Ahimaaz

Jonathan and Ahimaaz hide from Absalom by Johann Christoph Weigel, 1695. This woodcut depicts an event recorded in 2 Samuel 17:17-21.

For other people named Ahimaaz, see Ahimaaz (disambiguation).

Ahimaaz (Hebrew: אחימעץ áḤYMaàTs "My Brother Is Counselor") was son of the high priest Zadok.

He first appears in the reign of King David; during the revolt of Absalom he remained faithful to David, and was of service to him in conveying to him tidings of the proceedings of Absalom in Jerusalem (2 Sam. 15:24-37; 17:15-21). He was swift of foot, and was the first to carry to David tidings of the defeat of Absalom, although he refrained, from delicacy of feeling, from telling him of his death (2 Sam. 18:19-33).

Under King Solomon, his father Zadok became high priest and when he died, Ahimaaz succeeded him in that office (1 Chronicles 6:8, 53).

He may have been the same Ahimaaz who took as wife Basemath, one of Solomon's daughters (1 Kings 4:15). Subsequent kings of Israel, Ahaz, also married daughters of the high priest.

References

Attribution

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Easton, Matthew George (1897). "Ahimaaz". Easton's Bible Dictionary (New and revised ed.). T. Nelson and Sons.