Ahikam

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

Son of Shaphan the scribe, sent by Josiah to Huldah the prophetess ( 2 Kings 22:12). In Jehoiakim's subsequent reign Ahikam successfully pleaded for Jeremiah before the princes and elders, that he should not be given to the people to be put to death for his fearless warnings ( Jeremiah 26:16-24). God rewarded Ahikam by the honor put upon Gedaliah, his son, by Nebuchadnezzar's making him governor over the cities of Judah, and committing Jeremiah' to him, when the Babylonians took Jerusalem ( Jeremiah 40:5;  Jeremiah 39:14).

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Ahi'kam. (A Brother Who Raises Up). Son of Shaphan, the scribe, an influential officer at the court of Josiah, was one of the delegates sent by Hilkaih to consult Huldah.  2 Kings 22:12-14. In the reign of Jehoiakim, he successfully used his influence to protect the prophet Jeremiah.  Jeremiah 26:24. He was the father of Gedaliah. (B.C. 641). See Gedaliah .

Morrish Bible Dictionary

Son of Shaphan the scribe, and one of those sent by Josiah to Huldah the prophetess to inquire of the Lord as to the book of the law that had been found.  2 Kings 22:12-22 . He also served under Jehoiakim and shielded Jeremiah from death when he prophesied against the nation. He was father of Gedaliah whom Nebuchadnezzar made governor of the land.  Jeremiah 26:24;  Jeremiah 40:5-16;  Jeremiah 41:1-16 .

People's Dictionary of the Bible

Ahikam ( A-Hî'Kam ), Brother Of The Enemy. A person who rescued Jeremiah, when It was proposed to give him into the hands of the people, to be put to death.  2 Kings 22:12-14;  2 Kings 25:22;  Jeremiah 26:24;  Jeremiah 39:14

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

AHIKAM . One of the deputation sent by king Josiah to Huldah the prophetess (  2 Kings 22:12;   2 Kings 22:14 ,   2 Chronicles 34:20 ). Later he used his influence to protect Jeremiah from the violence of the populace during the reign of Jehoiakim (  Jeremiah 26:24 ).

Easton's Bible Dictionary

 2 Kings 22:12-14 2 Chronicles 34:20 2 Kings 25:22 Jeremiah 40:5-16 43:6 Jeremiah 26:24

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Sent by Josiah to Huldah the prophetess, when the book of the law was found in the temple,  2 Kings 22:12 . He afterwards nobly befriended the prophet Jeremiah,  Jeremiah 26:24;  39:14 .

Holman Bible Dictionary

 2 Kings 22:8-20 2 Kings 25:22-25 Jeremiah 26:24 Jeremiah 39:14

Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary

the son of Shaphan, and father of Gedaliah. He was sent by Josiah, king of Judah, to Huldah the prophetess,  2 Kings 22:12 , to consult her concerning the book of the law, which had been found in the temple.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

a - hı̄´kam ( אחיקם , 'aḥı̄ḳām , "my brother has risen up"): A prominent man of the time of King Josiah and the following decades ( 2 Kings 22:12 ,  2 Kings 22:14;  2 Kings 25:22;  2 Chronicles 34:20;  Jeremiah 26:24;  Jeremiah 39:14;  Jeremiah 40:5;  Jeremiah 41:1;  Jeremiah 43:6 ). He was the son of Shaphan, who very likely is to be identified with Shaphan the scribe, who was at that time so prominent. Ahikam was the father of Gedaliah, whom, on the capture of Jerusalem, Nebuchadnezzar made governor of the land. Ahikam was a member of the deputation sent by Josiah to the prophetess Huldah to consult her concerning the contents of the Book of the Law which had been found. Under Jehoiakim he had sufficient influence to protect Jeremiah from being put to death. On the capture of Jerusalem Nebuchadnezzar committed Jeremiah into the care of Gedaliah. It is clear that both Shaphan and his son, like Jeremiah, belonged to the party which held that the men of Judah were under obligation to keep the oath which they had sworn to the tang of Babylon.

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(Hebrew Achikam', אֲחַיקָס , Brother Of Support, i e. Helper; Sept. Ἀχικάμ ), the second named of the four eminent persons sent by King Josiah to inquire of the prophetess Huldah concerning the proper course to be pursued in relation to the acknowledged violations of the newly- discovered book of the law ( 2 Kings 22:12-14;  2 Chronicles 34:20), B.C. 623. He afterward protected the prophet Jeremiah from the persecuting fury of Jehoiakim ( Jeremiah 26:24), B.C. 607; and other members of his family were equally humane ( Jeremiah 39:14). He was the son of Shaphan, the royal secretary, and father of Gedaliah, the viceroy of Judaea after the capture of Jerusalem by the Babylonians ( 2 Kings 25:22;  Jeremiah 40:5-16;  Jeremiah 41:1-18;  Jeremiah 43:6).

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

Ahi´kam (brother of the enemy), one of the four persons of distinction whom Josiah sent to consult Huldah, the prophetess ( 2 Kings 22:12-14). Ahikam and his family are honorably distinguished for their protection of the prophet Jeremiah ( Jeremiah 26:24;  Jeremiah 39:14).