Abiathar was a significant priestly figure during the reigns of King David and King Solomon in ancient Israel. He was the son of Ahimelech, the high priest at Nob, and a descendant of Eli, the priest of Shiloh. Abiathar's life and service are chronicled in several books of the Old Testament, where he is depicted as a loyal supporter of David, though his later years were marked by political missteps.

Early Life and Service

Abiathar first appears in the biblical narrative during a tragic event involving King Saul. Saul, in his paranoia, ordered the massacre of the priests of Nob because he believed they had conspired with David. Abiathar was the sole survivor of this massacre, as recorded in 1 Samuel 22:20-23 : "But one son of Ahimelech son of Ahitub escaped and fled to David. His name was Abiathar, and he told David that Saul had killed the priests of the LORD. Then David said to Abiathar, 'I knew that day when Doeg the Edomite was there that he would surely tell Saul. I am responsible for the lives of your whole family. Stay with me; do not be afraid, for he who seeks your life seeks mine, but you will be safe with me.'"

Role During David's Reign

Abiathar became a close ally and priest to David, serving alongside another priest, Zadok. He played a crucial role in David's administration and religious activities. Abiathar was present during significant events, such as the bringing of the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. He also supported David during Absalom's rebellion, as noted in 2 Samuel 15:24-29 : "Zadok was also there, and all the Levites with him were carrying the ark of the covenant of God. They set down the ark of God, and Abiathar offered sacrifices until the people had finished leaving the city. Then the king said to Zadok, 'Return the ark of God to the city. If I find favor in the eyes of the LORD, He will bring me back and let me see both it and His dwelling place again.'"

Political Missteps and Downfall

Abiathar's fortunes changed during the transition of power from David to Solomon. Despite his long service, Abiathar supported Adonijah, David's son, in his bid for the throne, contrary to David's wishes for Solomon to succeed him. This political miscalculation led to his downfall. Solomon, upon securing his kingship, removed Abiathar from the priesthood, fulfilling a prophecy against the house of Eli. This is recorded in 1 Kings 2:26-27 : "Then the king said to Abiathar the priest, 'Go back to your fields in Anathoth. You deserve to die, but I will not put you to death at this time, because you carried the ark of the Lord GOD before my father David and you shared in all my father’s afflictions.' So Solomon banished Abiathar from being the LORD’s priest, fulfilling the word the LORD had spoken at Shiloh against the house of Eli."

Legacy

Abiathar's life is a testament to the complexities of loyalty, service, and political intrigue in the biblical narrative. His account reflects the broader themes of divine justice and the fulfillment of prophecy, as his removal from the priesthood marked the end of Eli's lineage in the priestly office. Despite his eventual fall from grace, Abiathar's early loyalty to David and his service during critical moments in Israel's history are noteworthy.54. Ebyathar -- "the great one is father," an Israelite priest
... Ebyathar. 55 . "the great one is father," an Israelite priest. Transliteration:
Ebyathar Phonetic Spelling: (ab-yaw-thawr') Short Definition: Abiathar. ... Abiathar ...
/hebrew/54.htm - 6k

Absalom the Ungrateful Son
... the wilderness. And Zadok and Abiathar came carrying the ark of Jehovah
and set it down until all the people had passed. Then David ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/absalom the ungrateful son.htm

David Appointing Solomon
... II. The sad defection to Adonijah of such tried friends as Joab and Abiathar
has its lesson. The reason for Joab's treachery is plain. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/david appointing solomon.htm

Abiathar's (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Abiathar's (1 Occurrence). 2 Samuel 15:36 Behold,
they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz, Zadok's ...
/a/abiathar's.htm - 6k

Abiathar (29 Occurrences)
... 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 ...
/a/abiathar.htm - 29k

Abi'athar's (1 Occurrence)
Abi'athar's. Abiathar's, Abi'athar's. Abib . Multi-Version Concordance
Abi'athar's (1 Occurrence). ... Abiathar's, Abi'athar's. Abib . Reference Bible.
/a/abi'athar's.htm - 6k

Zadok (50 Occurrences)
... Zadok and Abiathar acted as high priests on several important occasions (1 Chronicles
15:11; 2 Samuel 15:24-29, 35, 36); but when Adonijah endeavoured to ...
/z/zadok.htm - 40k

Abi'athar (28 Occurrences)
Abi'athar. Abiathar, Abi'athar. Abiathar's . ... 1 Samuel 22:20 And one of the sons
of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David ...
/a/abi'athar.htm - 14k

Zadok's (1 Occurrence)
... 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 you shall send to me ...
/z/zadok's.htm - 6k

Ahimaaz (15 Occurrences)
... With Jonathan the son of Abiathar he carried information to Dared when he
fled from Absalom (2 Samuel 15:27, 36; 2 Samuel 17:17, 20). ...
/a/ahimaaz.htm - 14k

Ahim'a-az (8 Occurrences)
... thou? return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz
thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar. (See RSV). 2 ...
/a/ahim'a-az.htm - 8k

Jonathan (109 Occurrences)
... 1 Chronicles 8:34). (3.) Son of the high priest Abiathar, and one who adhered to
David at the time of Absalom's rebellion (2 Samuel 15:27, 36). ...
/j/jonathan.htm - 59k

Who was Zadok in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

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