Abimelech

2 definitions found

From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]:

  Abimelech
     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).
     
       (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.)
     

From Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary (late 1800's) [hitchcock]:

  Abimelech, father of the king