Abiathar
maleUnited MonarchyMeaning: “Father of abundance”
The lone priest of Nob to escape Doeg’s massacre, who served as David’s high priest and faithful friend, but was deposed by Solomon for backing Adonijah.
Biography
Abiathar, son of Ahimelech, was the only priest of Nob to escape when Doeg slaughtered his family. He fled to David, bringing the priestly ephod, and became David's high priest and companion through his fugitive years and his reign (1 Samuel 22:20–23).
Faithful through David's trials
Abiathar shared David's exile, inquired of the LORD for him through the ephod, and remained loyal even during Absalom's rebellion, when he and Zadok helped relay intelligence to the fleeing king (2 Samuel 15:24–29).
Deposed by Solomon
At the end of David's life, however, Abiathar supported Adonijah's bid for the throne rather than Solomon. For this, Solomon removed him from the priesthood and banished him to his fields — "thrusting out Abiathar from being priest unto the LORD" and so fulfilling the word spoken against the house of Eli (1 Kings 2:26–27).
Life Timeline
Escapes the massacre at Nob and joins David
Deposed by Solomon for backing Adonijah
On the Bible timeline
Abiathar belongs to the The United Monarchy era (c. 1050 – 930 BC).
- c. 1010 – 970 BCDavid's Reign
- c. 966 BCSolomon's Temple Built
- c. 930 BCThe Kingdom Divides
Themes & lessons from Abiathar
Biblical themes that run through the passages where Abiathar appears.
People they appear with
Places in their story
Things in their story
Scripture Appearances
29 verses in 5 books1 Samuel6 verses
1 Samuel 22:20
And one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David.
1 Samuel 22:21
And Abiathar shewed David that Saul had slain the LORD'S priests.
1 Samuel 22:22
And David said unto Abiathar, I knew it that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul: I have occasioned the death of all the persons of thy father's house.
1 Samuel 23:6
And it came to pass, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, that he came down with an ephod in his hand.
1 Samuel 23:9
And David knew that Saul secretly practised mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod.
1 Samuel 30:7
And David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech's son, I pray thee, bring me hither the ephod. And Abiathar brought thither the ephod to David.
2 Samuel9 verses
2 Samuel 8:17
And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and Seraiah was the scribe; scribe: or, secretary
2 Samuel 15:24
And lo Zadok also, and all the Levites were with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God: and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had done passing out of the city.
2 Samuel 15:27
The king said also unto Zadok the priest, Art not thou a seer? return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.
2 Samuel 15:29
Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem: and they tarried there.
2 Samuel 15:35
And hast thou not there with thee Zadok and Abiathar the priests? therefore it shall be, that what thing soever thou shalt hear out of the king's house, thou shalt tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.
2 Samuel 15:36
Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz Zadok's son, and Jonathan Abiathar's son; and by them ye shall send unto me every thing that ye can hear.
2 Samuel 17:15
Then said Hushai unto Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, Thus and thus did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of Israel; and thus and thus have I counselled.
2 Samuel 19:11
And king David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, Speak unto the elders of Judah, saying, Why are ye the last to bring the king back to his house? seeing the speech of all Israel is come to the king, even to his house.
2 Samuel 20:25
And Sheva was scribe: and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests:
1 Kings9 verses
1 Kings 1:7
And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: and they following Adonijah helped him. he: Heb. his words were with following: Heb. helped after Adonijah
1 Kings 1:19
And he hath slain oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance, and hath called all the sons of the king, and Abiathar the priest, and Joab the captain of the host: but Solomon thy servant hath he not called.
1 Kings 1:25
For he is gone down this day, and hath slain oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance, and hath called all the king's sons, and the captains of the host, and Abiathar the priest; and, behold, they eat and drink before him, and say, God save king Adonijah. God: Heb. Let king Adonijah live
1 Kings 1:42
And while he yet spake, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came: and Adonijah said unto him, Come in; for thou art a valiant man, and bringest good tidings.
1 Kings 2:22
And king Solomon answered and said unto his mother, And why dost thou ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? ask for him the kingdom also; for he is mine elder brother; even for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah.
1 Kings 2:26
And unto Abiathar the priest said the king, Get thee to Anathoth, unto thine own fields; for thou art worthy of death: but I will not at this time put thee to death, because thou barest the ark of the Lord GOD before David my father, and because thou hast been afflicted in all wherein my father was afflicted. worthy: Heb. a man of death
1 Kings 2:27
So Solomon thrust out Abiathar from being priest unto the LORD; that he might fulfil the word of the LORD, which he spake concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh.
1 Kings 2:35
And the king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada in his room over the host: and Zadok the priest did the king put in the room of Abiathar.
1 Kings 4:4
And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the host: and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests:
1 Chronicles4 verses
1 Chronicles 15:11
And David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites, for Uriel, Asaiah, and Joel, Shemaiah, and Eliel, and Amminadab,
1 Chronicles 18:16
And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Abimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and Shavsha was scribe; Abimelech: called Ahimelech Sam. Shavsha: called Seraiah in Sam. and Shisha, I.King.4.2.
1 Chronicles 24:6
And Shemaiah the son of Nethaneel the scribe, one of the Levites, wrote them before the king, and the princes, and Zadok the priest, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and before the chief of the fathers of the priests and Levites: one principal household being taken for Eleazar, and one taken for Ithamar. principal: Heb. house of the father
1 Chronicles 27:34
And after Ahithophel was Jehoiada the son of Benaiah, and Abiathar: and the general of the king's army was Joab.
Mark1 verse
Mark 2:26
How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did eat the shewbread, which is not lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave also to them which were with him?
Frequently asked about Abiathar
Who was Abiathar in the Bible?
The lone priest of Nob to escape Doeg’s massacre, who served as David’s high priest and faithful friend, but was deposed by Solomon for backing Adonijah.
What does the name Abiathar mean?
The name Abiathar means “Father of abundance”.
What did Abiathar do in the Bible?
Abiathar served as high priest, of the tribe of Levi.
Where does Abiathar appear in the Bible?
Abiathar is mentioned 29 times across 5 books: 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 1 Chronicles, Mark.
What can we learn from Abiathar?
The story of Abiathar touches on themes of solomon, ahitub, altars, civil service — explore each to study the lessons drawn from Abiathar's life.
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