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ABIATHAR

(Heb. ʾeḇyāṯār)

A descendant of Ithamar (and Eli; 1 Sam. 22:20-23), who eventually served as high priest during David’s reign.

Abiathar served as a priest at Nob with his father Ahimelech. When Saul massacred Abiathar’s fellow priests, including his father, Abiathar fled to join David, bringing with him the ephod (1 Sam. 22:20-22; 23:6, 9). He served David and functioned as David’s chief priest in the pre-Hebron and Hebron years. His exact function during their wilderness flight from Saul remains unclear.

Following Absalom’s rebellion against David (2 Sam. 15:1-12), Zadok acted as high priest and directed the relocation of the ark, while Abiathar directed the offering of various sacrifices until all the refugees had left Jerusalem (v. 24). However, David commanded both men to return to Jerusalem with the ark and serve as his “listening posts” (15:25-29; cf. 17:15-16). Throughout the remainder of David’s reign, Abiathar served as one of David’s counselors (1 Chr. 27:34).

Solomon expelled Abiathar from his priestly office after Abiathar supported Adonijah as king (1 Kgs. 1–2). This represented the prophesied end of Eli’s line of the priesthood. Solomon exiled Abiathar and his descendants to Anathoth and revoked his priestly privileges (1 Kgs. 1:19, 25; 2:22, 26, 35). Some have suggested that Jeremiah, who descended from a priestly family in Anathoth, may have been a descendant of Abiathar.

In a listing of David’s officials, Zadok is mentioned as the priestly counterpart of Ahimelech, the son of Abiathar (2 Sam. 8:17; cf. 1 Chr. 24:3, 6, 31), but in most instances Zadok and Abiathar serve as counterparts. Thus, several scholars suggest that the names of Ahimelech and Abiathar are here reversed (cf. Syr.). Others contend that Abiathar named his son after Ahimelech. In any case, during most of this period Zadok and Abiathar shared the priestly duties.

Bibliography. P. McCarter, 2 Samuel. AB 9 (Garden City, 1984); E. H. Merrill, Kingdom of Priests: A History of Old Testament Israel (Grand Rapids, 1987).

Michael A. Grisanti

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

ABIATHAR

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)