Ahimaaz

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

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

He first appears in the reign of King David. During Absalom's revolt he remained faithful to David, and assisted him by giving him news about the proceedings of Absalom in Jerusalem (2 Samuel 15:24-37; 17:15-21). He was a swift runner, and was the first to bring David news of the defeat of Absalom, although he refrained from mentioning his death (2 Samuel 18:19-33).

Under King Solomon, his father Zadok became high priest and when he died, Ahimaaz succeeded him in that position (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.

Israelite religious titles
Preceded by
Zadok		 High Priest of Israel Succeeded by
Azariah

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.

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