Lexical Definition

‎אֲבִיטָל‎ ʼĂbîyṭâl (ab-ee-tal') Abital ^N:N-F-P
from ‎אָב‎ and ‎טַל‎; father of dew (i.e. fresh)

Abital.

• § Abital = "my father is (the) dew"
• Abital, a wife of King David

1) a wife of David

Extended Information

• A woman living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Sa.3.4 married to David (דָּוִד)
• mother of: Shephatiah (שְׁפַטְיָה)

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎אֲבִיטָ֑ל‎ proper name, feminine (my father is (the) dew) a wife of David 2Sam 3:4; 1Chr 3:3.

Brown-Driver-Briggs References

Profile

Female • One of David's wives; mother of Shephatiah

Woman living at the time of United Monarchy

Abital was one of King David's wives and the mother of his son Shephatiah.

• A woman living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Sa.3.4;
• only referred to as Abital אֲבִיטָל;
• wife of David דָּוִד;
• mother of Shephatiah שְׁפַטְיָה.

Abital was one of the wives of King David, the second king of Israel. She is mentioned in the lists of David's wives and children in both 2 Samuel 3:4 and 1 Chronicles 3:3. Abital gave birth to one of David's sons, named Shephatiah.

The biblical text does not provide any further information about Abital's background, her relationship with David, or her role in the royal household. She is one of several wives mentioned in the genealogies, highlighting David's practice of polygamy, which was common among kings in the ancient Near East.

Abital's son Shephatiah is listed among David's sons born in Hebron, where David reigned over Judah for seven years before becoming king over all Israel (2 Samuel 2:11; 5:5).

All entries for Abital: אֲבִיטָל

Related Profiles:

• David (spouse)
• Shephatiah (child)