Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:
( father of abundance). Son of Ahimelech, and fourth high priest in descent from Eli, of the line of Ithamar, younger son of Aaron (1 Sam. 23:9), only one of Ahimelech’s sons who escaped the vengeance of Saul in the slaughter at Nob (1 Sam. 22:19-20). Fled to David at Keilah, and became a high priest. Deprived of the high priesthood by Solomon. For fuller history read 1 Sam. 22 to 1 Kings 3.
Concise Bible Dictionary:
Son of Ahimelech the high priest. He escaped from the slaughter of the priests executed by Doeg at the command of Saul (1 Sam. 22:18,20). He became an adherent of David, and was acknowledged as high priest; but becoming involved in Adonijah’s rebellion he was deprived of the priesthood by Solomon and sent to dwell in the city of Anathoth which belonged to the sons of Aaron (1 Kings 2:26; 1 Chron. 6:60). In 1 Kings 4:4, Abiathar is named with Zadok as priests (not the priests); though deposed, Abiathar was still a priest. There is a difficulty in 2 Samuel 8:17 and 1 Chronicles 18:16 where Ahimelech (or Abimelech) the son of Abiathar is named as priest with Zadok in the time of David. Some suppose that the names should be transposed, and that Abiathar is meant; but this Ahimelech may have been a son of the above — named Abiathar (it not being at all unusual to name a son after his grandfather) and for some reason he is mentioned in these passages as priest instead of his father. He may have been a more worthy man than his father, who was thrust out of the priesthood for his own sin, though it fulfilled the prophecy concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh (1 Sam. 2:31-36; 1 Kings 2:27). Our Lord in Mark 2:26 speaks of Abiathar as high priest, in connection with David eating the showbread, doubtless because he afterward attained to that office.
Strong’s Dictionary of Greek Words:
Transliteration:
Abiathar
Meaning:
of Hebrew origin (54); Abiathar, an Israelite
Jackson’s Dictionary of Scripture Proper Names:
father of abundance or "father of a remnant"
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