Lexical Definition
אֲבִירָם ʼĂbîyrâm (ab-ee-rawm') Abiram N:N-M-P
from אָב and רוּם; father of height (i.e. lofty)
Abiram.
- § Abiram = "my father is exalted" or "(the) Exalted One is (my) father"
- Abiram, the name of two Israelites
1) a Reubenite, son of Eliab in exodus
2) son of Hiel the Bethelite who worked to rebuild Jericho
Extended Information
- A man of the tribe of Reuben living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Num.16.1
- son of: Eliab (אֱלִיאָב)
- brother of: Dathan (דָּתָן) and Nemuel (נְמוּאֵל)
Brown-Driver-Briggs
אֲבִירָם proper name, masculine ((the) Exalted One is (my) father (see BaeRel 156) compare Assyrian Aburamu (?) KAT2 479 compare DlL2, p. 91, 1. 225).
1. a Reubenite, son of Eliab Num 16:1; Num 16:12; Num 16:24; Num 16:25; Num 16:27 (twice in verse); Num 26:9; Deut 11:6; Ps 106:17.
2. son of Hiel the Bethelite 1Kgs 16:34. compare also following.
Brown-Driver-Briggs References
| Book | Refs |
|---|---|
| Numbers | 16:1 · 16:12 · 16:24 · 16:25 · 16:27 · 26:9 |
| Deuteronomy | 11:6 |
| 1 Kings | 16:34 |
| Psalms | 106:17 |
Profile
Male • Aaron's adversary • Reubenite who rebelled against Moses and Aaron
Aaron's adversary living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness
Abiram, along with Korah and Dathan, led a rebellion against Moses and Aaron and was swallowed up by the earth (Num.16; 26.9; Deu.11.6; Psa.106.17).
- Aaron's adversary from the tribe of Reuben living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Num.16.1;
- only referred to as Abiram אֲבִירָם;
- son of Eliab אֱלִיאָב;
- a brother of Dathan דָּתָן and Nemuel נְמוּאֵל.
Abiram was a Reubenite, the son of Eliab, who joined Korah and Dathan in a rebellion against the leadership of Moses and Aaron in the wilderness (Numbers 16:1). When summoned by Moses, Abiram and Dathan refused to come, accusing Moses of failing to bring them into a land flowing with milk and honey and trying to make himself a prince over them (Numbers 16:12-14).
In response to the rebellion, Moses proposed a test to demonstrate whom God had chosen. Korah and his followers were to present themselves before the Lord with censers, and God would show who was holy (Numbers 16:16-19). God warned Moses and Aaron to separate themselves from the rebels so that He could consume them, but Moses interceded for the people (Numbers 16:20-22).
God then commanded the congregation to move away from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. Moses declared that if these men died a natural death, then the Lord had not sent him, but if the earth swallowed them up, then they had rejected the Lord (Numbers 16:23-30). As soon as Moses finished speaking, the ground split apart and swallowed up Korah, Dathan, Abiram, their households, and all their possessions (Numbers 16:31-33; Psalm 106:17).
The sons of Korah, however, did not die (Numbers 26:11). The rebellion of Abiram and his co-conspirators served as a warning to the Israelites not to challenge God's appointed leaders (Deuteronomy 11:6). The New Testament also refers to this incident as an example of God's judgment against those who reject His authority (Jude 11).
All entries for Abiram: אֲבִירָם