ABIMELECH (a-brm'e-lek), (Hob. ab-ee melek, father of the king, or perhaps royal father).
I. Philistine King of Gerar. The name of the Philistine king of Gerar in the time of Abraham (Gen. xx:t, sqq. B. C. about 2200) but, from its recurrence, it was probably less a proper name than a titular distinction, like Pharaoh for the kings of Egypt, or Augustus for the emperors of Rome. Abraham removed into his territory after the destruction of Sodom, and fearing that the extreme beauty of Sarah might bring him into difficulties, he declared her to be his sister. The conduct of Abimelech in taking Sarah into his harem shows that even in those early times kings claimed the right of taking to themselves the unmarried females not only of their natural subjects, but of those who sojourned in their do minions. Another contemporary instance of this custom occurs in Gen. xii :15, and one of later date in Esth. ti :3. But Abimelech, obedient to a divine warning communicated to him in a dream, accompanied by the information that Abraham was a sacred person who had intercourse with God, restored her to her husband. As a mark of his respect he added valuable gifts, and offered the patriarch a settlement in any part of the coun try; but he nevertheless did not forbear to rebuke, with mingled delicacy and sarcasm, the deception which had been practiced upon him (Gen. N X). The most curious point in this transaction seems to be that it appears to have been admitted. on all hands. that he had an undoubted right to ap propriate to his harem whatever unmarried woman he pleased—all the evil in this case being that Sarah was already married, so early had some of the most odious principles of despotism taken rout in the East. The interposition of Providence to deliver Sarah twice from royal harems will not seem superfluous when it is con sidered how carefully women are there secluded, and how impossible it is to obtain access to them, or get them back again (Esth. iv :5). It is scarcely necessary to add that these practices still prevail in some Eastern countries. especially in Persia. Nothing further is recorded of King Abimelech, except that a few years after he re paired to the camp of Abraham. who had re moved southward beyond his borders. accompa nied by Phichol. 'the chief captain of his host.' to invite the patriarch to contract with him a league of peace and friendship. Abraham con sented, and this first league on record (see ALLI ANCE) was confirmed by a mutual oath, made at a well which had been dug by Abraham, but which the herdsmen of Abimelech had forcibly seized without his knowledge. It was restored to the rightful owner, on which Abraham named it Beer sheba (the Well of the Oath), and consecrated the spot to the worship of Jehovah (Gen. xxi : 22-24).
2. Another King of Gerar, in the time of Isaac, who is supposed to have been the son of the preceding (B. C. about 1985). Isaac sought refuge in his territory during a famine, and hav ing the same fear respecting his fair Mesopota mian wife, Rebekah, as his father had enter tained respecting Sarah, he reported her to be his sister. This brought upon him the rebuke of Abimelech, when he accidentally discovered the truth. The country appears to have become more cultivated and populous than at the time of Ab7a ham's visit, nearly a century before, and the in habitants were more jealous of the presence of such powerful pastoral chieftains. In those
times, as now, wells of water were of so much im portance for agricultural, as well as pastoral pur poses, that they gave a proprietary right to the soil, not previously appropriated, in which they were dug. Abraham had dug wells during his sojourn in the country, and, to bar the claim which resulted from them, the Philistines had after wards filled them up; but they were now cleared out by Isaac, who proceeded to cultivate the ground to which they gave him a right. (See WELL.) From this time Abimelech forbade his people to do any injury whatever to Isaac or to his wife. Isaac, increasing in riches and power, ex cited the envy of the Philistines, and Abimelech said to him, "Go from us, for thou art much mightier than we." Isaac, therefore, retired to the valley of Gerar, and afterwards to Beersheba. where Abimelech. with Ahuzz..1.h, his favorite, and Phicol, his general, visited him. Isaac in quired- "Wherefore come ye to me, seeing ye hate me, and have sent me away from you?" To which Abimelech replied, that observing how much he was favored by God, he was desirous of cultivating his friendship, and had come to make a covenant with him. Isaac entertained them splendidly, and the next day concluded a treaty with Ahimelech (Gen. xxvi 3. King of Shechem, son of Gideon by a concubine, assumed the government of Shechem after the death of his father, and procured him self to be acknowledged king; first, by the in habitants of Shechem, where his mother's family had an interest, and afterwards by a great part of Israel.
(1) His Conspiracy. At Gideon's house in Ophrah he killed his father's seventy sons, now orphans, on one stone (Judg. ix).
(2) The Bramble King. The youngest, Jotham, only remaining, who, when the people of Shechem assembled to inaugurate Abimelech, appeared on Mount Gerizim, and reproved them by his celebrated fable of the• trees (Judg. ix :7-21). (See JOTHAM.) (3) Revolt of Shechem. After three years, discord arose among the Shechemites, who, reflecting on their injustice, and detesting the cruelty of Abimelech, revolted from him in his ab sence. and laid an ambuscade in the mountains, designing to kill him on his return to Shechem. Of this. Abimelech received intelligence from Ze bul. his governor of Shechem. The Shechemites invited Gaal to their assistance, with whom, at a great entertainment, they uttered many impreca tions against Abimelech, who, having assembled some troops, marched all night towards Shechem (Judg. ix :22-29).
(4) Destruction of Shechem. In the morn. ing, Gaal went out of Shechem and gave battle to Ahimelech, but was defeated, and, as he was endeavoring to reenter the city, Zebul repulsed him. Abimelech afterwards defeated the Shechemites, destroyed the city and burnt their tower.
(5) Death of Abimelech. At the attack of The bez, a town about thirteen miles to the N. E., a woman from the top of the tower threw an upper millstone upon his head, and fractured his skull. (See MILL.) He immediately called his armor bearer and desired him to slay him, "that men say not of me, A woman slew him" (Judg. ix :50-56).
4. A High Priest in the time of David (1 Chron. xviii:16), the same as Abimelech (2 Sam.viii:t 7), and probably the same as Abiathar. (See ABIATHAR.)