ABIMELECH, S-him'e-lik may father is king, or Slolech). The name of four persons in the Old Testament, two of whom appear promi nently in the narratives.
I. A son of Gideon (Judges viii :31), c.100 ac., and reckoned as one of the judges by the narrative in Judges x:1. Upon the death of his father, who refused to take the title of king either for himself or children. Abiinelech set out to claim the sovereignty, slew seventy of his brothers, and was declared king (.1udges ix 1-6). Three years afterward the Sheehemites tinder the leadership of Gaal made an unsuc cessful attempt to throw otl' his rule (Judges xxii : 41). After capturing Shechem and burn ing the temple of El-berith, Abimelech went against Thehez, amid here, while besieging the place, lie was struck o» the head by a piece of millstone thrown from the wall by a woman. To avoid an ignominious death, lie ordered his arnior-bearer to run hint tlu•ougli (.Judges ib. 43 57). His reign is the first attempt to establish a nuoiareliy in Israel.
2. A king of Gerar mentioned both in the biblical narrative about Abraham (Genesis xx and xxi : 2L-32), and about Isaac (Genesis xxvi : 7-11: 26-33). The story in both cases is pretty unre}i alike. Abimelech takes Sarah into
his harem, after Abraham, for fear that he should be killed, declared Sarah to be his sister. In a dream, the true relation between Abraham and Sarah is revealed to Abimelech, who forth with returns Sarah to her husband and loads the latter with presents of cattle and servants. Similarly Isaac declares to the men of Gerar, among whom he has settled. that Rebekah is his sister. Abimelech, However, discovers the true relationship, and reproaches Isaac for having almost been the cause of bringing a "great sin" upon Abimelech and the mien of Gerar. In view of this similarity, it is generally supposed by modern critics that the two stories are but dif ferent versions of one and the same tale.
3. A king of Gatti, according to the title of Psalm xxxiv, though here it is possible that Abimclech lies by an error been introduced for Ac-lush (I. Samuel xxi : 20).
4. A priest according to I. Chrowiieles xviii : 10, where, however, the reading must, be corrected to Ahiuielech, as we flail the name written in 11. Samuel viii : 17 and elsewhere iii Samuel. See AmEmMnl.Ecii.