Ahimelech Summary
STEPBible TIPNR
Ahimelech, the High Priest at Nob, gave David consecrated bread and Goliath's sword but was later killed by Saul for aiding David.
the priest of Nob (1SA 21:1)
Lineage: God › Adam › Seth › Enos › Cainan › Mahalaleel › Jared › Enoch › Methuselah › Lamech › Noah › Shem › Arphaxad › Cainan › Salah › Eber › Peleg › Reu › Serug › Nahor › Terah › Abraham › Isaac › Jacob › Levi › Kohath › Amram › Aaron › Ithamar › Unnamed#1 › Unnamed#2 › Unnamed#3 › Unnamed#4 › Eli › Phinehas › Ahitub › Ahimelech
Names
-
en
Ahimelech
my brother is a king; my king's brother
-
en
Ahiah
· Also called brother of the Lord
-
en
Ahimelech
· Also called · H288 none · 1SA 21:1 [my] brother is king
- en Ahimelek · Also called
- en Ahijah · Also called
-
he
אֲחִימֶלֶךְ
achiymelekh · H288 · 1SA 21:1 [my] brother is king
- he אֲחִימֶ֫לֶךְ · H0288G
- he אֲחִיָּ֫הוּ · H0281O
- el Αβιμελεχ Abimelex · none · 1SA 21:1
- bg Ахимелех
Mentioned in (14)
SDA Books
Awaiting permission to publishLinked through an explicitly cited Bible passage
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Conditional birth estimate
Conditional birth bounds under generation assumptions; not attested parental ages, biological limits or a lifespan.
The anchors give incompatible conditional intervals. This calculation establishes no birth year.
Below are relatives with a selected birth year, the generations separating them, and the interval allowed by each anchor. Each relative’s page shows available dates and sources. The overall estimate uses the intersection of the allowed intervals.
| Relative / anchor year | Generations | Conditional interval |
|---|---|---|
| Eli · 1167 BC Ancestor |
3 20–45 years per generation |
c. 1107 BC – 1032 BC |
| Aaron · 1573 BC Ancestor |
9 20–45 years per generation |
c. 1393 BC – 1168 BC |
| Amram · 1688 BC Ancestor |
10 20–45 years per generation |
c. 1488 BC – 1238 BC |
| Kohath · 1705 BC Ancestor |
11 20–45 years per generation |
c. 1485 BC – 1210 BC |
| Levi · 1748 BC Ancestor |
11 20–45 years per generation |
c. 1528 BC – 1253 BC |
| Jacob · 1835 BC Ancestor |
12 20–45 years per generation |
c. 1595 BC – 1295 BC |
| Isaac · 1895 BC Ancestor |
13 20–45 years per generation |
c. 1635 BC – 1310 BC |
| Rebekah · 1876 BC Ancestor |
13 20–45 years per generation |
c. 1616 BC – 1291 BC |
| Pharez · 1722 BC Ancestor |
13 20–45 years per generation |
c. 1462 BC – 1137 BC |
| Abraham · 1995 BC Ancestor |
14 20–45 years per generation |
c. 1715 BC – 1365 BC |
| Sarah · 1985 BC Ancestor |
14 20–45 years per generation |
c. 1705 BC – 1355 BC |
| Terah · 2125 BC Ancestor |
15 25–130 years per generation |
c. 1750 BC – 175 BC |
| Nahor · 2156 BC Ancestor |
16 25–130 years per generation |
c. 1756 BC – 76 BC |
| Haran · 2056 BC Ancestor |
16 25–130 years per generation |
c. 1656 BC – AD 25 |
| Serug · 2186 BC Ancestor |
17 25–130 years per generation |
c. 1761 BC – AD 25 |
| Reu · 2218 BC Ancestor |
18 25–130 years per generation |
c. 1768 BC – AD 123 |
| Peleg · 2248 BC Ancestor |
19 25–130 years per generation |
c. 1773 BC – AD 223 |
| Eber · 2282 BC Ancestor |
20 25–130 years per generation |
c. 1782 BC – AD 319 |
| Salah · 2312 BC Ancestor |
21 25–130 years per generation |
c. 1787 BC – AD 419 |
| Arphaxad · 2347 BC Ancestor |
23 25–130 years per generation |
c. 1772 BC – AD 644 |
| Shem · 2447 BC Ancestor |
24 25–130 years per generation |
c. 1847 BC – AD 674 |
| Noah · 2948 BC Ancestor |
25 25–130 years per generation |
c. 2323 BC – AD 303 |
| Lamech · 3130 BC Ancestor |
26 25–130 years per generation |
c. 2480 BC – AD 251 |
| Methuselah · 3317 BC Ancestor |
27 25–130 years per generation |
c. 2642 BC – AD 194 |
| Enoch · 3382 BC Ancestor |
28 25–130 years per generation |
c. 2682 BC – AD 259 |
| Jared · 3544 BC Ancestor |
29 25–130 years per generation |
c. 2819 BC – AD 227 |
| Mahalaleel · 3609 BC Ancestor |
30 25–130 years per generation |
c. 2859 BC – AD 292 |
| Cainan · 3679 BC Ancestor |
31 25–130 years per generation |
c. 2904 BC – AD 352 |
| Cain · 4004 BC Ancestor |
31 25–130 years per generation |
c. 3229 BC – AD 27 |
| Enos · 3769 BC Ancestor |
32 25–130 years per generation |
c. 2969 BC – AD 392 |
| Adam · 4004 BC Ancestor |
32 25–130 years per generation |
c. 3204 BC – AD 157 |
| Eve · 4005 BC Ancestor |
32 25–130 years per generation |
c. 3205 BC – AD 156 |
| Seth · 3874 BC Ancestor |
33 25–130 years per generation |
c. 3049 BC – AD 417 |
Was killed by (1)
Ahimelech Article
STEPBible TIPNR
Ahimelech, also known as Ahijah, was the priest at Nob during the reign of King Saul. He was the son of Ahitub and the father of Abiathar. When David was fleeing from Saul, he came to Ahimelech at Nob seeking help. Ahimelech, unaware of the conflict between David and Saul, provided David with the consecrated bread and the sword of Goliath. (1Sa 21:1-9)
Doeg the Edomite, one of Saul's servants, witnessed this interaction and reported it to Saul. Saul summoned Ahimelech and the other priests, accusing them of conspiring with David against him. Despite Ahimelech's defense of his actions, Saul ordered the execution of the priests. Doeg carried out the order, killing Ahimelech and eighty-four other priests. (1Sa 22:9-19).
Abiathar, Ahimelech's son, was the only one who escaped the massacre. He fled to David and brought with him the ephod, a priestly garment used for seeking God's guidance. (1Sa 22:20-23; 23.6; 30.7)
The story of Ahimelech's tragic fate is also referenced in Psalm 52, which is attributed to David when Doeg informed Saul about Ahimelech's assistance to David. The psalm reflects on the consequences of those who trust in evil and contrasts them with those who trust in God's steadfast love. (Psa 52:1)
Ahijah 3 Dictionary
Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)
Son of Ahitub (1 Sam. 14:3, 18), Ichabod’s brother; the same probably as Ahimelech, who was high priest at Nob in the reign of Saul (1 Sam. 22:11). Some, however, suppose that Ahimelech was the brother of Ahijah, and that they both officiated as high priests, Ahijah at Gibeah or Kirjath-jearim, and Ahimelech at Nob.
Sources: BibleData (CC BY 4.0, Ahimelech_1) · STEPBible TIPNR (CC BY 4.0, Ahimelech@1Sa.14.3-Psa) · Theographic Bible Metadata (CC BY-SA 4.0, ahimelech_126)