King James Bible Dictionary

Father of abundance, or my father excels, the son of Ahimelech the high priest. He was the tenth high priest, and the fourth in descent from Eli. When his father was slain with the priests of Nob, he escaped, and bearing with him the ephod, he joined David, who was then in the cave of Adullam (1 Samuel 22:20-23; 23:6). He remained with David, and became priest of the party of which he was the leader (1 Samuel 30:7). When David ascended the throne of Judah, Abiathar was appointed high priest (1 Chronicles 15:11; 1 Kings 2:26) and the "king's companion" (1 Chronicles 27:34). Meanwhile Zadok, of the house of Eleazar, had been made high priest. These appointments continued in force till the end of David's reign (1 Kings 4:4). Abiathar was deposed (the sole historical instance of the deposition of a high priest) and banished to his home at Anathoth by Solomon, because he took part in the attempt to raise Adonijah to the throne. The priesthood thus passed from the house of Ithamar (1 Samuel 2:30-36; 1 Kings 1:19; 2:26, 27). Zadok now became sole high priest. In Mark 2:26, reference is made to an occurrence in "the days of Abiathar the high priest." But from 1 Samuel 22, we learn explicitly that this event took place when Ahimelech, the father of Abiathar, was high priest. The apparent discrepancy is satisfactorily explained by interpreting the words in Mark as referring to the life-time of Abiathar, and not to the term of his holding the office of high priest. It is not implied in Mark that he was actual high priest at the time referred to. Others, however, think that the loaves belonged to Abiathar, who was at that time (Leviticus 24:9) a priest, and that he either himself gave them to David, or persuaded his father to give them.

excellent father; father of the remnant

1. High Priest

Called Ahimelech
2 Samuel 8:17; 1 Chronicles 24:3; 1 Chronicles 24:6; 1 Chronicles 24:31

Called Abimelech
1 Chronicles 18:16

Son of Ahimelech
1 Samuel 22:20

Escapes to David from the vengeance of Saul, who slew the priests in the city of Nob
1 Samuel 22:20-23; 1 Samuel 22:6-19

Consults the ephod for David
1 Samuel 22:9-12; 1 Samuel 30:9-12

Associate high priest with Zadok in the reign of David
2 Samuel 15:35; 2 Samuel 20:25; 1 Kings 4:4; 1 Chronicles 15:11

Called Ahimelech and father of Abiathar
2 Samuel 8:17; 1 Chronicles 18:16

Loyal to David when Absalom rebelled; leaves Jerusalem with the ark of the covenant, but is directed by David to return with the ark
2 Samuel 15:24-29

Aids David by sending his son from Jerusalem to David with secret information concerning the counsel of Ahithophel
2 Samuel 15:35-36; 2 Samuel 17:15-22; 1 Kings 2:26

Supports Adonijah's pretensions to the throne
1 Kings 1:7

Thrust out of office by Solomon
1 Kings 2:26-27; 1 Samuel 2:31-35

2. See Ahimelech
Ahimelech

(father of abundance , i.e. liberal), High priest and fourth in descent from Eli. (B.C. 1060-1012.) Abiathar was the only one of the all the sons of Ahimelech the high priest who escaped the slaughter inflicted upon his father's house by Saul, in revenge for his father's house by Saul, in revenge of his having inquired of the Lord for David and given him the shew-bread to eat. (1 Samuel 22:1) ... Abiathar having become high priest fled to David, and was thus enabled to inquire of the Lord for him. (1 Samuel 23:9; 30:7; 2 Samuel 2:1; 5:19) etc. He adhered to David in his wanderings while pursued by Saul; he was with him while he reigned in Hebron, and afterwards in Jerusalem. (2 Samuel 2:1-3) He continued faithful to him in Absalom's rebellion. (2 Samuel 15;24,29,35,36; 17:15-17; 19:11) When, however, Adonijah set himself up fro David's successor on the throne, in opposition to Solomon, Abiathar sided with him, while Zadok was on Solomon's side. For this Abiathar was deprived of the high priesthood. Zadok had joined David at Hebron, (1 Chronicles 12:28) so that there was henceforth who high priests in the reign of David, and till the deposition of Abiathar by Solomon, when Zadok became the sole high priest.