD’s Tent, and said to him, “The king says, ‘Come out!’” He said, “No; but I will die here.” Benaiah brought the king word again, saying, “This is what Joab said, and this is how he answered me.”
31The king said to him, “Do as he has said, and fall on him, and bury him, that you may take away the blood, which Joab shed without cause, from me and from my father’s house.
32The LORD will return his blood on his own head, because he fell on two men more righteous and better than he, and killed them with the sword, and my father David didn’t know it: Abner the son of Ner, captain of the army of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, captain of the army of Judah.
33So their blood will return on the head of Joab and on the head of his offspring forever. But for David, for his offspring, for his house, and for his throne, there will be peace forever from the LORD.”
34Then Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up and fell on him, and killed him; and he was buried in his own house in the wilderness.
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.
- 1KI 4:1–6, engwebp
1King Solomon was king over all Israel.
2These were the princes whom he had: Azariah the son of Zadok, the priest;
3Elihoreph and Ahijah, the sons of Shisha, scribes; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud, the recorder;
4Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the army; Zadok and Abiathar were priests;
5Azariah the son of Nathan was over the officers; Zabud the son of Nathan was chief minister, the king’s friend;
6Ahishar was over the household; and Adoniram the son of Abda was over the men subject to forced labor.
- 1SA 22:20–23, engwebp
20One of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled after David.
21Abiathar told David that Saul had slain the LORD’s priests.
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.
23Stay with me. Don’t be afraid, for he who seeks my life seeks your life. You will be safe with me.”
- 1SA 23:6–13, engwebp
6When Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, he came down with an ephod in his hand.
7Saul was told that David had come to Keilah. Saul said, “God has delivered him into my hand, for he is shut in by entering into a town that has gates and bars.”
8Saul summoned all the people to war, to go down to Keilah to besiege David and his men.
9David knew that Saul was devising mischief against him. He said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod here.”
10Then David said, “O LORD, the God of Israel, your servant has surely heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah to destroy the city for my sake.
11Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? Will Saul come down, as your servant has heard? LORD, the God of Israel, I beg you, tell your servant.” The LORD said, “He will come down.”
12Then David said, “Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul?” The LORD said, “They will deliver you up.”
13Then David and his men, who were about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah and went wherever they could go. Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah; and he gave up going there.
- 1SA 30:7–10, engwebp
7David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, “Please bring the ephod here to me.” Abiathar brought the ephod to David.
8David inquired of the LORD, saying, “If I pursue after this troop, will I overtake them?” He answered him, “Pursue, for you will surely overtake them, and will without fail recover all.”
9So David went, he and the six hundred men who were with him, and came to the brook Besor, where those who were left behind stayed.
10But David pursued, he and four hundred men; for two hundred stayed behind, who were so faint that they couldn’t go over the brook Besor.
- 2SA 8:15–18, engwebp
15David reigned over all Israel; and David executed justice and righteousness for all his people.
16Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army, Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder,
17Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were priests, Seraiah was scribe,
18Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were chief ministers.
- 2SA 15:24–29, engwebp
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 of the city.
25The king said to Zadok, “Carry God’s ark back into the city. If I find favor in the LORD’s eyes, he will bring me again, and show me both it and his habitation;
26but if he says, ‘I have no delight in you,’ behold, here I am. Let him do to me as seems good to him.”
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.
28Behold, I will stay at the fords of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.”
29Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried God’s ark to Jerusalem again; and they stayed there.
- 2SA 15:32–37, engwebp
32When David had come to the top, where God was worshiped, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his tunic torn and earth on his head.
33David said to him, “If you pass on with me, then you will be a burden to me;
34but if you return to the city, and tell Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king. As I have been your father’s servant in time past, so I will now be your servant; then you will defeat for me the counsel of Ahithophel.’
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.
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.”
37So Hushai, David’s friend, came into the city; and Absalom came into Jerusalem.
- 2SA 17:15–22, engwebp
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.
16Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying, ‘Don’t lodge tonight at the fords of the wilderness, but by all means pass over, lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people who are with him.’”
17Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying by En Rogel; and a female servant used to go and report to them, and they went and told King David; for they couldn’t risk being seen coming into the city.
18But a boy saw them, and told Absalom. Then they both went away quickly and came to the house of a man in Bahurim, who had a well in his court; and they went down there.
19The woman took and spread the covering over the well’s mouth, and spread out crushed grain on it; and nothing was known.
20Absalom’s servants came to the woman to the house; and they said, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” The woman said to them, “They have gone over the brook of water.” When they had sought and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.
21After they had departed, they came up out of the well and went and told King David; and they said to David, “Arise and pass quickly over the water; for thus has Ahithophel counseled against you.”
22Then David arose, and all the people who were with him, and they passed over the Jordan. By the morning light there lacked not one of them who had not gone over the Jordan.
- 2SA 19:9–15, engwebp
9All the people were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “The king delivered us out of the hand of our enemies, and he saved us out of the hand of the Philistines; and now he has fled out of the land from Absalom.
10Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why don’t you speak a word of bringing the king back?”
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 Israel has come to the king, to return him to his house?
12You are my brothers. You are my bone and my flesh. Why then are you the last to bring back the king?’
13Say to Amasa, ‘Aren’t you my bone and my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if you aren’t captain of the army before me continually instead of Joab.’”
14He bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, even as one man, so that they sent to the king, saying, “Return, you and all your servants.”
15So the king returned, and came to the Jordan. Judah came to Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to bring the king over the Jordan.
- 2SA 20:23–26, engwebp
23Now Joab was over all the army of Israel, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites,
24Adoram was over the men subject to forced labor, Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was the recorder,
25Sheva was scribe, Zadok and Abiathar were priests,
26and Ira the Jairite was chief minister to David.
- MRK 2:23–28, engwebp
23He was going on the Sabbath day through the grain fields; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of grain.
24The Pharisees said to him, “Behold, why do they do that which is not lawful on the Sabbath day?”
25He said to them, “Did you never read what David did when he had need and was hungry—he, and those who were with him?
26How he entered into God’s house at the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the show bread, which is not lawful to eat except for the priests, and gave also to those who were with him?”
27He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.
28Therefore the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.”
AI-assisted, human review pending, 2026-09-26
Machine comparison on 2026-10-07: the wording raised none of the 3 rules against the passages this entry cites. No person has read it.
Unresolved interpretation: Abiathar the high priest of Mark 2:26 and Ahimelech the priest of 1 Samuel 21
- Mark 2:25–26 has Jesus say, “Did you never read what David did when he had need and was hungry—he, and those who were with him? How he entered into God’s house at the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the show bread, which is not lawful to eat except for the priests, and gave also to those who were with him?” The Korean Revised Version reads 아비아달 대제사장 때에. Matthew 12:3–4 and Luke 6:3–4 tell of the same and name no priest.
Source evidence (3)
AI-assisted comparison with the cited narrative; not independent historical verification.
- LUK 6:1–5, engwebp
1Now on the second Sabbath after the first, he was going through the grain fields. His disciples plucked the heads of grain and ate, rubbing them in their hands.
2But some of the Pharisees said to them, “Why do you do that which is not lawful to do on the Sabbath day?”
3Jesus, answering them, said, “Haven’t you read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him,
4how he entered into God’s house, and took and ate the show bread, and gave also to those who were with him, which is not lawful to eat except for the priests alone?”
5He said to them, “The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”
- MAT 12:1–8, engwebp
1At that time, Jesus went on the Sabbath day through the grain fields. His disciples were hungry and began to pluck heads of grain and to eat.
2But the Pharisees, when they saw it, said to him, “Behold, your disciples do what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.”
3But he said to them, “Haven’t you read what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him:
4how he entered into God’s house and ate the show bread, which was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests?
5Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath day the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless?
6But I tell you that one greater than the temple is here.
7But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you wouldn’t have condemned the guiltless.
8For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
- MRK 2:23–28, engwebp
23He was going on the Sabbath day through the grain fields; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of grain.
24The Pharisees said to him, “Behold, why do they do that which is not lawful on the Sabbath day?”
25He said to them, “Did you never read what David did when he had need and was hungry—he, and those who were with him?
26How he entered into God’s house at the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the show bread, which is not lawful to eat except for the priests, and gave also to those who were with him?”
27He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.
28Therefore the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.”
- LUK 6:1–5, engwebp
- 1 Samuel 21:1–6 says, “Then David came to Nob to Ahimelech the priest. Ahimelech came to meet David trembling, and said to him, ‘Why are you alone, and no man with you?’”, and that the priest gave him holy bread, for there was no bread there but the show bread that was taken from before the LORD. 22:20 says, “One of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled after David.” These verses call neither Ahimelech nor Abiathar high priest.
Source evidence (2)
AI-assisted comparison with the cited narrative; not independent historical verification.
- 1SA 21:1–6, engwebp
1Then David came to Nob to Ahimelech the priest. Ahimelech came to meet David trembling, and said to him, “Why are you alone, and no man with you?”
2David said to Ahimelech the priest, “The king has commanded me to do something, and has said to me, ‘Let no one know anything about the business about which I send you, and what I have commanded you. I have sent the young men to a certain place.’
3Now therefore what is under your hand? Please give me five loaves of bread in my hand, or whatever is available.”
4The priest answered David, and said, “I have no common bread, but there is holy bread; if only the young men have kept themselves from women.”
5David answered the priest, and said to him, “Truly, women have been kept from us as usual these three days. When I came out, the vessels of the young men were holy, though it was only a common journey. How much more then today shall their vessels be holy?”
6So the priest gave him holy bread; for there was no bread there but the show bread that was taken from before the LORD, to be replaced with hot bread in the day when it was taken away.
- 1SA 22:20–23, engwebp
20One of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled after David.
21Abiathar told David that Saul had slain the LORD’s priests.
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.
23Stay with me. Don’t be afraid, for he who seeks my life seeks your life. You will be safe with me.”
- 1SA 21:1–6, engwebp
Mark 2:26 places David’s eating of the show bread in God’s house “at the time of Abiathar the high priest” and has him give it also to those who were with him; 1 Samuel 21:1–6 names Ahimelech the priest as the one who gave the bread, and has Ahimelech ask David why he is alone. 1 Samuel 22:20 names Abiathar as a son of Ahimelech. Matthew 12:3–4 and Luke 6:3–4 name no priest. This collection records the Abiathar of the two books under one entry, and does not decide how the words of Mark 2:26 and those of 1 Samuel 21 fit together.
Unresolved interpretation: The priests named at 2 Samuel 8:17 and 20:25
- 1 Samuel 22:20 says, “One of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled after David.”
Source evidence (1)
AI-assisted comparison with the cited narrative; not independent historical verification.
- 1SA 22:20–23, engwebp
20One of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled after David.
21Abiathar told David that Saul had slain the LORD’s priests.
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.
23Stay with me. Don’t be afraid, for he who seeks my life seeks your life. You will be safe with me.”
- 1SA 22:20–23, engwebp
- 2 Samuel 8:17 says that “Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were priests”.
Source evidence (1)
AI-assisted comparison with the cited narrative; not independent historical verification.
- 2SA 8:15–18, engwebp
15David reigned over all Israel; and David executed justice and righteousness for all his people.
16Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army, Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder,
17Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were priests, Seraiah was scribe,
18Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were chief ministers.
- 2SA 8:15–18, engwebp
- 2 Samuel 20:25 says that “Zadok and Abiathar were priests”.
Source evidence (1)
AI-assisted comparison with the cited narrative; not independent historical verification.
- 2SA 20:23–26, engwebp
23Now Joab was over all the army of Israel, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites,
24Adoram was over the men subject to forced labor, Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was the recorder,
25Sheva was scribe, Zadok and Abiathar were priests,
26and Ira the Jairite was chief minister to David.
- 2SA 20:23–26, engwebp
- 1 Chronicles 18:16 says that “Zadok the son of Ahitub and Abimelech the son of Abiathar were priests; Shavsha was scribe”.
Source evidence (1)
AI-assisted comparison with the cited narrative; not independent historical verification.
- 1CH 18:14–17, engwebp
14David reigned over all Israel; and he executed justice and righteousness for all his people.
15Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder;
16Zadok the son of Ahitub and Abimelech the son of Abiathar were priests; Shavsha was scribe;
17and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and the sons of David were chief officials serving the king.
- 1CH 18:14–17, engwebp
1 Samuel 22:20 names Abiathar as one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub. 2 Samuel 8:17 says that Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were priests, and Seraiah was scribe, and 20:25 that Zadok and Abiathar were priests. 1 Chronicles 18:16 says that Zadok the son of Ahitub and Abimelech the son of Abiathar were priests, and Shavsha was scribe: it names Abimelech the son of Abiathar where 2 Samuel 8:17 names Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and Shavsha where it names Seraiah. Both editions write these names differently (the Korean Revised Version 아히멜렉 and 아비멜렉, 스라야 and 사워사; WEB Ahimelech and Abimelech, Seraiah and Shavsha). The text does not say how Ahimelech the son of Abiathar of 2 Samuel 8:17 stands to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub of 1 Samuel 22, nor why 20:25 names Abiathar where 8:17 names Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, nor whether Abimelech and Shavsha of 1 Chronicles 18:16 are the Ahimelech and the Seraiah of 2 Samuel 8:17. This collection records Ahimelech the son of Abiathar apart from Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, and Abimelech and Shavsha of 1 Chronicles 18:16 apart from Ahimelech and Seraiah of 2 Samuel 8:17, and does not decide how these passages fit together.
Unresolved interpretation: The priests named at 1 Kings 4:2–4
- 1 Kings 2:26–27 says that the king said to Abiathar the priest, “Go to Anathoth, to your own fields”, and that Solomon thrust Abiathar out from being priest to the LORD.
Source evidence (1)
AI-assisted comparison with the cited narrative; not independent historical verification.
- 1KI 2:26–27, engwebp
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 GOD’s ark before David my father, and because you were afflicted in all in which my father was afflicted.”
27So Solomon thrust Abiathar out from being priest to the LORD, that he might fulfill the LORD’s word which he spoke concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh.
- 1KI 2:26–27, engwebp
- 1 Kings 2:35 says, “The 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.”
Source evidence (1)
AI-assisted comparison with the cited narrative; not independent historical verification.
- 1KI 2:28–35, engwebp
28This news came to Joab; for Joab had followed Adonijah, although he didn’t follow Absalom. Joab fled to the LORD’s Tent, and held onto the horns of the altar.
29King Solomon was told, “Joab has fled to the LORD’s Tent; and behold, he is by the altar.” Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, “Go, fall on him.”
30Benaiah came to the LORD’s Tent, and said to him, “The king says, ‘Come out!’” He said, “No; but I will die here.” Benaiah brought the king word again, saying, “This is what Joab said, and this is how he answered me.”
31The king said to him, “Do as he has said, and fall on him, and bury him, that you may take away the blood, which Joab shed without cause, from me and from my father’s house.
32The LORD will return his blood on his own head, because he fell on two men more righteous and better than he, and killed them with the sword, and my father David didn’t know it: Abner the son of Ner, captain of the army of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, captain of the army of Judah.
33So their blood will return on the head of Joab and on the head of his offspring forever. But for David, for his offspring, for his house, and for his throne, there will be peace forever from the LORD.”
34Then Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up and fell on him, and killed him; and he was buried in his own house in the wilderness.
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.
- 1KI 2:28–35, engwebp
- 1 Kings 4:2 says, “These were the princes whom he had: Azariah the son of Zadok, the priest”, and 4:4, “Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the army; Zadok and Abiathar were priests”.
Source evidence (1)
AI-assisted comparison with the cited narrative; not independent historical verification.
- 1KI 4:1–6, engwebp
1King Solomon was king over all Israel.
2These were the princes whom he had: Azariah the son of Zadok, the priest;
3Elihoreph and Ahijah, the sons of Shisha, scribes; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud, the recorder;
4Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the army; Zadok and Abiathar were priests;
5Azariah the son of Nathan was over the officers; Zabud the son of Nathan was chief minister, the king’s friend;
6Ahishar was over the household; and Adoniram the son of Abda was over the men subject to forced labor.
- 1KI 4:1–6, engwebp
1 Kings 2:26–27 says that the king thrust Abiathar out from being priest to the LORD, and 2:35 that the king put Zadok the priest in the place of Abiathar. 4:2 names Azariah the son of Zadok as the priest, and 4:4 says that Zadok and Abiathar were priests. The text does not say how 4:4 stands with 2:27 and 2:35, nor whether the Zadok of 4:2 is Zadok the priest. This collection records the Zadok of 4:2 apart, and decides neither whether the two Zadoks are one man nor how these passages fit together.
All 14 relationships: AI-assisted, human review pending
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Ahimelech (son of Ahitub) — Father of — Abiathar
Evidence: 1 Samuel 22:20–23, 1 Samuel 23:6–13
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Abiathar — Father of — Ahimelech (son of Abiathar)
Evidence: 1 Chronicles 24:1–6, 2 Samuel 8:15–18
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Abiathar — Father of — Jonathan (son of Abiathar)
Evidence: 1 Kings 1:41–48, 2 Samuel 15:24–29, 2 Samuel 15:32–37
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Abiathar — Father of — Abimelech (son of Abiathar)
Evidence: 1 Chronicles 18:14–17
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Took part in (10) — Abiathar the son of Ahimelech escapes and flees after David, David, knowing that Saul is devising mischief, calls for the ephod and departs out of Keilah, David inquires of the LORD and pursues with four hundred men, Zadok and Abiathar carry God’s ark to Jerusalem again, Jonathan and Ahimaaz tell King David, and David and all the people pass over the Jordan, King David sends to Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and Judah comes to Gilgal to meet the king, Adonijah the son of Haggith exalts himself and kills sheep and cattle by the stone of Zoheleth, The king tells Abiathar the priest to go to Anathoth, and thrusts Abiathar out from being priest to the LORD, David’s word to Zadok and Abiathar the priests and to the chiefs of the Levites, and God’s ark borne on the shoulders of the children of the Levites, The counselors, the scribe, the king’s friend, and the captain of the king’s army
A relationship with an event rests on the passages the event cites: each event’s page has them.
Verses tagged with this entry
Names in the World English Bible text that carry this entry’s tag. They are carried over from the tags on the Korean Revised Version, which are matched by name inside chapters that already have collected evidence, and a verse where the English says “he” carries none. All await human review. They are a separate list from the source passages above. An empty list does not mean the entry is absent from the text.
One of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled after David.
David 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.
When Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, he came down with an ephod in his hand.
David knew that Saul was devising mischief against him. He said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod here.”
David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, “Please bring the ephod here to me.” Abiathar brought the ephod to David.
Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were priests, Seraiah was scribe,
Behold, 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 of the city.
The 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.
Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried God’s ark to Jerusalem again; and they stayed there.
Don’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.
Behold, 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.”
Then 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.
King 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 Israel has come to the king, to return him to his house?
Sheva was scribe, Zadok and Abiathar were priests,
He conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest; and they followed Adonijah and helped him.
He 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 servant.
For 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 eating and drinking before him, and saying, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’
While 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.”
King 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, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah.”
To 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 GOD’s ark before David my father, and because you were afflicted in all in which my father was afflicted.”
So Solomon thrust Abiathar out from being priest to the LORD, that he might fulfill the LORD’s word which he spoke concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh.
The 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.
Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the army; Zadok and Abiathar were priests;
David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites: for Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab,
Zadok the son of Ahitub and Abimelech the son of Abiathar were priests; Shavsha was scribe;
Shemaiah 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 fathers’ households of the priests and of the Levites; one fathers’ house being taken for Eleazar, and one taken for Ithamar.
After Ahithophel was Jehoiada the son of Benaiah, and Abiathar. Joab was the captain of the king’s army.
How he entered into God’s house at the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the show bread, which is not lawful to eat except for the priests, and gave also to those who were with him?”
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[Bibliadatum entry report] Entry: Abiathar (person-abiathar) Address: https://bibliadatum.org/en/wiki/person/abiathar Current wording: Named at 1 Samuel 22:20: “One of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled after David.” At 22:21–23 Abiathar tells David that Saul has slain the LORD’s priests, and David says to him, “Stay with me. Don’t be afraid, for he who seeks my life seeks your life. You will be safe with me.” At 23:6 Abiathar the son of Ahimelech flees to David to Keilah and comes down with an ephod in his hand, and at 23:9 David says to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod here.” 2 Samuel 15:24 says that Zadok came, and all the Levites with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God, and that Abiathar went up until all the people finished passing out of the city; 15:29 that Zadok and Abiathar carried God’s ark to Jerusalem again, and stayed there; and 15:35 gives David’s words to Hushai, “Therefore whatever you hear out of the king’s house, tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.” 1 Kings 1:7 says that Joab the son of Zeruiah and Abiathar the priest followed Adonijah and helped him; and 2:26–27 that the king said to Abiathar the priest, “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 GOD’s ark before David my father, and because you were afflicted in all in which my father was afflicted”, and that Solomon thrust Abiathar out from being priest to the LORD, “that he might fulfill the LORD’s word which he spoke concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh.” Mark 2:26 names him as the high priest at the time when David entered into God’s house and ate the show bread, which is not lawful to eat except for the priests; he is named in Jesus’ answer to the Pharisees about the Sabbath and is not present in that scene. Cited evidence: 1CH 15:11–15, engwebp / 1CH 18:14–17, engwebp / 1CH 24:1–6, engwebp / 1CH 27:32–34, engwebp / 1KI 1:5–10, engwebp / 1KI 1:15–21, engwebp / 1KI 1:22–27, engwebp / 1KI 1:41–48, engwebp (and 14 more of 22) Review state: ai-assisted / human-review-pending What looks wrong: (not written yet) --- This collection records what the text says and does not settle interpretation. A report about a reading that divides opinion may be registered as an unresolved issue rather than corrected.