Abimelech was most prominently the name of a polytheistic[3][4] king of Gerar who is mentioned in two of the three wife-sister narratives in Genesis, in connection with both Abraham[5] and Isaac.[6]. Some of the Philistines kings are called “Abimelech.”. There are at least two people named Abimelech in the Old Testament. ABIMELECH. Block, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel (Zondervan, 2009). a-bim'-e-lek ('abhimelekh, "father of a king"): A name borne by five Old Testament persons. This occurrs when Abimelech is being instructed by God regarding Sarah, that he is to return her to Abraham.. There seems to be little doubt that there are two different “Abimelechs” in these chapters of Genesis. He is first mentioned in Judges 8:30–31 where we read, “ [Gideon] had seventy sons of his own, for he had many wives. So Isaac went to King Abimelech of the Philistines in the land of Gerar, 2 because the Lord had appeared to Isaac and said: 1-17). With the new money, Abimelech hired an entourage to accompany him—putting on the airs of a king, a public relations move. Either a personal name or an official title of several Philistine kings, perhaps similar to the title Pharoah among the Eygptians and Caesar among the Romans. Israel in the Era of the Judges: Abimelech at Shechem - Associates for Biblical Research So Isaac went to Gerar, to Abimelech … One of his first acts was to murder his brothers, 70 in number, “on one stone,” at Ophrah. Among the gifts presented by the king were a thousand pieces of silver as a “covering of the eyes” for Sarah; i.e., either as an atoning gift and a testimony of her innocence in the sight of all, or rather for the purpose of procuring a veil for Sarah to conceal her beauty, and thus as a reproof to her for not having worn a veil which, as a married woman, she apparently ought to have done in that culture. God confronted Abimelech before he slept with Sarah. Abraham and Abimelech. Makes a covenant with Abraham (Gen 21) and Isaac (Gen 26) at Beer-sheba. p. 173, …Zadok the son of Ahitub and Abimelech the son of Abiathar were priests, and Shavsha was secretary… —1 Chronicles 18:16 NASB. Abraham and Abimelech. Loose morals undermine the peace of society. Ahimelech, the son of Ahitub and father of Abiathar, but described as the son of Abiathar in 2 Samuel 8:17 and in four places in 1 Chronicles. He reigned in the time of Isaac and was probably the son of the preceeding King Abimelech known to his father Abraham (Genesis 26:1-22). His name can best be interpreted as "my father is king", claiming the inherited right to rule. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Both Abraham and Isaac lied because they were afraid. David sought refuge with him (1 Samuel 21:10-15). Meaning: my father a king, or father of a king. Abimelech (əbĭm`əlĕk), in the Bible. According to the Bible, he was an unprincipled and ambitious ruler, often engaged in war with his own subjects. 21:33 Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beer Sheba. There are four men named Abimelech in the Bible: The first Abimelech we meet is the king of Gerar during the time of Abraham (Genesis 20:1). Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines, to Gerar. Then Abimelech and Phicol, the commander of his army, returned to the land of the Philistines. This was the common name for Philistine kings, as was the name “Pharaoh” for Egyptian kings. did not a woman cast a piece of a millstone upon him from the wall, that he died in Thebez? When engaged in reducing the town of Thebez, which had revolted, he was struck mortally on his head by a millstone, thrown by the hand of a woman from the wall above. Men deposited votive offerings there, the sword of Goliath, for example (1 Samuel 21:9). Abimelech was the king of Shechem and a son of biblical judge Gideon. In some passages his name is reversed with that of his son, Abiathar. Nearly a century later than the events connected with the first Abimelech, as outlined above, a second Abimelech, king of the Philistines, is mentioned in relations with Isaac , who in time of grievous famine went down from his home, probably at Hebron, to Gerar. Abimelech was the name of multiple Philistine kings mentioned in the Hebrew Bible. As Abraham had done, Isaac built an altar and called upon the name of the Lord. Abimelech then became the King of Shechem, ruling for three years before a conspiracy arose against him. —Judges 9 NKJV. (2) incline him to lawless conduct (Judges 8:30). While he was staying in Gerar, 2 Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” So Abimelech king of Gerar had Sarah brought to him. Biblical Studies Press. He sought to rule over Shechem by killing all other sons of Gideon, who were all slain except for Gideon's youngest son, Jotham. Isaac sought refuge in his territory during a famine, and there he acted a part with reference to his wife Rebekah similar to that of his father Abraham with reference to Sarah. 2 And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, () “She is my sister.” And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah. He was proclaimed king after the death of his father—a judge of Israel (Judges 9:1; Judges 8:33-9:6). He is introduced in Judges 8:31 as the son of Gideon and his Shechemite concubine, and the biblical account of his reign is described in chapter nine of the Book of Judges. In addition, the story clarifies the difference in an undisputable lie and what we may call a “half-truth”. The outcome should make clear that even mild dishone… But if we look closely, we can find an even deeper sin shown here. Abraham, Sarah, and Abimelech 1 Now Abraham journeyed from there to the region of the Negev and settled between Kadesh and Shur. If Abimelech is a throne name, there could be two people named Abimelech represented in these stories. There are actually several men named Abimelech in the Bible. Some translations, such as the NIV, spell the name Abimelek. This name appears in the title of Psalm 34. Abimelech murdered (burned alive) a thousand trapped men and women civilians in Shechem. Genesis 20:7 The first person who is named a prophet is Abraham. Whatever desecrates the sanctity of the home tends to derange the order of the state. Only 1 escaped; his name is Jotham. This was half true, she was his half-sister but also his wife. a-bim'-e-lek ('abhimelekh, "father of a king"): A name borne by five Old Testament persons. Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines at Gerar. Apart from the king (or kings) of Gerar, the Bible also records this name for: His concubine, who lived in Shechem, also bore him a son, whom he named Abimelek.”. He descended from Aaron's son Ithamar and the High Priest of Israel Eli. He befriended David, and Saul had him killed. ChristianAnswers.Net WebBible Encyclopedia. It was customary to inquire of Yahweh there (1 Samuel 22:10, 15). This most authorities consider the more correct reading. In the parallel passage, 2 Samuel 8:17, we have the name Ahimelech, and Abiathar, the son of Ahimelech. He reigned in the time of Abraham (Genesis 20:1-18). Easton's Bible Dictionary (New and revised ed.). Parental vanity. Genesis 26-36 Contemporary English Version (CEV) Isaac and Abimelech. He took Abraham's wife Sarah as his wife when Abraham claimed that she was his sister. Isaac settled for a while here, and prospered. why went ye nigh the wall? xx., xxi., xxvi. Zadok the son of Ahitub and Abimelech the son of Abiathar were priests, and Shavsha was secretary… —1 Chronicles 18:16 NASB. A Psalm of David when he pretended madness before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed. It is quite possible that Abimelech was the royal title rather than the personal name. Answer. NET Bible There was a famine in the land, subsequent to the earlier famine that occurred in the days of Abraham. In a repeat performance, Abimelech arrived and asked for another treaty with Isaac, identical to the one made with Abraham. The stories that are told in both cases are very much alike in all details, which induces the Bible critics to believe that there is really only one (Gen. There is no difference. 44 Then Abimelech and the soldiers who were with him rushed forward and commandeered the entrance to the city gate while the other two companies ran out to kill everyone who was in the field. And all the men of Shechem gathered together, all of Beth Millo, and they went and made Abimelech king beside the terebinth tree at the pillar that was in Shechem. 26 Once during Abraham’s lifetime, the fields had not produced enough grain, and now the same thing happened. He was an unprincipled, ambitious ruler, often engaged in war with his own subjects. Either way, the name means “father of the king.”. Then Abimelech, son of Gideon, went up to Mount Zalmon, he and all the people who were with him. then say thou, Thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also. In 1 Chronicles 18:16 his name is Abimelech according to the Masoretic Text, and is probably the same as Ahiah. 2 Samuel 11:21 King James Version (KJV) Who smote Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? Perceiving that the wound was mortal, he asked his armor-bearer to thrust him through with his sword, that it might not be said he had perished by the hand of a woman (Judges 9:50-57). We know that it is wrong to lie (Psalm 34:13). We would be on safe ground to assume that the term “Abimelech” is a title of office, like “Pharaoh,” rather than a given name. By an interposition of Providence, Sarah was delivered from his harem, and was restored to her husband Abraham. The first was the king of Gerar. There the Lord appeared to him as He had done to his father Abraham and made him the same promise of a multitude of descendants (verses 23–24). (1) The name of two kings of Philistia; the first was a contemporary of Abraham, the second, probably son of the former, was king in the days of Isaac. 2. —Judges 9:48-49 NKJV. "[1] In the Pentateuch, it is used as a title for kings in the land of Canaan.[2]. Abimelech rebuked him for the deception, which he accidentally discovered. Note to Teacher: The Abimelech in Genesis 20 was most likely the grandfather of the Abimelech in Isaac’s day. There are 3 very important archaeological discoveries at Shechem that illumine Judges chapter 9 and Abimelech’s attack upon the city in his quest to be king. A few years after this Abimelech visited Abraham, who had removed southward beyond his territory, and there entered into a league of peace and friendship with him. Missing or empty |title= (help), Wife–sister narratives in the Book of Genesis, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Abimelech&oldid=1017461091, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 12 April 2021, at 21:52. (1) The name of two kings of Philistia; the first was a contemporary of Abraham, the second, probably son of the former, was king in the days of Isaac. Fearing for his life because of his beautiful wife, Rebekah, he called her his sister, just as Abraham had done with reference to Sarah. Abimelech (aka Achish), king of Gath Genesis 20:1–16 narrates the story of Abraham emigrating to the southern region of Gerar, whose king is named Abimelech. A king of Gerar mentioned in Genesis 20 and 26:1–33.He is tied to the patriarchal narratives with regard to their pastoral nomadic activities and the fear Abraham and Isaac display whenever 21:32 So they made a treaty at Beer Sheba. It was confirmed by a mutual oath at Beer-sheba (Genesis 21:22-34). 1 Priest at Nob, brother of, or perhaps the same as, Ahijah (2.) Interesting information about A.bim’e.lech, meaning; My Father is King. As a mark of respect, the king gave to Abraham valuable gifts, and offered him a settlement in any part of his country; while at the same time he delicately and yet severely rebuked him for having practiced a deception upon him in pretending that Sarah was only his sister. ABIMELECH (PERSON) [Heb ʾabı̂melek (אַבִימֶלֶך)].Two or three persons in the Hebrew Bible bear this name. However, Abraham is chronologically not the first person the Bible shows prophesying. New Heart English Bible There was a famine in the land, besides the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. However, King Abimelech desired that he leave his territory, which Isaac did. A distraction was made between the common and the holy (1 Samuel 21:4-6). 45 Abimelech fought against the city all that day, captured the city, killed the people in it, then tore the city to the ground and sowed it with salt. Misled to believe that Sarah (Gen 20) and Rebekah (Gen 26) were the sisters of Abraham and Isaac, respectively. That would be Enoch. Later, Abimelech visited him when he was encamped at Beer-sheba, and expressed a desire to renew the covenant which had been entered into between their fathers (Genesis 26:26-31). Abraham states that Sarah, his wife, is really his sister, leading Abimelech to try to take Sarah as a wife; however, … Abimelech was a son of Gideon, the King of Israel, and his concubine from Shechem. There he worshiped the LORD, the eternal God. In the parallel passage, 2 Samuel 8:17, we have the name Ahimelech, and Abiathar, the son of Ahimelech. The name or title Abimelech is formed from Hebrew words for "father" and "king," and may be interpreted in a variety of ways, including "Father-King", "My father is king," or "Father of a king. This is the name of 5 biblical men; 4 were kings. This most authorities consider the more correct reading. And Abimelech took an ax in his hand and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it and laid it on his shoulder; then he said to the people who were with him, “What you have seen me do, make haste and do as I have done.”, So each of the people likewise cut down his own bough and followed Abimelech, put them against the stronghold, and set the stronghold on fire above them, so that all the people of the tower of Shechem died, about a thousand men and women. Abimelech (also spelled Abimelek), one of Gideon’s sons, served as a judge of Israel following the judgeship of Gideon. Fearing for his life because of his beautiful wife, Rebekah, he called her his sister, just as Abraham had done with reference to Sarah. Abimelech (also spelled Abimelek or Avimelech; Hebrew: .mw-parser-output .script-hebrew,.mw-parser-output .script-Hebr{font-family:"SBL Hebrew","SBL BibLit","Taamey Ashkenaz","Taamey Frank CLM","Frank Ruehl CLM","Ezra SIL","Ezra SIL SR","Keter Aram Tsova","Taamey David CLM","Keter YG","Shofar","David CLM","Hadasim CLM","Simple CLM","Nachlieli",Cardo,Alef,"Noto Serif Hebrew","Noto Sans Hebrew","David Libre",David,"Times New Roman",Gisha,Arial,FreeSerif,FreeSans}אֲבִימֶלֶךְ‎ / אֲבִימָלֶךְ‎, Modern Aviméleḵ / Avimáleḵ Tiberian ʼAḇîméleḵ / ʼAḇîmāleḵ, "father/leader of a king; my father/leader, a king") was the name of multiple Philistine kings mentioned in the Hebrew Bible. In Genesis 26:1 Now there was a famine in the land, besides the previous famine that had occurred in the days of Abraham. Nearly a century later than the events connected with the first Abimelech, as outlined above, a second Abimelech, king of the Philistines, is mentioned in relations with Isaac , who in time of grievous famine went down from his home, probably at Hebron, to Gerar. Apart from the king (or kings) of Gerar, the Bible also records this name for: This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Easton, Matthew George (1897). Many years had passed since Abraham stood without adequate excuse before Abimelech. 9 Then Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem, to his mother’s brothers, and spoke with them and with all the family of the house of his mother’s father, saying, 2 Abraham may have justified the lie in his mind classifying it as a “half-truth” (since Sarah was his half-sister) out of fear for his life. 1 Name or title of a king of Gerar who had various dealings with Abraham and Isaac.2 See Ahimelech Ahimelech, in the Bible. The high-sounding name of Abimelech is significant as an index to the character of his mother, and the thoughts she would instil into his mind. When Abimelech then took her, God told him the truth and Abimelech relinquished Sarah. Abraham introduced his half-sister Sarah to Abimelech but failed to submit that she was also his wife. 20 From there Abraham journeyed toward the territory of the Negeb and lived between () Kadesh and Shur; and he () sojourned in () Gerar. G. B. L. —In Rabbinical Literature: Meaning: My father a king or Father of a king, Abimelech was a common title of the Philistine kings, as “Pharaoh” was of the Egyptian kings. There seems to have been some kind of police authority, whereby a person might be "detained" (1 Samuel 21:7). At one time he lived in Arumah (Judges 9:41), which is “generally considered to be the same as the modern Jebel el-Urmah.” —Daniel I. 21:34 So Abraham stayed in the land of the Philistines for quite some time. Abimelech may have been a title, rather than a name, such as Pharaoh. T. Nelson and Sons. This led the men of Shechem to throw their support, and money from the temple of Baal-Berith there, behind Abimelech. 1. King Abimelech of Gerar also appears in an extra-biblical tradition recounted in texts such as the Kitab al-Magall, the Cave of Treasures and the Conflict of Adam and Eve with Satan, as one of 12 regional kings in Abraham's time said to have built the city of Jerusalem for Melchizedek. At the time of the Amarna tablets (mid-14th century BC), there was an Egyptian governor of Tyre similarly named Abimilki, who is sometimes speculated to be connected with one or more of the biblical Abimelechs. 3.—Biblical Data: King of Gerar, with whom both Abraham and Isaac came into close connection. This league was the first of which we have any record.