Lexical Summary Abital: Abital Original Word: אֲבִיטַל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Abital From 'ab and tal; father of dew (i.e. Fresh); Abital, a wife of King David -- Abital. see HEBREW 'ab see HEBREW tal NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom ab and tal Definition "my father is (the) dew," a wife of David NASB Translation Abital (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs אֲבִיטָ֑ל proper name, feminine (my father is (the) dew) a wife of David 2 Samuel 3:4; 1 Chronicles 3:3. Topical Lexicon Biblical Profile Abital appears only twice in Scripture, each time within royal genealogies that list the sons of King David. Her two mentions are 2 Samuel 3:4 and 1 Chronicles 3:3. Both verses identify her as one of David’s wives during his years in Hebron and as the mother of David’s fifth son, Shephatiah. These brief notices place Abital among the foundational matriarchs of the Davidic household whose children would shape the political landscape of Israel’s early monarchy. Historical Setting David’s reign unfolded in two stages: seven and a half years in Hebron over Judah, followed by thirty-three years over the united kingdom in Jerusalem (2 Samuel 5:5). Abital’s marriage took place in the Hebron period, a season marked by consolidation of tribal loyalties and the formation of a regal family line with multiple wives, each alliance strengthening David’s political ties. Abital’s station in Hebron underscores her role in the formative years of David’s court long before the splendor of Jerusalem became the seat of power. Family Relationships The genealogy in 2 Samuel 3:2-5 lists Abital amid six wives: Ahinoam of Jezreel, Abigail the widow of Nabal, Maacah daughter of Talmai king of Geshur, Haggith, Abital, and Eglah. The sequence suggests an order of marriage or of maternal prominence, placing Abital fifth. Her son, Shephatiah, although not prominent in later narratives, was nevertheless counted among the potential heirs and contenders following David’s decline (compare the intrigue surrounding other sons such as Absalom and Adonijah). Abital thus belongs to the complex web of maternal influences that contributed to the dynamics of succession, unity, and rivalry in David’s household. Theological Significance 1. Covenant Continuity. While Scripture provides scant detail about Abital’s personal faith, her inclusion in the Davidic record affirms that every member of the covenant lineage, no matter how briefly mentioned, serves the unfolding purposes of God’s redemptive plan culminating in the Messiah, the ultimate Son of David (Matthew 1:1). Key Scriptural Citations • 2 Samuel 3:4 – “The fifth was Shephatiah son of Abital.” Lessons for Contemporary Believers • God records even the seemingly minor figures, affirming that no life devoted to His greater purposes is insignificant. Cross-References and Further Study • Role of David’s wives: 2 Samuel 5:13-16; 1 Chronicles 14:3-7 Forms and Transliterations אֲבִיטָֽל׃ אביטל׃ לַאֲבִיטָ֑ל לאביטל ’ă·ḇî·ṭāl ’ăḇîṭāl aviTal la’ăḇîṭāl la·’ă·ḇî·ṭāl laaviTalLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 2 Samuel 3:4 HEB: שְׁפַטְיָ֥ה בֶן־ אֲבִיטָֽל׃ NAS: Shephatiah the son of Abital; KJV: Shephatiah the son of Abital; INT: Shephatiah the son of Abital 1 Chronicles 3:3 2 Occurrences |
    |