Lexical Definition
אֲחִיטוּב ʼĂchîyṭûwb (akh-ee-toob') Ahitub N:N-M-P
from אָח and טוּב; brother of goodness
Ahitub.
- § Ahitub = "my brother is good (goodness)"
- Achitub, the name of several priests
1) a grandson of Eli
2) the father of Zadok the priest
| Form | Translated As | In Verse(s) |
|---|---|---|
| אֲחִיט֜וּב | Ahitub | 1Sam.22.11 |
| אֲחִיט֑וּב | Ahitub | 1Sam.22.12 |
| אֲחִטֽוּב | Ahitub | 1Sam.22.9 |
| אֲחִט֡וּב | Ahitub | 1Sam.14.3 |
| אֲחִט֔וּב | Ahitub | 1Sam.22.20 |
Extended Information
- A man living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Sa.14.3
- son of: Phinehas (פִּינְחָס)
- brother of: Ichabod (אִי־כָבוֹד)
- father of: Ahimelech (אֲחִימֶלֶךְ)
Brown-Driver-Briggs
אֲחִיטוּב proper name, masculine (my brother is goodness)
1. grandson of Eli 1Sam 14:3; 1Chr 5:33*; 1Chr 5:34*; 1Chr 5:37*; 1Chr 5:38* father of Ahimelech 1Sam 22:9; 1Sam 22:20 (אֲחִטוּב) v1Sam 22:11 v1Sam 22:12 (on identity of person see Be 1Chr 5:33*).
2. father of Zadok 2Sam 8:17 (= 1Chr 18:16), but We reads Ahim son of Ahitub; 1Chr 5:37*; Ezra 7:2 grandfather of Zadok 1Chr 9:11; Neh 11:11 (on all compare We on the passage)
Brown-Driver-Briggs References
| Book | Refs |
|---|---|
| 1 Samuel | 14:3 · 22:9 · 22:11 · 22:12 · 22:20 |
| 2 Samuel | 8:17 |
| 1 Chronicles | 5:33* · 5:34* · 5:37* · 5:38* · 9:11 · 18:16 |
| Ezra | 7:2 |
| Nehemiah | 11:11 |
Profile
Male • A High Priest • Father of Ahimelech, High Priest at Nob killed by Saul
High Priest living at the time of United Monarchy
Ahitub was the father of Ahimelech, the High Priest at Nob who was killed by Saul for aiding David. (1Sa.22.9-20)
- A High Priest living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Sa.14.3;
- only referred to as Ahitub אֲחִיטוּב;
- son of Phinehas פִּינְחָס;
- a brother of Ichabod אִי־כָבוֹד;
- father of Ahimelech אֲחִימֶלֶךְ.
Ahitub was the father of Ahimelech, who served as the priest at Nob during the reign of King Saul. Ahitub's other son, Ahijah, also served as a priest and wore an ephod, indicating his priestly role. (1Sa.14.3)
When David fled from Saul, he came to Ahimelech at Nob seeking help. Ahimelech provided David with the consecrated bread and the sword of Goliath. (1Sa.21.1-9) However, Doeg the Edomite, one of Saul's servants, witnessed this interaction and reported it to Saul. (1Sa.22.9-10).
Saul summoned Ahimelech and the other priests, accusing them of conspiring with David against him. Despite Ahimelech's defense of his actions, Saul ordered the execution of the priests. Doeg carried out the order, killing Ahimelech, along with eighty-four other priests who were from the family of Ahitub. (1Sa.22.11-19)
Only Abiathar, Ahimelech's son, escaped the massacre and fled to David, bringing with him the ephod. (1Sa.22.20-23) The tragedy that befell Ahitub's family highlights the tension between Saul and David and the consequences faced by those caught in the middle of their conflict.
All entries for Ahitub: אֲחִיטוּב