Abiathar
The Last Priest of Eli's Line
Also known as: Abjatar, Abiathar, Ebjar, Evjatar
Abiathar was the son of the priest Ahimelech and the sole survivor of the massacre at Nob. He fled to David and served as a priest throughout David's reign, but was eventually deposed by Solomon because he supported Adonija as heir to the throne.
Family
Key events
Flight from the Massacre at Nob
Abiathar was the only one who survived when Doeg the Edomite killed the priests at Nob on Saul's orders. He fled to David carrying the ephod.
20But one son of Ahimelech son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled to David.
וַיִּמָּלֵ֣ט בֵּן־אֶחָ֗ד לַאֲחִימֶ֙לֶךְ֙ בֶּן־אֲחִט֔וּב וּשְׁמ֖וֹ אֶבְיָתָ֑ר וַיִּבְרַ֖ח אַחֲרֵ֥י דָוִֽד׃
21Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the LORD.
וַיַּגֵּ֥ד אֶבְיָתָ֖ר לְדָוִ֑ד כִּ֚י הָרַ֣ג שָׁא֔וּל אֵ֖ת כֹּהֲנֵ֥י יְהוָֽה׃
22Then David said to Abiathar, "That day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, I knew he would be sure to tell Saul. I am responsible for every life in your father's household.
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר דָּוִ֜ד לְאֶבְיָתָ֗ר יָדַ֜עְתִּי בַּיּ֤וֹם הַהוּא֙ כִּֽי־שָׁם֙ *דויג **דּוֹאֵ֣ג הָאֲדֹמִ֔י כִּֽי־הַגֵּ֥ד יַגִּ֖יד לְשָׁא֑וּל אָנֹכִ֣י סַבֹּ֔תִי בְּכָל־נֶ֖פֶשׁ בֵּ֥ית אָבִֽיךָ׃
23Stay with me; do not be afraid. The one who seeks my life seeks yours as well. With me you will be safe."
שְׁבָ֤ה אִתִּי֙ אַל־תִּירָ֔א כִּ֛י אֲשֶׁר־יְבַקֵּ֥שׁ אֶת־נַפְשִׁ֖י יְבַקֵּ֣שׁ אֶת־נַפְשֶׁ֑ךָ כִּֽי־מִשְׁמֶ֥רֶת אַתָּ֖ה עִמָּדִֽי׃
Service as Priest for David
Abiathar brought the ephod to David and used it to seek God's will for David during his flight from Saul.
6Now when Abiathar son of Ahimelech fled to David at Keilah, he had come down with an ephod in his hand.
וַיְהִ֗י בִּ֠בְרֹחַ אֶבְיָתָ֧ר בֶּן־אֲחִימֶ֛לֶךְ אֶל־דָּוִ֖ד קְעִילָ֑ה אֵפ֖וֹד יָרַ֥ד בְּיָדֽוֹ׃
9When David learned that Saul was plotting harm against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, "Bring the ephod here."
וַיֵּ֣דַע דָּוִ֔ד כִּ֣י עָלָ֔יו שָׁא֖וּל מַחֲרִ֣ישׁ הָרָעָ֑ה וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֶל־אֶבְיָתָ֣ר הַכֹּהֵ֔ן הַגִּ֖ישָׁה הָאֵפֽוֹד׃ ס
10Then David said, "LORD, God of Israel, your servant has clearly heard that Saul intends to come to Keilah and destroy the town on my account.
וַיֹּאמֶר֮ דָּוִד֒ יְהוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל שָׁמֹ֤עַ שָׁמַע֙ עַבְדְּךָ֔ כִּֽי־מְבַקֵּ֥שׁ שָׁא֖וּל לָב֣וֹא אֶל־קְעִילָ֑ה לְשַׁחֵ֥ת לָעִ֖יר בַּעֲבוּרִֽי׃
11Will the citizens of Keilah hand me over to him? Will Saul come down, as your servant has heard? LORD, God of Israel, please tell your servant." And the LORD said, "He will come down."
הֲיַסְגִּרֻ֣נִי בַעֲלֵי֩ קְעִילָ֨ה בְיָד֜וֹ הֲיֵרֵ֣ד שָׁא֗וּל כַּֽאֲשֶׁר֙ שָׁמַ֣ע עַבְדֶּ֔ךָ יְהוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל הַגֶּד־נָ֖א לְעַבְדֶּ֑ךָ ס וַיֹּ֥אמֶר יְהוָ֖ה יֵרֵֽד׃
12Then David asked, "Will the citizens of Keilah hand me and my men over to Saul?" And the LORD said, "They will."
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר דָּוִ֔ד הֲיַסְגִּ֜רוּ בַּעֲלֵ֧י קְעִילָ֛ה אֹתִ֥י וְאֶת־אֲנָשַׁ֖י בְּיַד־שָׁא֑וּל וַיֹּ֥אמֶר יְהוָ֖ה יַסְגִּֽירוּ׃ ס
Bringing the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem
Abiathar and Zadok carried the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem when David fled from Absalom, but David asked them to take the ark back to the city.
24Zadok was also there, and with him all the Levites, carrying the ark of the covenant of God. They set down the ark of God, and Abiathar offered sacrifices until all the people had finished leaving the city.
וְהִנֵּ֨ה גַם־צָד֜וֹק וְכָֽל־הַלְוִיִּ֣ם אִתּ֗וֹ נֹֽשְׂאִים֙ אֶת־אֲרוֹן֙ בְּרִ֣ית הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים וַיַּצִּ֙קוּ֙ אֶת־אֲר֣וֹן הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים וַיַּ֖עַל אֶבְיָתָ֑ר עַד־תֹּ֥ם כָּל־הָעָ֖ם לַעֲב֥וֹר מִן־הָעִֽיר׃
25Then the king said to Zadok, "Take the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the LORD's eyes, he will bring me back and let me see both it and his dwelling place again.
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ לְצָד֔וֹק הָשֵׁ֛ב אֶת־אֲר֥וֹן הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים הָעִ֑יר אִם־אֶמְצָ֥א חֵן֙ בְּעֵינֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה וֶהֱשִׁבַ֕נִי וְהִרְאַ֥נִי אֹת֖וֹ וְאֶת־נָוֵֽהוּ׃
26But if he says, 'I am not pleased with you,' then here I am; let him do to me whatever seems good to him."
וְאִם֙ כֹּ֣ה יֹאמַ֔ר לֹ֥א חָפַ֖צְתִּי בָּ֑ךְ הִנְנִ֕י יַֽעֲשֶׂה־לִּ֕י כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר טֽ[m]וֹב בְּעֵינָֽיו׃ ס
27The king also said to Zadok the priest, "Listen: go back to the city in peace, and take with you your son Ahimaaz and Jonathan son of Abiathar—your two sons.
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ אֶל־צָד֣וֹק הַכֹּהֵ֔ן הֲרוֹאֶ֣ה אַתָּ֔ה שֻׁ֥בָה הָעִ֖יר בְּשָׁל֑וֹם וַאֲחִימַ֨עַץ בִּנְךָ֜ וִיהוֹנָתָ֧ן בֶּן־אֶבְיָתָ֛ר שְׁנֵ֥י בְנֵיכֶ֖ם אִתְּכֶֽם׃
28I will wait at the fords in the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me."
רְאוּ֙ אָנֹכִ֣י מִתְמַהְמֵ֔הַּ *בעברות **בְּעַֽרְב֖וֹת הַמִּדְבָּ֑ר עַ֣ד בּ֥וֹא דָבָ֛ר מֵעִמָּכֶ֖ם לְהַגִּ֥יד לִֽי׃
29So Zadok and Abiathar took the ark of God back to Jerusalem and stayed there.
וַיָּ֨שֶׁב צָד֧וֹק וְאֶבְיָתָ֛ר אֶת־אֲר֥וֹן הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים יְרוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם וַיֵּשְׁב֖וּ שָֽׁם׃
35Won't the priests Zadok and Abiathar be there with you? Report to them everything you hear in the king's palace.
וַהֲל֤וֹא עִמְּךָ֙ שָׁ֔ם צָד֥וֹק וְאֶבְיָתָ֖ר הַכֹּהֲנִ֑ים וְהָיָ֗ה כָּל־הַדָּבָר֙ אֲשֶׁ֤ר תִּשְׁמַע֙ מִבֵּ֣ית הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ תַּגִּ֕יד לְצָד֥וֹק וּלְאֶבְיָתָ֖ר הַכֹּהֲנִֽים׃
36Their two sons are with them, Ahimaaz son of Zadok and Jonathan son of Abiathar. Send me word through them of everything you hear."
הִנֵּה־שָׁ֤ם עִמָּם֙ שְׁנֵ֣י בְנֵיהֶ֔ם אֲחִימַ֣עַץ לְצָד֔וֹק וִיהוֹנָתָ֖ן לְאֶבְיָתָ֑ר וּשְׁלַחְתֶּ֤ם בְּיָדָם֙ אֵלַ֔י כָּל־דָּבָ֖ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר תִּשְׁמָֽעוּ׃
Intelligence operations during Absalom's rebellion
During Absalom's rebellion, Abiathar and Zadok served as David's spies in Jerusalem, sending information through their sons Jonathan and Ahimaaz.
15Then Hushai told Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, "This is the advice Ahithophel gave Absalom and the elders of Israel, and this is what I advised.
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר חוּשַׁ֗י אֶל־צָד֤וֹק וְאֶל־אֶבְיָתָר֙ הַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים כָּזֹ֣את וְכָזֹ֗את יָעַ֤ץ אֲחִיתֹ֙פֶל֙ אֶת־אַבְשָׁלֹ֔ם וְאֵ֖ת זִקְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְכָזֹ֥את וְכָזֹ֖את יָעַ֥צְתִּי אָֽנִי׃
16Now send word quickly and tell David: 'Do not spend the night in the plains of the wilderness, but cross over at once, or the king and all the people with him will be swallowed up.'"
וְעַתָּ֡ה שִׁלְח֣וּ מְהֵרָה֩ וְהַגִּ֨ידוּ לְדָוִ֜ד לֵאמֹ֗ר אַל־תָּ֤לֶן הַלַּ֙יְלָה֙ בְּעַֽרְב֣וֹת הַמִּדְבָּ֔ר וְגַ֖ם עָב֣וֹר תַּעֲב֑וֹר פֶּ֚ן יְבֻלַּ֣ע לַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וּלְכָל־הָעָ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר אִתּֽוֹ׃
17Jonathan and Ahimaaz were waiting at En-rogel, and a servant girl would go and bring them word, and they would go and report to King David, for they could not risk being seen entering the city.
וִיהוֹנָתָ֨ן וַאֲחִימַ֜עַץ עֹמְדִ֣ים בְּעֵין־רֹגֵ֗ל וְהָלְכָ֤ה הַשִּׁפְחָה֙ וְהִגִּ֣ידָה לָהֶ֔ם וְהֵם֙ יֵֽלְכ֔וּ וְהִגִּ֖ידוּ לַמֶּ֣לֶךְ דָּוִ֑ד כִּ֣י לֹ֥א יוּכְל֛וּ לְהֵרָא֖וֹת לָב֥וֹא הָעִֽירָה׃
Support for Adonijah as heir to the throne
Abiathar supported Adonijah in his attempt to seize the throne before David died, unlike Zadok who supported Solomon.
7He conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, and they gave their support to Adonijah.
וַיִּהְי֣וּ דְבָרָ֔יו עִ֚ם יוֹאָ֣ב בֶּן־צְרוּיָ֔ה וְעִ֖ם אֶבְיָתָ֣ר הַכֹּהֵ֑ן וַֽיַּעְזְר֔וּ אַחֲרֵ֖י אֲדֹנִיָּֽה׃
19He has sacrificed great numbers of cattle, fattened calves, and sheep, and has invited all the king's sons, Abiathar the priest, and Joab the commander of the army, but he has not invited your servant Solomon.
וַ֠יִּזְבַּח שׁ֥וֹר וּֽמְרִיא־וְצֹאן֮ לָרֹב֒ וַיִּקְרָא֙ לְכָל־בְּנֵ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וּלְאֶבְיָתָר֙ הַכֹּהֵ֔ן וּלְיֹאָ֖ב שַׂ֣ר הַצָּבָ֑א וְלִשְׁלֹמֹ֥ה עַבְדְּךָ֖ לֹ֥א קָרָֽא׃
25For today he has gone down and sacrificed great numbers of cattle, fattened calves, and sheep. He has invited all the king's sons, the commanders of the army, and Abiathar the priest, and right now they are eating and drinking in his presence and shouting, 'Long live King Adonijah!'
כִּ֣י ׀ יָרַ֣ד הַיּ֗וֹם וַ֠יִּזְבַּח שׁ֥וֹר וּֽמְרִיא־וְצֹאן֮ לָרֹב֒ וַיִּקְרָא֩ לְכָל־בְּנֵ֨י הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ וּלְשָׂרֵ֤י הַצָּבָא֙ וּלְאֶבְיָתָ֣ר הַכֹּהֵ֔ן וְהִנָּ֛ם אֹכְלִ֥ים וְשֹׁתִ֖ים לְפָנָ֑יו וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ יְחִ֖י הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ אֲדֹנִיָּֽהוּ׃
Removal of Abiathar
King Solomon removed Abiathar from the priesthood and banished him to his estate in Anathoth. This fulfilled the Lord's word concerning the house of Eli.
26To Abiathar the priest the king said, "Go to Anathoth, to your own fields. You deserve to die, but I will not put you to death now, because you carried the ark of the Lord GOD before my father David and shared in all my father's hardships."
וּלְאֶבְיָתָ֨ר הַכֹּהֵ֜ן אָמַ֣ר הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ עֲנָתֹת֙ לֵ֣ךְ עַל־שָׂדֶ֔יךָ כִּ֛י אִ֥ישׁ מָ֖וֶת אָ֑תָּה וּבַיּ֨וֹם הַזֶּ֜ה לֹ֣א אֲמִיתֶ֗ךָ כִּֽי־נָשָׂ֜אתָ אֶת־אֲר֨וֹן אֲדֹנָ֤י יְהֹוִה֙ לִפְנֵי֙ דָּוִ֣ד אָבִ֔י וְכִ֣י הִתְעַנִּ֔יתָ בְּכֹ֥ל אֲשֶֽׁר־הִתְעַנָּ֖ה אָבִֽי׃
27So Solomon removed Abiathar from serving as priest to the LORD, fulfilling the word the LORD had spoken at Shiloh concerning the house of Eli.
וַיְגָ֤רֶשׁ שְׁלֹמֹה֙ אֶת־אֶבְיָתָ֔ר מִהְי֥וֹת כֹּהֵ֖ן לַֽיהוָ֑ה לְמַלֵּא֙ אֶת־דְּבַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבֶּ֛ר עַל־בֵּ֥ית עֵלִ֖י בְּשִׁלֹֽה׃ פ
Mentioned in the Bible (29)
1 Samuel 22:201 Samuel 22:211 Samuel 22:221 Samuel 23:61 Samuel 23:91 Samuel 30:72 Samuel 8:172 Samuel 15:242 Samuel 15:272 Samuel 15:292 Samuel 15:352 Samuel 15:362 Samuel 17:152 Samuel 19:122 Samuel 20:251 Kings 1:71 Kings 1:191 Kings 1:251 Kings 1:421 Kings 2:221 Kings 2:261 Kings 2:271 Kings 2:351 Kings 4:41 Chronicles 15:111 Chronicles 18:161 Chronicles 24:61 Chronicles 27:34Mark 2:26