Father of Ahimelech, High Priest at Nob killed by Saul
Ahitub
Named in 5 verses of 1 Samuel, first in 1 Samuel 14:3.
אֲחִיטוּבAhitub
The name means “brother of goodness.” Hitchcock's Bible Names, 1869
About Ahitub Written by AI
Ahitub was the father of Ahimelech, who served as the priest at Nob during the reign of King Saul. Ahitub's other son, Ahijah, also served as a priest and wore an ephod, indicating his priestly role. (1 Samuel 14:3). He is not specifically named as a High Priest but he is the gradson of High Priest Eli and father of High Priest Ahimelech. When David fled from Saul, he came to Ahimelech at Nob seeking help. Ahimelech provided David with the consecrated bread and the sword of Goliath. (1 Samuel 21:1 to 9) However, Doeg the Edomite, one of Saul's servants, witnessed this interaction and reported it to Saul. (1 Samuel 22:9 to 10). Saul summoned Ahimelech and the other priests, accusing them of conspiring with David against him. Despite Ahimelech's defense of his actions, Saul ordered the execution of the priests. Doeg carried out the order, killing Ahimelech, along with eighty-four other priests who were from the family of Ahitub. (1 Samuel 22:11 to 19) Only Abiathar, Ahimelech's son, escaped the massacre and fled to David, bringing with him the ephod. (1 Samuel 22:20 to 23) The tragedy that befell Ahitub's family highlights the tension between Saul and David and the consequences faced by those caught in the middle of their conflict.
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 Ahitub, and may cover more than one person or place by that name.
Brother of goodness = good. (1.) The son of Phinehas. On the death of his grandfather Eli he succeeded to the office of high priest, and was himself succeeded by his son Ahijah (1 Sam. 14:3; 22:9, 11, 12, 20).
(2.) The father of Zadok, who was made high priest by Saul after the extermination of the family of Ahimelech (1 Chr. 6:7, 8; 2 Sam. 8:17).
M. G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary, third edition (1897), public domain, from CrossWire. Shown as written; its Scripture quotes are from older translations.
Where the Bible names him
- 1 Samuel 14:3
including Ahijah, who was wearing an ephod. He was the son of Ichabod’s brother Ahitub son of Phinehas, the son of Eli the priest of the LORD in Shiloh. But the troops did not know that Jonathan had left.
- 1 Samuel 22:9
But Doeg the Edomite, who had stationed himself with Saul’s servants, answered: “I saw the son of Jesse come to Ahimelech son of Ahitub at Nob.
- 1 Samuel 22:11
Then the king sent messengers to summon Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and his father’s whole family, who were priests at Nob. And all of them came to the king.
- 1 Samuel 22:12
“Listen now, son of Ahitub,” said Saul. “Here I am, my lord,” he replied.
- 1 Samuel 22:20
But one of the sons of Ahimelech son of Ahitub escaped. His name was Abiathar, and he fled to David.
From STEPBible's TIPNR, Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0): names, family, references and the AI written article. Verse text is the BSB.