Ahimelech(ahia)
“Brother of the king, or my brother is king”
Summary
The high priest at Nob who assisted David during his flight from Saul, giving him the showbread and Goliath's sword, for which he and eighty-five priests were massacred by Saul's command.
☩Aid to David at Nob
When David fled from Saul, he came to Nob where the tabernacle was located. Ahimelech, the high priest, was initially afraid at David's solitary arrival. David claimed to be on urgent royal business and obtained provisions, including the sacred showbread that had been removed from the presence table. He also received the sword of Goliath, which had been preserved at the sanctuary as a trophy.
☩Betrayal by Doeg
These events were witnessed by Doeg the Edomite, who was 'detained before the Lord' that day. He reported what he saw to Saul, presenting Ahimelech's assistance as evidence of conspiracy with David against the king. The account of Doeg's betrayal illustrates how easily innocent actions can be twisted into accusations of treason.
☩The Massacre at Nob
Saul summoned Ahimelech and all the priests at Nob to answer charges of treason. Despite Ahimelech's protestation that he knew nothing of any hostility between David and Saul, the king ordered his guards to kill the priests. When they refused to strike the Lord's anointed servants, Doeg himself slaughtered eighty-five robed priests, then proceeded to destroy the entire city of Nob—men, women, children, and livestock.
☩Legacy and Identification
Only Abiathar, Ahimelech's son, escaped to David. Ahimelech is likely identical with Ahijah the priest mentioned earlier in Saul's reign, the names being variant forms with similar meanings. A later Ahimelech, son of Abiathar, shared priestly duties with Zadok during David's reign.
Related Verses16 mentions
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Ahimelech," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. I (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Ahimelech," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. I (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 3.George Morrish, "Ahimelech," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
- 4.Philip Schaff and Johann Herzog (ed.), "Ahimelech," in The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, vol. I (Funk and Wagnalls, 1908–1914).