Benmelek

Also known as: Abimelech · Role: son and successor of Abimelech · First appears: The Death And Burial Of Sarah

One year after Sarah’s death, Benmelek succeeded his father, the earlier Abimelech, as king at age twelve and took his father’s name. In the original text, the king of Gerar is called Abimelech; this is Benmelek, not his father.

After Isaac and Rebekah had been in Gerar for three months, Benmelek declared them husband and wife and threatened death to anyone who touched them. Thereafter he invited Isaac to settle in his domains and assigned him fields and vineyards. Later, Benmelek and the Philistines asked Isaac to renew the covenant his father had made with them, and Isaac consented.

Relationship record

Life events

• Benmelek succeeded his father to the throne and took his father’s name.(The Death And Burial Of Sarah)
  • “His successor upon the throne was his twelve-year old son Benmelek, who took the name of his father after his accession.”
• Abimelech publicly declared Isaac and Rebekah to be husband and wife and threatened death to anyone who touched them.(Isaac With The Philistines · 📍 Gerar)
  • With: Isaac Rebekah
  • “These two are man and wife. He that toucheth this man or his wife shall surely be put to death.”
• Abimelech invited Isaac to settle in his domains and assigned him fields and vineyards.(Isaac With The Philistines · 📍 Gerar)
  • With: Isaac
  • “Thereafter the king invited Isaac to settle in his domains, and he assigned fields and vineyards to him for cultivation, the best the land afforded.”
• Abimelech came with the Philistines to ask Isaac to renew the covenant made with Abraham.(Isaac With The Philistines)
  • With: Isaac
  • “Abimelech and the Philistines spake thus to Isaac: ‘We have convinced ourselves that the Shekinah is with thee, and therefore we desire thee to renew the covenant which thy father made with us, that thou wilt do us no hurt, as we also did not touch thee.’”
• Isaac consented to renew the covenant with Abimelech and the Philistines.(Isaac With The Philistines)
  • With: Isaac
  • “Isaac consented.”

The Death And Burial Of Sarah

• parent: Abimelech “One year after the death of Sarah, Abimelech king of the Philistines died, too, at the age of one hundred and ninety-three years. His successor upon the throne was his twelve-year old son Benmelek, who took the name of his father after his accession.”

Isaac With The Philistines

• covenanter: Isaac “Abimelech and the Philistines spake thus to Isaac: ‘We have convinced ourselves that the Shekinah is with thee, and therefore we desire thee to renew the covenant which thy father made with us, that thou wilt do us no hurt, as we also did not touch thee.’”

Also listed in Other Figures — Minor Figures

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Extracted from the original text of The Legends of the Jews, Volume I. Made with Rho MD.