Person
Ahimelech
Priest of Nob who gave the fugitive David the showbread and Goliath's sword, not knowing the king's quarrel; slain with eighty-five priests on Saul's order at Doeg's hand.
1-samuelpriesthood
Biography
Key Data
- Era
- Early monarchy
- Titles
- Priest of Nob
- Tags
- 1-samuel · priesthood
Ahimelech in Scripture
16 verses use this name, in 3 books. Open a book to read its mentions here. Text: Berean Standard Bible. Names repeat in Scripture — some of these verses may speak of another person called Ahimelech.
First named1 Samuel 21:1Then David came to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest. And when Ahimelech met David, he trembled and asked him, “Why are you alone? Why is no one with you?”Last named1 Chronicles 24:31As their brothers the descendants of Aaron did, they also cast lots in the presence of King David and of Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of the families of the priests and Levites—the family heads and their younger brothers alike.
Old Testament3 books · 16 mentions
1 Samuel11 mentions
- 1 Samuel 21:1Then David came to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest. And when Ahimelech met David, he trembled and asked him, “Why are you alone? Why is no one with you?”
- 1 Samuel 21:8Then David asked Ahimelech, “Is there not a spear or sword on hand here? For I have brought neither my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king’s business was urgent.”
- 1 Samuel 22:9But 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 22:10Ahimelech inquired of the LORD for him and gave him provisions. He also gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”
- 1 Samuel 22:11Then 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.
6 further mentions in 1 Samuel — read them in the book.
2 Samuel1 mention
1 Chronicles4 mentions
- 1 Chronicles 18:16Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests; Shavsha was the scribe;
- 1 Chronicles 24:3With the help of Eleazar’s descendant Zadok and Ithamar’s descendant Ahimelech, David divided them according to the offices of their service.
- 1 Chronicles 24:6The 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.
- 1 Chronicles 24:31As their brothers the descendants of Aaron did, they also cast lots in the presence of King David and of Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of the families of the priests and Levites—the family heads and their younger brothers alike.
Named alongside
Other people MannaFest has a page for whose name the text uses in 1 Samuel 21, 1 Samuel 22, 1 Samuel 23, 1 Samuel 26, 1 Samuel 30, 2 Samuel 8, 1 Chronicles 18 and 1 Chronicles 24. Each card shows the verse it came from. Scripture reuses names freely, so a page behind a name here may belong to another person who shares it.
DavidSecond king of united Israel, shepherd-turned-monarch, ancestor of the Messiah, and traditional author of many Psalms.1 Samuel 21:1Then David came to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest. And when Ahimelech met David, he trembled and asked him, “Why are you alone? Why is no one with you?”
SaulIsrael's first king, head and shoulders above the people; began in humility, ended in rejection — sparing what God devo…1 Samuel 21:7Now one of Saul’s servants was there that day, detained before the LORD. And his name was Doeg the Edomite, the chief shepherd for Saul.
EleazarAaron's third son who succeeded him as high priest on Mount Hor, founding the line that runs to Phinehas and Zadok.1 Chronicles 24:1These were the divisions of the descendants of Aaron. The sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
IthamarAaron's fourth son, ordained priest in Leviticus 8; overseer of the tabernacle's accounts and the Gershonite and Merari…1 Chronicles 24:1These were the divisions of the descendants of Aaron. The sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
JudahJacob's fourth son who pledges himself for Benjamin; the tribe that carries the scepter to Shiloh (49:10) and the line…1 Samuel 22:5Then the prophet Gad said to David, “Do not stay in the stronghold. Depart and go into the land of Judah.” So David left and went to the forest of Hereth.
Doeg the EdomiteSaul's chief herdsman and informer, the one man willing to fall upon the priests of Nob when the king's own footmen ref…1 Samuel 21:7Now one of Saul’s servants was there that day, detained before the LORD. And his name was Doeg the Edomite, the chief shepherd for Saul.
Studies in the same chapters
No study on the site quotes a verse that names Ahimelech yet. These work in the chapters where the name appears.