Atomic Bible

High priest during the reigns of David and Solomon

Abiathar

Named in 29 verses across 5 books, first in 1 Samuel 22:20.

אֶבְיָתָרAbiathar

ἈβιαθάρAbiathar

The name means “excellent father; father of the remnant.” Hitchcock's Bible Names, 1869

Father
Ahimelech
Children
Ahimelech, Jonathan
People
Tribe of Levi

About Abiathar Written by AI

Abiathar was the son of Ahimelech, a priest at Nob. When King Saul ordered the execution of the priests at Nob, Abiathar was the only one who escaped and fled to David (1 Samuel 22:20 to 23). He brought with him the ephod, a sacred priestly garment used for seeking God's will (1 Samuel 23:6). Abiathar remained loyal to David throughout his reign, serving as one of his chief priests (2 Samuel 8:17). However, near the end of David's life, Abiathar supported Adonijah's attempt to become king instead of Solomon (1 Kings 1:7). When Solomon became king, he removed Abiathar from the priesthood, fulfilling the prophecy against the house of Eli (1 Kings 2:26 to 27). Abiathar is also mentioned in the New Testament by Jesus, who referred to an incident during Abiathar's time as high priest (Mark 2:26).

Drafted by an AI model for STEPBible's TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Check it against the verses below.

Easton's Bible Dictionary, 1897

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 Sam. 22:20-23; 23:6). He remained with David, and became priest of the party of which he was the leader (1 Sam. 30:7). When David ascended the throne of Judah, Abiathar was appointed high priest (1 Chr. 15:11; 1 Kings 2:26) and the “king’s companion” (1 Chr. 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 Sam. 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 Sam. 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 (Lev. 24:9) a priest, and that he either himself gave them to David, or persuaded his father to give them.

M. G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary, third edition (1897), public domain, from CrossWire. Shown as written; its Scripture quotes are from older translations.

GenesisMatthewRevelation

Where the Bible names him

  1. 1 Samuel 22:20

    But one of the sons of Ahimelech son of Ahitub escaped. His name was Abiathar, and he fled to David.

  2. 1 Samuel 22:21

    And Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the LORD.

  3. 1 Samuel 22:22

    Then David said to Abiathar, “I knew that Doeg the Edomite was there that day, and that he was sure to tell Saul. I myself am responsible for the lives of everyone in your father’s house.

  4. 1 Samuel 23:6

    (Now Abiathar son of Ahimelech had brought the ephod with him when he fled to David at Keilah.)

  5. 1 Samuel 23:9

    When David learned that Saul was plotting evil against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod.”

  6. 1 Samuel 30:7

    Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, “Bring me the ephod.” So Abiathar brought it to him,

  7. 2 Samuel 8:17

    Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests; Seraiah was the scribe;

  8. 2 Samuel 15:24

    Zadok was also there, and all the Levites with him were carrying the ark of the covenant of God. And they set down the ark of God, and Abiathar offered sacrifices until all the people had passed out of the city.

  9. 2 Samuel 15:27

    The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Are you not a seer? Return to the city in peace—you with your son Ahimaaz, and Abiathar with his son Jonathan.

  10. 2 Samuel 15:29

    So Zadok and Abiathar returned the ark of God to Jerusalem and stayed there.

  11. 2 Samuel 15:35

    Will not Zadok and Abiathar the priests be there with you? Report to them everything you hear from the king’s palace.

  12. 2 Samuel 15:36

    Indeed, their two sons, Ahimaaz son of Zadok and Jonathan son of Abiathar, are there with them. Send them to me with everything you hear.”

  13. 2 Samuel 17:15

    So Hushai told Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, “This is what Ahithophel has advised Absalom and the elders of Israel, and this is what I have advised.

  14. 2 Samuel 19:11

    Then King David sent this message to Zadok and Abiathar, the priests: “Say to the elders of Judah, ‘Why should you be the last to restore the king to his palace, since the talk of all Israel has reached the king at his quarters?

  15. 2 Samuel 20:25

    Sheva was the scribe; Zadok and Abiathar were priests;

  16. 1 Kings 1:7

    So Adonijah conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, who supported him.

  17. 1 Kings 1:19

    And he has sacrificed an abundance of oxen, fattened calves, and sheep, and has invited all the other sons of the king, as well as Abiathar the priest and Joab the commander of the army. But he has not invited your servant Solomon.

  18. 1 Kings 1:25

    For today he has gone down and sacrificed an abundance of oxen, fattened calves, and sheep, and has invited all the sons of the king, the commanders of the army, and Abiathar the priest. And behold, they are eating and drinking before him, saying, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’

  19. 1 Kings 1:42

    As he was speaking, suddenly Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest arrived. “Come in,” said Adonijah, “for you are a man of valor. You must be bringing good news.”

  20. 1 Kings 2:22

    King Solomon answered his mother, “Why do you request Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Since he is my older brother, you might as well request the kingdom for him and for Abiathar the priest and for Joab son of Zeruiah!”

  21. 1 Kings 2:26

    Then the king said to Abiathar the priest, “Go back to your fields in Anathoth. Even though you deserve to die, I will not put you to death at this time, since you carried the ark of the Lord GOD before my father David, and you suffered through all that my father suffered.”

  22. 1 Kings 2:27

    So Solomon banished Abiathar from the priesthood of the LORD and thus fulfilled the word that the LORD had spoken at Shiloh against the house of Eli.

  23. 1 Kings 2:35

    And the king appointed Benaiah son of Jehoiada in Joab’s place over the army, and he appointed Zadok the priest in Abiathar’s place.

  24. 1 Kings 4:4

    Benaiah son of Jehoiada was in charge of the army; Zadok and Abiathar were priests;

  25. 1 Chronicles 15:11

    David summoned the priests Zadok and Abiathar and the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab.

  26. 1 Chronicles 18:16

    Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests; Shavsha was the scribe;

  27. 1 Chronicles 24:6

    The scribe, Shemaiah son of Nethanel, a Levite, recorded their names in the presence of the king and of the officers: Zadok the priest, Ahimelech son of Abiathar, and the heads of families of the priests and the Levites—one family being taken from Eleazar, and then one from Ithamar.

  28. 1 Chronicles 27:34

    Ahithophel was succeeded by Jehoiada son of Benaiah, then by Abiathar. Joab was the commander of the king’s army.

  29. Mark 2:26

    During the high priesthood of Abiathar, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which was lawful only for the priests. And he gave some to his companions as well.”

From STEPBible's TIPNR, Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0): names, family, references and the AI written article. Verse text is the BSB.