Difference between revisions of "Ahimaaz"

<p> ("brother of anger", i.e. "choleric".) </p> <p> &nbsp;1. &nbsp;1 Samuel 14:50. </p> <p> &nbsp;2. [[Zadok]] the priest's son; the messenger in Absalom's rebellion, with Jonathan, Abiathar's son, to carry tidings from Hushai, David's friend and spy. Zadok and Abiathar, who took back the ark to the city at David's request, were to tell them while staying outside the city at [[Enrogel]] whatever [[Hushai]] directed. They told David the counsel of Ahlthophel for an immediate attack, which David should baffle by crossing [[Jordan]] at once. They narrowly escaped Absalom's servants at Bahurim, the woman of the house hiding them in a well's mouth, over which she spread a covering with ground grain on it, and telling the servants what was true in word, though misleading them: "they be gone over the brook of water." Bahurim, the scene of Shimei's cursing of David, was thus made the scene of David's preservation by God, who heard his prayer (&nbsp;1 Samuel 16:12; &nbsp;Psalms 109:28). </p> <p> David's estimate of [[Ahimaaz]] appears in his remark on his approach after the battle (&nbsp;2 Samuel 18:27): "he is a good man, and cometh with good tidings." Though [[Cushi]] was later in arriving he announced the fate of Absalom, which Ahimaaz with courtier-like equivocation evaded announcing, lest he should alloy his good news with what would be so distressing to David. Joab, knowing David's fondness for Absalom, had not wished Ahimaaz to go at all on that day, but youths will hardly believe their elders wiser than themselves. [[Good]] running was a quality much valued in those days, and Ahimaaz was famous for it. The battle was fought on the mount of [[Ephraim]] W. of Jordan, and Ahimaaz ran by the plain of the Jordan to David at Mahanaim. Compare as to [[Asahel]] &nbsp;2 Samuel 2:18; Elijah, &nbsp;1 Kings 18:46. Compare as to runners before kings &nbsp;2 Samuel 15:1; &nbsp;1 Kings 1:5; as to courier posts, &nbsp;2 Chronicles 30:6; &nbsp;2 Chronicles 30:10; &nbsp;Esther 3:13; &nbsp;Esther 3:15; &nbsp;Esther 8:14. [[Comparing]] &nbsp;1 Kings 4:2 with &nbsp;1 Chronicles 6:10, some infer that Ahimaaz died before he attained the priesthood, and before his father Zadok, who was succeeded by Ahimaaz's son, Azariah. (See &nbsp;ABIATHAR) </p> <p> &nbsp;3. &nbsp;1 Kings 5:7; &nbsp;1 Kings 5:15. </p>

<p> &nbsp;Ahimaaz (&nbsp;a-hĭ&nbsp;m'a-ăz), &nbsp;brother of anger. 1. The father of Ahinoam, Saul's wife. &nbsp;1 Samuel 14:50. 2. The son of Zadok the priest. He, with Jonathan, Abiathar's son, contrived to bring David Intelligence, during Absalom's rebellion, of Ahithophel's counsel, and Hushai's endeavor to counteract it. They were hid in a well and escaped capture. &nbsp;2 Samuel 15:27; &nbsp;2 Samuel 15:36; &nbsp;2 Samuel 17:15-22. When the royal forces had gained the victory, he offered to convey the news to David; but his request was refused by [[Joab]] because of Absalom's death. After Cushi had been despatched, Ahimaaz again solicited permission to run, and, having overcome Joab's reluctance, he started, outran Cushi, and apprised the king of the success achieved. In answer, however, to the inquiry respecting Absalom, he, not quite truthfully, replied that he had seen a tumult, but "knew not what it was." &nbsp;2 Samuel 18:19-30. We hear nothing more of Ahimaaz, and, comparing &nbsp;1 Kings 4:2; &nbsp;1 Chronicles 6:8-9; &nbsp;1 Chronicles 6:53, it seems probable that he died before his father, and was never high priest. 3. One of Solomon's commissariat officers. &nbsp;1 Kings 4:15. We cannot suppose this person identical with No. 2. </p>

<p> &nbsp;Ahim'a-az. &nbsp;(brother of anger). </p> <p> 1. Son of Zadok, the high priest, in David's reign, and celebrated for his swiftness of foot. During Absalom's rebellion, he carried to David the important intelligence that Ahithophel had counseled an immediate attack upon David and his followers. &nbsp;2 Samuel 15:24-37; &nbsp;2 Samuel 17:15-22. [[Shortly]] afterwards, he was the first to bring to the king the good news of Absalom's defeat. &nbsp;2 Samuel 18:19-33. (B.C. 972-956). </p> <p> 2. Saul's wife's father. &nbsp;1 Samuel 14:50. (B.C. before 1093). </p> <p> 3. Solomon's son-in-law. &nbsp;1 Kings 4:15. (B.C. after 1014). </p>

<p> '''''a''''' -'''''hi''''' -'''''mā´az''''' , '''''a''''' -'''''him´ā̇''''' -'''''az''''' (&nbsp; אחימעץ , <i> ''''''ăḥı̄ma‛ac''''' </i> , perhaps "my brother is rage," or "brother of rage"): </p> <p> (1) Father of [[Ahinoam]] the wife of King Saul (&nbsp;1 Samuel 14:50 ). </p> <p> (2) The son of Zadok the high priest (&nbsp;1 Chronicles 6:8 , &nbsp;1 Chronicles 6:9 , &nbsp;1 Chronicles 6:53 ). With his father he remained loyal to Dared in the rebellions both of Absalom and of Adonijah. With Jonathan the son of [[Abiathar]] he carried information to Dared when he fled from Absalom (&nbsp;2 Samuel 15:27 , &nbsp;2 Samuel 15:36; &nbsp;2 Samuel 17:17 , &nbsp;2 Samuel 17:20 ). At his own urgent request he carried tidings to David after the death of Absalom (&nbsp;2 Samuel 18:19 ). He told the king of the victory, and also, through his reluctance to speak, informed him of Absalom's death. By his reluctance and his sympathy he softened a little the message, which the [[Cushite]] presently repeated more harshly. </p> <p> That Ahimaaz did not succeed his father as high priest has been inferred from the fact that in the Solomon list of heads of departments (&nbsp;1 Kings 4:2 ) [[Azariah]] the son of Zadok is mentioned as priest. It is assumed that this Azariah is the one who appears in the genealogy as the son of Ahimaaz, and that for some reason Ahimaaz was left out of the succession. These inferences are not Justified by the record, though possibly the record does not absolutely disprove them. As the list stands it makes Zadok and Abiathar the high priests. Azariah and Zabud, the son of [[Nathan]] (&nbsp;1 Kings 4:2 , &nbsp;1 Kings 4:5 ), are spoken of as holding priestly offices of a different kind. Ahimaaz may have died early, or may have followed some other career, but the simple fact is that we do not know. </p> <p> (3) Ahimaaz, in Naphtali, was one of Solomon's twelve commissary officers (&nbsp;1 Kings 4:15 ), who married [[Basemath]] the daughter of Solomon. It is not impossible that he was Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, though there is no proof to that effect. </p>