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 before Israel's Monarchy, first mentioned at Jdg.8.31
• son of: Gideon (גִּדְעוֹן)
• brother of: Jether (יֶתֶר) and Jotham (יוֹתָם)

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 • A Judge • Son of Gideon, self-proclaimed king of Shechem

Judge living before Israel's Monarchy

Abimelech, a son of Gideon, declared himself king of Shechem but was eventually killed when a millstone was dropped on his head during the siege of Thebez.

• A Judge living before Israel's Monarchy, first mentioned at Jdg.8.31;
• only referred to as Abimelech אֲבִימֶלֶךְ;
• son of Gideon גִּדְעוֹן;
• a brother of Jether יֶתֶר and Jotham יוֹתָם.

Abimelech was a son of Gideon, the judge of Israel, by his Shechemite concubine (Judges 8:31). After Gideon's death, Abimelech conspired with his mother's family in Shechem to make himself king. He killed his seventy brothers, with only the youngest, Jotham, escaping (Judges 9:1-6).

Jotham confronted the people of Shechem with a parable, warning them of the consequences of their actions in supporting Abimelech (Judges 9:7-21). After three years, tensions arose between Abimelech and the people of Shechem, who eventually rebelled against him. Abimelech defeated the Shechemites and destroyed their city, sowing it with salt (Judges 9:22-49).

Abimelech then attacked the city of Thebez. During the siege, a woman dropped an upper millstone on his head, severely wounding him. To avoid the disgrace of being killed by a woman, Abimelech ordered his armor-bearer to kill him with a sword (Judges 9:50-54). His death was seen as God's judgment for his wickedness in killing his brothers (Judges 9:56-57).

Abimelech's story is a cautionary tale about the dangers of ambition, treachery, and the abuse of power. It also demonstrates the consequences of failing to follow God's leadership and the importance of loyalty and integrity in relationships.

The death of Abimelech by a millstone is later referenced by David when he learns of the death of Uriah the Hittite in battle (2 Samuel 11:21), highlighting the ignominy associated with Abimelech's demise.

All entries for Abimelech: אֲבִימֶלֶךְ

Related Profiles:

• Gideon (father)
• Jether (sibling)
• Jotham (sibling)