Ahimelech Summary
STEPBible TIPNR
Ahimelech, son of Abiathar, served as a priest during the reign of King David.
son of Abiathar (2SA 8:17, 1CH 24:6)
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 › Abiathar › Ahimelech
Names
-
en
Ahimelech
my brother is a king; my king's brother
-
en
Abimelech
· Also called father of the king
-
en
Ahimelech
· Also called · H288 none · 2SA 8:17 [my] brother is king
- en Ahimelek · Also called
-
he
אֲחִימֶלֶךְ
achiymelekh · H288 · 2SA 8:17 [my] brother is king
-
he
אֲבִימֶלֶךְ
aviymelekh · H40 · 1CH 18:16 [my] father is king or [my] father is Molech
- he אֲחִימֶ֫לֶךְ · H0288I
- he אֲבִימֶ֫לֶךְ · H0040J
- el Αχιμελεχ Aximelex · none · 2SA 8:17
- bg Ахимелех
Mentioned in (6)
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 |
5 20–45 years per generation |
c. 1067 BC – 942 BC |
| Aaron · 1573 BC Ancestor |
11 20–45 years per generation |
c. 1353 BC – 1078 BC |
| Amram · 1688 BC Ancestor |
12 20–45 years per generation |
c. 1448 BC – 1148 BC |
| Kohath · 1705 BC Ancestor |
13 20–45 years per generation |
c. 1445 BC – 1120 BC |
| Levi · 1748 BC Ancestor |
13 20–45 years per generation |
c. 1488 BC – 1163 BC |
| Jacob · 1835 BC Ancestor |
14 20–45 years per generation |
c. 1555 BC – 1205 BC |
| Isaac · 1895 BC Ancestor |
15 20–45 years per generation |
c. 1595 BC – 1220 BC |
| Rebekah · 1876 BC Ancestor |
15 20–45 years per generation |
c. 1576 BC – 1201 BC |
| Pharez · 1722 BC Ancestor |
15 20–45 years per generation |
c. 1422 BC – 1047 BC |
| Abraham · 1995 BC Ancestor |
16 20–45 years per generation |
c. 1675 BC – 1275 BC |
| Sarah · 1985 BC Ancestor |
16 20–45 years per generation |
c. 1665 BC – 1265 BC |
| Terah · 2125 BC Ancestor |
17 25–130 years per generation |
c. 1700 BC – AD 86 |
| Nahor · 2156 BC Ancestor |
18 25–130 years per generation |
c. 1706 BC – AD 185 |
| Haran · 2056 BC Ancestor |
18 25–130 years per generation |
c. 1606 BC – AD 285 |
| Serug · 2186 BC Ancestor |
19 25–130 years per generation |
c. 1711 BC – AD 285 |
| Reu · 2218 BC Ancestor |
20 25–130 years per generation |
c. 1718 BC – AD 383 |
| Peleg · 2248 BC Ancestor |
21 25–130 years per generation |
c. 1723 BC – AD 483 |
| Eber · 2282 BC Ancestor |
22 25–130 years per generation |
c. 1732 BC – AD 579 |
| Salah · 2312 BC Ancestor |
23 25–130 years per generation |
c. 1737 BC – AD 679 |
| Arphaxad · 2347 BC Ancestor |
25 25–130 years per generation |
c. 1722 BC – AD 904 |
| Shem · 2447 BC Ancestor |
26 25–130 years per generation |
c. 1797 BC – AD 934 |
| Noah · 2948 BC Ancestor |
27 25–130 years per generation |
c. 2273 BC – AD 563 |
| Lamech · 3130 BC Ancestor |
28 25–130 years per generation |
c. 2430 BC – AD 511 |
| Methuselah · 3317 BC Ancestor |
29 25–130 years per generation |
c. 2592 BC – AD 454 |
| Enoch · 3382 BC Ancestor |
30 25–130 years per generation |
c. 2632 BC – AD 519 |
| Jared · 3544 BC Ancestor |
31 25–130 years per generation |
c. 2769 BC – AD 487 |
| Mahalaleel · 3609 BC Ancestor |
32 25–130 years per generation |
c. 2809 BC – AD 552 |
| Cainan · 3679 BC Ancestor |
33 25–130 years per generation |
c. 2854 BC – AD 612 |
| Cain · 4004 BC Ancestor |
33 25–130 years per generation |
c. 3179 BC – AD 287 |
| Enos · 3769 BC Ancestor |
34 25–130 years per generation |
c. 2919 BC – AD 652 |
| Adam · 4004 BC Ancestor |
34 25–130 years per generation |
c. 3154 BC – AD 417 |
| Eve · 4005 BC Ancestor |
34 25–130 years per generation |
c. 3155 BC – AD 416 |
| Seth · 3874 BC Ancestor |
35 25–130 years per generation |
c. 2999 BC – AD 677 |
Ahimelech Article
STEPBible TIPNR
Ahimelech, the son of Abiathar, was a priest who served during the reign of King David. He is mentioned alongside Zadok, another prominent priest, suggesting that they held important positions in the priestly hierarchy. (2Sa 8:17; 1Ch 18:16)
In the context of organizing the priestly divisions, Ahimelech is listed among the descendants of Ithamar, one of Aaron's sons. The priests were divided into groups to carry out their duties in the tabernacle and later in the temple. (1Ch.24.3,6).
Ahimelech's father, Abiathar, had a significant role in David's life, supporting him during his flight from Saul and later serving as a priest and advisor to David. (1Sa 22:20-23; 2Sa 15:24-29)
Although not much is recorded about Ahimelech's specific actions, his position as a priest during David's reign indicates that he played a role in the religious life of Israel and in serving the king.
Abimelech 4 Dictionary
Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)
The son of Abiathar, and high priest in the time of David (1 Chr. 18:16). In the parallel passage, 2 Sam. 8:17, we have the name Ahimelech, and Abiathar, the son of Ahimelech. This most authorities consider the more correct reading.
Sources: BibleData (CC BY 4.0, Ahimelech_3) · STEPBible TIPNR (CC BY 4.0, Ahimelech@2Sa.8.17-1Ch) · Theographic Bible Metadata (CC BY-SA 4.0, ahimelech_149)