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Abimelech

biblical_proper_name theological_term standard

Abimelech is a biblical personal name borne by more than one Old Testament figure, including a Philistine ruler in Genesis and Gideon’s son who seized power at Shechem in Judges.

At a Glance

Biblical name; not a theological term. Used for multiple men in the Old Testament, especially a Philistine ruler in Genesis and Gideon’s son in Judges.

Key Points

Description

Abimelech is an Old Testament personal name borne by more than one man, not a distinct theological term. In Genesis, the name belongs to a Philistine ruler associated with Abraham and later Isaac, in narratives that highlight God’s protection of the covenant family (Gen. 20; 21; 26). In Judges, Abimelech is Gideon’s son by a concubine in Shechem who murdered his brothers, seized power, and was ultimately brought under divine judgment (Judg. 8:31; 9). The entry is therefore best treated as a biblical proper name with multiple referents, requiring careful distinction between the Genesis figure(s) and the Judges figure.

Biblical Context

Genesis presents Abimelech in episodes involving Abraham and Isaac, where covenant promises are preserved and God restrains harm to the chosen line. Judges presents a very different Abimelech: Gideon’s son, whose violent grasp for power leads to ruin and judgment.

Historical Context

The Genesis narratives place Abimelech in a Philistine setting and portray interaction between the patriarchs and local rulers. The Judges account reflects the unstable and fragmented period before Israel’s monarchy, when local power struggles could turn violent.

Jewish and Ancient Context

In ancient Near Eastern naming, a repeated personal name could be shared by different individuals across generations. Readers should distinguish the Genesis ruler from the Judges figure rather than collapsing them into one character.

Primary Key Texts

Secondary Key Texts

Original Language Note

Hebrew: Avimelekh (אֲבִימֶלֶךְ), traditionally understood as “my father is king” or “father is king.”

Theological Significance

The Genesis Abimelech episodes highlight God’s providential protection of the covenant line. The Judges Abimelech account displays the moral and political chaos that follows pride, murder, and illegitimate rule, ending in divine judgment.

Philosophical Explanation

This entry is primarily referential rather than conceptual: the word names historical persons. Its theological value comes from the narratives attached to the name, not from the name itself.

Interpretive Cautions

Do not treat Abimelech as one single person across all passages. Distinguish the Genesis ruler from Gideon’s son in Judges, and avoid building doctrine from the name itself apart from the narrative contexts.

Major Views

Most interpreters distinguish the Genesis Abimelech from the Judges Abimelech and treat the term as a shared personal name rather than a title with one fixed referent.

Doctrinal Boundaries

This entry is descriptive and historical. It does not establish a doctrine, nor should it be used to infer one from the name alone.

Practical Significance

The entry reminds readers to read biblical names carefully and to observe how God preserves his purposes in both peaceful and corrupt political settings.

Related Entries

See Also

Data

Machine-readable JSON for Abimelech

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