Ahimelech in Easton's Bible Dictionary
brother of the king, the son of Ahitub and father of
Abiathar (1
Sam. 22:20-23). He descended from Eli in the line of
Ithamar. In
1 Chr. 18:16 he is called Abimelech, and is probably
the same as
Ahiah (1 Sam. 14:3, 18). He was the twelfth high
priest, and
officiated at Nob, where he was visited by David (to
whom and
his companions he gave five loaves of the showbread)
when he
fled from Saul (1 Sam. 21:1-9). He was summoned into
Saul's
presence, and accused, on the information of Doeg
the Edomite,
of disloyalty because of his kindness to David;
whereupon the
king commanded that he, with the other priests who
stood beside
him (86 in all), should be put to death. This
sentence was
carried into execution by Doeg in the most cruel
manner (1 Sam.
22:9-23). Possibly Abiathar had a son also called
Ahimelech, or
the two names, as some think, may have been
accidentally
transposed in 2 Sam. 8:17; 1 Chr. 18:16, marg.;
24:3, 6, 31.
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