Ahimelech

From BibleWiki

Meaning: brother of the king

Biblical Data:

The son of Ahitub, and father of Abiathar (1Sam 22:20ff). He descended from Eli in the line of Ithamar.

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 (1Sam 21:1ff). 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 (1Sam 22:9-23).

In 1Chr 18:16 he is called Abimelech, and is possibly the same as Ahiah (1Sam 14:3, 1Sam 14:18). 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; 1Chr 18:16, marg.; 24:3, 6, 31.

[edit]

In Rabbinical Literature:

The interview between Ahimelech and David concerning the hallowed bread hinges upon the following Halakah: David reached the priestly city on the Sabbath, and, finding the priests baking this bread, remarked to them that such work was fitting for the week-days only (the rabbinical interpretation of the words (missing hebrew text), "and it is in a manner common," I Sam. xxi. 5, 6); for the setting up of the showbread was permitted on the Sabbath day (Lev. xxiv. 8), but not the baking of it (Men. 95b, YalḲ. Sam. 130). Concerning Ahimelech's hesitation to give up the bread, tradition states that David informed the priest that he was famishing, and that in such extremity all food was permitted to him (l.c.).

Similarly, the interview between Ahimelech and Saul turned upon a halakic point. Saul was of the opinion that the right to interrogate the Urim and Thummim belonged to the king exclusively, so that Ahimelech had made himself liable to the death penalty when he consulted them in David's behalf. Ahimelech, on the contrary, maintained that interrogation by anybody was justified when the affairs of state demanded it, and that David, as general of the Jewish army, certainly had the right to interrogate them. This question divided the scholars of Saul's court: Abner and Amasa sided with the priest, Doeg against him. The last-named was accordingly deputed to execute the sentence upon Ahimelech (YalḲ. Sam. § 131).