Lexical Definition

‎אֲבִימֶלֶךְ‎ ʼĂbîymelek (ab-ee-mel'-ek) Abimelech ^N:N-M-P
from ‎אָב‎ and ‎מֶלֶךְ‎; father of (the) king

Abimelech.

• § Abimelech = "Melek is father" or "my father is king"
• Abimelek, the name of two Philistine kings and of two Israelites

1) king of Gerar in Abraham's time
2) king of Gath in David's time; maybe title of Philistine kings
3) son of Gideon by a concubine
4) priest, son of Abiathar

Extended Information

• A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.20.2

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎אֲבִימֶ֫לֶךְ‎ proper name, masculine (Melek (= Malik, Molech) is father) — ‎אֲבִימֶ֑לֶךְ‎ Gen 20:18 + —

1. king of Gerar Gen 20:2; Gen 20:3; Gen 20:4 +, Gen 21:22; Gen 21:25 (twice in verse) +, Gen 26:1; Gen 26:8 + (24 t. Genesis).

2. king of Gath Psalm Gen 34:1 error for ‎אָכִישׁ‎, compare 1Sam 21:11* f; — a better known Philistine name substituted for a less known (Hup³). > Others (Thes Ol De MV) think a title of Philistine kings, compare Pharaoh.

3. son of Gideon Judg 8:31; Judg 9:1; Judg 9:3; Judg 9:4 +, Judg 10:1 (40 t. Judges), 2Sam 11:21.

4. priest, son of Abiathar 1Chr 18:16 error for ‎אֲחִימֶלֶח‎ q. v. (Sabean also proper name, feminine Osiander^{ZMG 1865, 209}).

Brown-Driver-Briggs References

Profile

Male • Canaanite king • Philistine king who interacted with Abraham and Isaac

King living at the time of the Patriarchs

Abimelech was a Philistine king who had dealings with both Abraham and Isaac, involving incidents where the patriarchs claimed their wives were their sisters.

• A king in Canaan living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.20.2;
• only referred to as Abimelech אֲבִימֶלֶךְ.

Abimelech was a Philistine king who ruled in the region of Gerar. He is mentioned in several incidents involving the patriarchs Abraham and Isaac. In Genesis 20, Abraham moved to Gerar and, out of fear, claimed that his wife Sarah was his sister. Abimelech took Sarah into his household, but God warned him in a dream that she was Abraham's wife. Abimelech, who had not touched Sarah, pleaded his innocence, and God acknowledged that he had acted in integrity. Abimelech then restored Sarah to Abraham, along with gifts of livestock and servants, and allowed Abraham to settle in his land (Genesis 20:1-18).

Later, in Genesis 21, Abimelech and his commander Phicol made a treaty with Abraham at Beersheba, recognizing Abraham's right to a well he had dug (Genesis 21:22-34).

In Genesis 26, Isaac, like his father, claimed that his wife Rebekah was his sister while living in Gerar. Abimelech discovered the truth when he saw Isaac caressing Rebekah. He rebuked Isaac for the deception, fearing that one of his people might have slept with Rebekah and brought guilt upon them. Abimelech warned his people not to touch Isaac or Rebekah under penalty of death (Genesis 26:1-11).

Despite these incidents, Abimelech recognized the blessing of God upon Abraham and Isaac. He sought peace with them, and they made treaties together (Genesis 21:22-34; 26:26-33). The interactions between Abimelech and the patriarchs highlight the challenges and tensions that existed between the people of God and the surrounding nations, as well as God's faithfulness in protecting and blessing His chosen people.

All entries for Abimelech: אֲבִימֶלֶךְ