Abihail

Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)

Father of might. (1.) Num. 3:35. (2.) 1 Chr. 2:29. (3.) 1 Chr. 5:14. (4.) The second wife of King Rehoboam (2 Chr. 11:18), a descendant of Eliab, David’s eldest brother. (5.) The father of Esther and uncle of Mordecai (Esther 2:15).

Scripture References

ISBE

ab'-i-hal ('abhichayil; in some manuscripts 'abhihayil, when feminine, but best reading is the former: "father, or cause, of strength"): Five persons in the Old Testament are called by this name: (1) A Levite and the father of Zuriel, who in the Wilderness was head of the house of Merari, Levi's youngest son ( Nu 3:35 ); (2) The wife of Abishur, a man of the tribe of Judah, in the line of Hazron and Jerahmeel ( 1Ch 2:29 ); (3) One of the heads of the tribe of Gad, who dwelt in Gilead of Bashan ( 1Ch 5:14 ); (4) Either a wife of Rehoboam, king of Judah, or mother of his wife Mahalath, according to the interpretation of the text ( 2Ch 11:18 ); probably the latter view is correct, since there is no conjunction in the text, and since ( 2Ch 11:19 ) contemplates only one wife as already mentioned. This being true, she was the wife of Jerimath, a son of David, and daughter of Eliab, David's eldest brother. It is interesting to note this frequent intermarriage in the Davidic house; (5) Father of Queen Esther, who became wife of Xerxes (Biblical Ahasuerus) king of Persia, after the removal of the former queen, Vashti, ( Es 2:15 ; 9:29 ). He was uncle of Mordecai. Edward Mack

Smith's Bible Dictionary (1863)

(father of, i.e. possessing, strength).

Scripture References