Person Old Testament
Ahimelech
Also known as Ahimelech =ESV, KJV; Ahimelek =NIV, Ahijah =ESV, NIV; Ahiah =KJV
Ahimelech, the High Priest at Nob, gave David consecrated bread and Goliath's sword but was later killed by Saul for aiding David. Mentioned in 13 verses across 2 books, first at 1 Samuel 14:3.
Why it matters. High Priest at Nob who helped David, killed by Saul
- Last reviewed
- 2026-08-30 by the FaithGraph team
About Ahimelech
Ahimelech, also known as Ahijah, was the priest at Nob during the reign of King Saul. He was the son of Ahitub and the father of Abiathar. When David was fleeing from Saul, he came to Ahimelech at Nob seeking help. Ahimelech, unaware of the conflict between David and Saul, provided David with the consecrated bread and the sword of Goliath. (1Sa.21.1-9)
Doeg the Edomite, one of Saul's servants, witnessed this interaction and reported it to Saul. 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 and eighty-four other priests. (1Sa.22.9-19).
Abiathar, Ahimelech's son, was the only one who escaped the massacre. He fled to David and brought with him the ephod, a priestly garment used for seeking God's guidance. (1Sa.22.20-23; 23.6; 30.7)
The story of Ahimelech's tragic fate is also referenced in Psalm 52, which is attributed to David when Doeg informed Saul about Ahimelech's assistance to David. The psalm reflects on the consequences of those who trust in evil and contrasts them with those who trust in God's steadfast love. (Psa.52.1)
Description from STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0, lightly reformatted. This is background reference material, not Scripture and not a FaithGraph editorial claim.
Connections
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Family
Family links from STEPBible TIPNR (CC BY 4.0). Where the dataset marks an identification as uncertain, the mark is kept. Matthew and Luke give different genealogies for Jesus; see the Lineage page, which never merges them.
Appears in Scripture
Named in 13 verses across 2 books. Occurrence data from STEPBible TIPNR (CC BY 4.0); references only, no translation text.