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Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

IntroIndex©

AHIMELECH

1. A priest at Nob who aided David in his flight from Saul (1 Sm 21:1-9). When he was asked for food, all he could provide was the holy bread in the tabernacle (Jesus referred to this incident in Mt 12:1-8). Doeg the Edomite subsequently reported this action to Saul, who ordered Ahimelech put to death. Saul’s guards were unwilling to execute a priest, but the informer Doeg had no such inhibitions. He killed Ahimelech and 84 other priests, plus their families and livestock (1 Sm 22:9-19). Only Abiathar, Ahimelech’s son, escaped and fled to David’s protection (22:20-23). Psalm 52 was written by David as an indictment of Doeg’s treachery.

2. Hittite who joined David’s guerrilla force during his flight from Saul (1 Sm 26:6).

3. Son of Abiathar and grandson of #1 above. This Ahimelech aided his father in the priesthood under King David (2 Sm 8:17; 1 Chr 24:3, 5, 31; cf. 1 Chr 18:16, where some versions have Abimelech instead).