Abiathar
The only son of Ahimelech to escape when Saul massacred the priests of Nob, he fled to David carrying the ephod and served as his priest through the wilderness years and the reign. He stayed loyal during Absalom's revolt, acting as one of David's informants in Jerusalem. At the end he backed Adonijah rather than Solomon, and Solomon spared his life for the sake of his service but banished him to his estate at Anathoth — fulfilling the word spoken against the house of Eli.
What we know — and how we know it
Where in scripture
1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings1 ChroniclesMarkOne of the sons of Ahimelech, the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David.
1 Samuel 22:20 — Escapes to David
Abiathar told David that Saul had slain Yahweh’s priests.
1 Samuel 22:21
David said to Abiathar, “I knew on that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul. I am responsible for the death of all the persons of your father’s house.
1 Samuel 22:22
When Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, he came down with an ephod in his hand.
1 Samuel 23:6
David knew that Saul was devising mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod here.”
1 Samuel 23:9
David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, “Please bring the ephod here to me.” Abiathar brought the ephod to David.
1 Samuel 30:7
Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were priests, Seraiah was scribe,
2 Samuel 8:17
Behold, Zadok also came, and all the Levites with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God; and they set down God’s ark; and Abiathar went up, until all the people finished passing out of the city.
2 Samuel 15:24
Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, a public-domain translation.
Family
In art
