Abimelech
    my father a king, or father of a king, a common name of the
    Philistine kings, as "Pharaoh" was of the Egyptian kings. (1.)
    The Philistine king of Gerar in the time of Abraham (Gen.
    20:1-18). By an interposition of Providence, Sarah was delivered
    from his harem, and was restored to her husband Abraham. As a
    mark of respect he gave to Abraham valuable gifts, and offered
    him a settlement in any part of his country; while at the same
    time he delicately and yet severely rebuked him for having
    practised a deception upon him in pretending that Sarah was only
    his sister. Among the gifts presented by the king were a
    thousand pieces of silver as a "covering of the eyes" for Sarah;
    i.e., either as an atoning gift and a testimony of her innocence
    in the sight of all, or rather for the purpose of procuring a
    veil for Sarah to conceal her beauty, and thus as a reproof to
    her for not having worn a veil which, as a married woman, she
    ought to have done. A few years after this Abimelech visited
    Abraham, who had removed southward beyond his territory, and
    there entered into a league of peace and friendship with him.
    This league was the first of which we have any record. It was
    confirmed by a mutual oath at Beer-sheba (Gen. 21:22-34).

      (2.) A king of Gerar in the time of Isaac, probably the son of
    the preceeding (Gen. 26:1-22). Isaac sought refuge in his
    territory during a famine, and there he acted a part with
    reference to his wife Rebekah similar to that of his father
    Abraham with reference to Sarah. Abimelech rebuked him for the
    deception, which he accidentally discovered. Isaac settled for a
    while here, and prospered. Abimelech desired him, however, to
    leave his territory, which Isaac did. Abimelech afterwards
    visited him when he was encamped at Beer-sheba, and expressed a
    desire to renew the covenant which had been entered into between
    their fathers (Gen. 26:26-31).

      (3.) A son of Gideon (Judg. 9:1), who was proclaimed king
    after the death of his father (Judg. 8:33-9:6). One of his first
    acts was to murder his brothers, seventy in number, "on one
    stone," at Ophrah. Only one named Jotham escaped. He was an
    unprincipled, ambitious ruler, often engaged in war with his own
    subjects. When engaged in reducing the town of Thebez, which had
    revolted, he was struck mortally on his head by a mill-stone,
    thrown by the hand of a woman from the wall above. Perceiving
    that the wound was mortal, he desired his armour-bearer to
    thrust him through with his sword, that it might not be said he
    had perished by the hand of a woman (Judg. 9:50-57).

      (4.) The son of Abiathar, and high priest in the time of David
    (1 Chr. 18:16). In the parallel passage, 2 Sam. 8:17, we have
    the name Ahimelech, and Abiathar, the son of Ahimelech. This
    most authorities consider the more correct reading. (5.) Achish,
    king of Gath, in the title of Ps. 34. (Comp. 1 Sam. 21:10-15.)



 Abimelech, father of the king