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Ahimelech

maleUnited Monarchy

Meaning: “Brother of the king

The priest of Nob who unknowingly aided the fugitive David with holy bread and Goliath’s sword, and was killed with the priests of Nob by Doeg.

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Biography

Ahimelech was the priest at Nob, a descendant of Eli's line. When David fled from Saul, he came to Ahimelech alone and hungry. Not knowing David was a fugitive, the priest gave him the holy showbread to eat and the sword of Goliath, which was kept there (1 Samuel 21:1–9).

The bread of the Presence

This act of mercy was later cited by Jesus Himself, who pointed to David eating the showbread "which was not lawful for him to eat" to teach that mercy outweighs ritual (Matthew 12:3–4; Mark 2:26).

The massacre

Betrayed by Doeg the Edomite, Ahimelech was summoned before Saul, who condemned the whole priestly house. Doeg killed Ahimelech and eighty-four other priests at Nob (1 Samuel 22:16–18). Only his son Abiathar escaped to David.

Life Timeline

1020 BC

Gives David the showbread and Goliath’s sword

1 Samuel 21:6
1020 BC

Killed with the priests of Nob by Doeg

1 Samuel 22:18

On the Bible timeline

Ahimelech belongs to the Conquest & the Judges era (c. 1400 – 1050 BC).

  1. c. 1375 – 1050 BCThe Age of the Judges

Themes & lessons from Ahimelech

Biblical themes that run through the passages where Ahimelech appears.

Ahitub6×Nob5×Betrayal4×Priests3×Ithamar2×Lot, The2×Scribe2×Scribes2×Seraiah2×Slander2×Tabernacle2×Abishai1×Ahiah1×Nethaneel1×Officer, Civil1×Philistines1×Porters1×Psalms1×

People they appear with

David11×
Abiathar6×
Zadok5×
Saul2×
Doeg2×
Ithamar2×
Jonathan1×
Eli1×
Jesse1×
Joab1×
Abishai1×
Aaron1×

Places in their story

Nob3×
Shiloh1×

Things in their story

The Ephod3×

Scripture Appearances

18 verses in 4 books
1 Samuel12 verses

1 Samuel 14:3

And Ahiah, the son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the LORD'S priest in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And the people knew not that Jonathan was gone. Ahiah: called Ahimelech

1 Samuel 21:1

Then came David to Nob to Ahimelech the priest: and Ahimelech was afraid at the meeting of David, and said unto him, Why art thou alone, and no man with thee?

1 Samuel 21:2

And David said unto Ahimelech the priest, The king hath commanded me a business, and hath said unto me, Let no man know any thing of the business whereabout I send thee, and what I have commanded thee: and I have appointed my servants to such and such a place.

1 Samuel 21:8

And David said unto Ahimelech, And is there not here under thine hand spear or sword? for I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business required haste.

1 Samuel 22:9

Then answered Doeg the Edomite, which was set over the servants of Saul, and said, I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub.

1 Samuel 22:11

Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father's house, the priests that were in Nob: and they came all of them to the king.

1 Samuel 22:14

Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, And who is so faithful among all thy servants as David, which is the king's son in law, and goeth at thy bidding, and is honourable in thine house?

1 Samuel 22:16

And the king said, Thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech, thou, and all thy father's house.

1 Samuel 22:20

And one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David.

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 26:6

Then answered David and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying, Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp? And Abishai said, I will go down with thee.

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 Samuel1 verse

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

1 Chronicles4 verses

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 24:3

And David distributed them, both Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, according to their offices in their service.

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 24:31

These likewise cast lots over against their brethren the sons of Aaron in the presence of David the king, and Zadok, and Ahimelech, and the chief of the fathers of the priests and Levites, even the principal fathers over against their younger brethren.

Psalms1 verse

Psalms 52:1

To the chief Musician, Maschil, A Psalm of David, when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, and said unto him, David is come to the house of Ahimelech. Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually.

Frequently asked about Ahimelech

Who was Ahimelech in the Bible?

The priest of Nob who unknowingly aided the fugitive David with holy bread and Goliath’s sword, and was killed with the priests of Nob by Doeg.

What does the name Ahimelech mean?

The name Ahimelech means “Brother of the king”.

What did Ahimelech do in the Bible?

Ahimelech served as priest of nob, of the tribe of Levi.

Where does Ahimelech appear in the Bible?

Ahimelech is mentioned 18 times across 4 books: 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Chronicles, Psalms.

What can we learn from Ahimelech?

The story of Ahimelech touches on themes of ahitub, nob, betrayal, priests — explore each to study the lessons drawn from Ahimelech's life.

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