Atomic Bible

Philistine king who interacted with Abraham and Isaac

Abimelech

Named in 23 verses of Genesis, first in Genesis 20:2.

אֲבִימֶ֫לֶךְAbimelech

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

People
Canaan

About Abimelech Written by AI

Abimelech was a Philistine king who ruled in the region of Gerar. He is mentioned in several incidents involving the patriarchs Abraham and Isaac. In Genesis 20, Abraham moved to Gerar and, out of fear, claimed that his wife Sarah was his sister. Abimelech took Sarah into his household, but God warned him in a dream that she was Abraham's wife. Abimelech, who had not touched Sarah, pleaded his innocence, and God acknowledged that he had acted in integrity. Abimelech then restored Sarah to Abraham, along with gifts of livestock and servants, and allowed Abraham to settle in his land (Genesis 20:1 to 18). Later, in Genesis 21, Abimelech and his commander Phicol made a treaty with Abraham at Beersheba, recognizing Abraham's right to a well he had dug (Genesis 21:22 to 34). In Genesis 26, Isaac, like his father, claimed that his wife Rebekah was his sister while living in Gerar. Abimelech discovered the truth when he saw Isaac caressing Rebekah. He rebuked Isaac for the deception, fearing that one of his people might have slept with Rebekah and brought guilt upon them. Abimelech warned his people not to touch Isaac or Rebekah under penalty of death (Genesis 26:1 to 11). Despite these incidents, Abimelech recognized the blessing of God upon Abraham and Isaac. He sought peace with them, and they made treaties together (Genesis 21:22 to 34). The interactions between Abimelech and the patriarchs highlight the challenges and tensions that existed between the people of God and the surrounding nations, as well as God's faithfulness in protecting and blessing His chosen people.

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

This entry is on the name Abimelech, and may cover more than one person or place by that name.

My father a king, or father of a king, a common name of the Philistine kings, as “Pharaoh” was of the Egyptian kings. (1.) The Philistine king of Gerar in the time of Abraham (Gen. 20:1-18). By an interposition of Providence, Sarah was delivered from his harem, and was restored to her husband Abraham. As a mark of respect he gave to Abraham valuable gifts, and offered him a settlement in any part of his country; while at the same time he delicately and yet severely rebuked him for having practised a deception upon him in pretending that Sarah was only his sister. Among the gifts presented by the king were a thousand pieces of silver as a “covering of the eyes” for Sarah; i.e., either as an atoning gift and a testimony of her innocence in the sight of all, or rather for the purpose of procuring a veil for Sarah to conceal her beauty, and thus as a reproof to her for not having worn a veil which, as a married woman, she ought to have done. A few years after this Abimelech visited Abraham, who had removed southward beyond his territory, and there entered into a league of peace and friendship with him. This league was the first of which we have any record. It was confirmed by a mutual oath at Beer-sheba (Gen. 21:22-34).

(2.) A king of Gerar in the time of Isaac, probably the son of the preceeding (Gen. 26:1-22). Isaac sought refuge in his territory during a famine, and there he acted a part with reference to his wife Rebekah similar to that of his father Abraham with reference to Sarah. Abimelech rebuked him for the deception, which he accidentally discovered. Isaac settled for a while here, and prospered. Abimelech desired him, however, to leave his territory, which Isaac did. Abimelech afterwards visited him when he was encamped at Beer-sheba, and expressed a desire to renew the covenant which had been entered into between their fathers (Gen. 26:26-31).

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(3.) A son of Gideon (Judg. 9:1), who was proclaimed king after the death of his father (Judg. 8:33-9:6). One of his first acts was to murder his brothers, seventy in number, “on one stone,” at Ophrah. Only one named Jotham escaped. He was an unprincipled, ambitious ruler, often engaged in war with his own subjects. When engaged in reducing the town of Thebez, which had revolted, he was struck mortally on his head by a mill-stone, thrown by the hand of a woman from the wall above. Perceiving that the wound was mortal, he desired his armour-bearer to thrust him through with his sword, that it might not be said he had perished by the hand of a woman (Judg. 9:50-57).

(4.) The son of Abiathar, and high priest in the time of David (1 Chr. 18:16). In the parallel passage, 2 Sam. 8:17, we have the name Ahimelech, and Abiathar, the son of Ahimelech. This most authorities consider the more correct reading. (5.) Achish, king of Gath, in the title of Ps. 34. (Comp. 1 Sam. 21:10-15.)

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. Genesis 20:2

    Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” So Abimelech king of Gerar had Sarah brought to him.

  2. Genesis 20:3

    One night, however, God came to Abimelech in a dream and told him, “You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken, for she is a married woman.”

  3. Genesis 20:4

    Now Abimelech had not gone near her, so he replied, “Lord, would You destroy a nation even though it is innocent?

  4. Genesis 20:8

    Early the next morning Abimelech got up and summoned all his servants; and when he described to them all that had happened, the men were terrified.

  5. Genesis 20:9

    Then Abimelech called Abraham and asked, “What have you done to us? How have I sinned against you, that you have brought such tremendous guilt upon me and my kingdom? You have done things to me that should not be done.”

  6. Genesis 20:10

    Abimelech also asked Abraham, “What prompted you to do such a thing?”

  7. Genesis 20:14

    So Abimelech brought sheep and cattle, menservants and maidservants, and he gave them to Abraham and restored his wife Sarah to him.

  8. Genesis 20:15

    And Abimelech said, “Look, my land is before you. Settle wherever you please.”

  9. Genesis 20:17

    Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his maidservants, so that they could again bear children—

  10. Genesis 20:18

    for on account of Abraham’s wife Sarah, the LORD had completely closed all the wombs in Abimelech’s household.

  11. Genesis 21:22

    At that time Abimelech and Phicol the commander of his army said to Abraham, “God is with you in all that you do.

  12. Genesis 21:25

    But when Abraham complained to Abimelech about a well that Abimelech’s servants had seized,

  13. Genesis 21:26

    Abimelech replied, “I do not know who has done this. You did not tell me, so I have not heard about it until today.”

  14. Genesis 21:27

    So Abraham brought sheep and cattle and gave them to Abimelech, and the two men made a covenant.

  15. Genesis 21:29

    and Abimelech asked him, “Why have you set apart these seven ewe lambs?”

  16. Genesis 21:32

    After they had made the covenant at Beersheba, Abimelech and Phicol the commander of his army got up and returned to the land of the Philistines.

  17. Genesis 26:1

    Now there was another famine in the land, subsequent to the one that had occurred in Abraham’s time. And Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines at Gerar.

  18. Genesis 26:8

    When Isaac had been there a long time, Abimelech king of the Philistines looked down from the window and was surprised to see Isaac caressing his wife Rebekah.

  19. Genesis 26:9

    Abimelech sent for Isaac and said, “So she is really your wife! How could you say, ‘She is my sister’?” Isaac replied, “Because I thought I might die on account of her.”

  20. Genesis 26:10

    “What is this you have done to us?” asked Abimelech. “One of the people could easily have slept with your wife, and you would have brought guilt upon us.”

  21. Genesis 26:11

    So Abimelech warned all the people, saying, “Whoever harms this man or his wife will surely be put to death.”

  22. Genesis 26:16

    Then Abimelech said to Isaac, “Depart from us, for you are much too powerful for us.”

  23. Genesis 26:26

    Later, Abimelech came to Isaac from Gerar, with Ahuzzath his adviser and Phicol the commander of his army.

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