Lexical Definition
אֲבִיהַיִל ʼĂbîyhayil (ab-ee-hah'-yil) Abihail N:N-M-P
or (more correctly) אֲבִיחַיִל ʼĂbîychayil (ab-ee-khah'-yil) ; from אָב and חַיִל; father (i.e. possessor) of might
Abihail.
- § Abihail = "my father is might"
- Abihail or Abichail, the name of three Israelites and two Israelitesses
1) a Levite in Moses's time
2) a Gadite
3) father of Esther
4) wife of Abishur
5) wife of Rehoboam
| Form | Translated As | In Verse(s) |
|---|---|---|
| אֲבִיחָ֑יִל | Abihail | Num.3.35 |
Extended Information
- A man living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, only mentioned at Num.3.35
- father of: Zuriel (צוּרִיאֵל)
Brown-Driver-Briggs
אֲבִיחַ֫יִל proper name, masculine & feminine (my father is might, Sabean אבחיל HalMA 234) — probably = אֲבִיהַיִל 2Chr 11:18, אֲבִיהָ֑יִל 1Chr 2:29 —
1. a Levite Num 3:25.
2. a Gadite 1Chr 5:14.
3. father of Esther Esth 2:15; Esth 9:29.
4. wife of Abishur 1Chr 2:29.
5. wife of Rehoboam 2Chr 11:18.
Brown-Driver-Briggs References
| Book | Refs |
|---|---|
| Numbers | 3:25 |
| 1 Chronicles | 2:29 · 5:14 |
| 2 Chronicles | 11:18 |
| Esther | 2:15 · 9:29 |
Profile
Male • Father of Zuriel • Father of Zuriel, a Levite leader
Man living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness
Abihail was the father of Zuriel, who was the leader of the Merarite clan of the Levites during the wilderness wanderings.
- A man living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, only mentioned at Num.3.35;
- only referred to as Abihail אֲבִיהַיִל;
- father of Zuriel צוּרִיאֵל.
Abihail is mentioned in Numbers 3:35 as the father of Zuriel, who was the leader of the Merarite clan during the Israelites' journey through the wilderness. The Merarites were one of the three main divisions of the Levites, alongside the Gershonites and the Kohathites.
As the leader of the Merarites, Zuriel was responsible for overseeing the transportation and setup of the tabernacle's framework, including the boards, bars, pillars, and sockets (Numbers 3:36-37). The Merarites were under the overall leadership of Ithamar, one of Aaron's sons.
No additional information is provided about Abihail himself in the biblical text, apart from being the father of Zuriel. His mention serves to identify Zuriel's lineage and his role within the Levitical clan structure.
All entries for Abihail: אֲבִיהַיִל
Related Profiles:
- Zuriel (child)