Illustration created for this project.
Ahimelech
The priest of Nob who gave David the showbread and Goliath's sword, and was killed for it by Doeg.
What we know — and how we know it
Bible — stated in scripture (with verse) · 1
Ancient writers — non-biblical testimony · 1
Scholarly — supported scholarly belief · 2
Family & lineage
ScholarlyThe priestly line is reversed between texts: 1 Samuel names Abiathar as son of Ahimelech, while 2 Samuel 8:17 and 1 Chronicles 18:16 give "Ahimelech son of Abiathar." This is widely treated by textual scholars as an ancient scribal transposition of the two names.
Text-critical discussion in standard Samuel commentaries (e.g. McCarter, Anchor Bible).
Tribe & people
BibleOf the tribe of Levi.
1 Samuel 21:6
Death & legacy
Scan by NYPL — Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)
Ancient writersJosephus recounts Saul's massacre of Ahimelech and the priests of Nob for aiding David, carried out by Doeg after the other guards refused.
Josephus, Jewish Antiquities 6.254-261.
Name & titles
ScholarlyAhimelech ('Ăḥîmelek) means "my brother is king," combining 'aḥî ("my brother") with melek ("king"), a well-attested royal/kinship name pattern across the Semitic languages.
Standard Hebrew onomastic analysis (BDB, HALOT).