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(3.) A son of Gideon (Judges 9:1), who was proclaimed king after the death of his father (Judges 8:33-9:6). One of his first acts was to murder his brothers, seventy in number, “on one stone,” at Ophrah. Only one named Jotham escaped. He was an unprincipled, ambitious ruler, often engaged in war with his own subjects. When engaged in reducing the town of Thebez, which had revolted, he was struck mortally on his head by a mill-stone, thrown by the hand of a woman from the wall above. Perceiving that the wound was mortal, he desired his armour-bearer to thrust him through with his sword, that it might not be said he had perished by the hand of a woman (Judges 9:50-57).

(4.) The son of Abiathar, and high priest in the time of David (1 Chronicles 18:16). In the parallel passage, 2 Samuel 8:17, we have the name Ahimelech, and Abiathar, the son of Ahimelech. This most authorities consider the more correct reading. (5.) Achish, king of Gath, in the title of Psalm 34. (Comp. 1 Samuel 21:10-15.)

ABINADAB father of nobleness; i.e., “noble.” (1.) A Levite of Kirjath-jearim, in whose house the ark of the covenant was deposited after having been brought back from the land of the Philistines (1 Samuel 7:1). It remained there twenty years, till it was at length removed by David (1 Samuel 7:1,2; 1 Chronicles 13:7).

(2.) The second of the eight sons of Jesse (1 Samuel 16:8). He was with Saul in the campaign against the Philistines in which Goliath was slain (1 Samuel 17:13).

(3.) One of Saul’s sons, who peristed with his father in the battle of Gilboa (1 Samuel 31:2; 1 Chronicles 10:2).

(4.) One of Solomon’s officers, who “provided victuals for the king and his household.” He presided, for this purpose, over the district of Dor (1 Kings 4:11).

ABINOAM father of kindness, the father of Barak (Judges 4:6; 5:1).

ABIRAM father of height; i.e., “proud.” (1.) One of the sons of Eliab, who joined Korah in the conspiracy against Moses and Aaron. He and all the conspirators, with their families and possessions (except the children