Abimelech

Family: Philistines · Role: king · First appears: Among The Philistines

In Section 090, the original text calls the king of Gerar Abimelech; he is Benmelek, son of the earlier king Abimelech, and took his father’s name after succeeding him. During his encounter with Sarah, he took her into his house as his wife. That night, a widespread affliction struck the people and animals of his land, and in the morning he was commanded to return Sarah to Abraham or die. Abimelech acknowledged that she was Abraham’s wife and returned her, giving Abraham rich gifts. Abraham forgave him and prayed for him; God healed Abimelech and his people, and his previously barren wife bore a child.

Later, Abimelech visited Abraham with twenty grandees to request an alliance with the Philistines. He acknowledged Abraham’s right to the well, and Abraham named the place Beer-sheba after their covenant of friendship. One year after Sarah’s death, Abimelech died at the age of 193; his twelve-year-old son Benmelek succeeded him and took his father’s name.

Relationship record

Life events

• Abimelech took Sarah into his house as his wife.(Among The Philistines · 📍 land of the Philistines)
  • With: Sarah
  • “Entranced by her beauty, Abimelech the king took Sarah to wife”
• The people and animals of the Philistine land suffered a widespread affliction.(Among The Philistines)
  • With: Sarah
  • “At the same time it happened that in men and beasts alike all the apertures of the body closed up, and the land was seized with indescribable excitement.”
• Abimelech was commanded to return Sarah to Abraham or die.(Among The Philistines)
  • With: Sarah
  • “Then God appeared unto Abimelech again and commanded him to let Sarah go free, otherwise he would be a dead man.”
• Abimelech acknowledged Sarah was Abraham’s wife and returned her to him.(Among The Philistines)
  • With: Sarah
  • “Abimelech gave rich gifts to Abraham, wherein he acted otherwise than Pharaoh in similar circumstances.”
• Abraham forgave Abimelech and prayed to God for him.(Among The Philistines)
  • With: Abraham
  • “Though Abimelech had done him great injury, Abraham not only granted him the forgiveness he craved, but also he prayed for him to God.”
• God healed Abimelech and his people, and Abimelech’s previously barren wife bore a child.(Among The Philistines)
  • With: Abraham Abimelech's wife (Section 072) Abimelech's child (Section 072)
  • “Abimelech and his subjects were healed of all their diseases, and so efficacious was the prayer offered by Abraham that the wife of Abimelech, barren hitherto, bore a child.”
• Abimelech visited Abraham with grandees to request an alliance with the Philistines.(The Covenant With Abimelech · 📍 the neighborhood of Hebron)
  • With: Abraham
  • “There he was visited by Abimelech with twenty of his grandees, who requested him to make an alliance with the Philistines.”
• Abimelech acknowledged Abraham's right to the well, and Abraham named the place Beer-sheba after their covenant.(The Covenant With Abimelech · 📍 Beer-sheba)
  • With: Abraham
  • “After concluding the alliance with Abimelech, who acknowledged Abraham's right upon the well, Abraham called the place Beer-sheba, because there they swore both of them unto a covenant of friendship.”
• Abimelech died at the age of one hundred and ninety-three.(The Death And Burial Of Sarah)
  • “One year after the death of Sarah, Abimelech king of the Philistines died, too, at the age of one hundred and ninety-three years.”

The Birth Of Isaac

• married with Abimelech's wife (Section 073) “All these years hath Sarah been barren, as the wife of Abimelech was.”

The Covenant With Abimelech

• covenanter: Abraham “After concluding the alliance with Abimelech, who acknowledged Abraham's right upon the well, Abraham called the place Beer-sheba, because there they swore both of them unto a covenant of friendship.”
• friends with Abraham “After concluding the alliance with Abimelech, who acknowledged Abraham's right upon the well, Abraham called the place Beer-sheba, because there they swore both of them unto a covenant of friendship.”

The Death And Burial Of Sarah

• child: Benmelek “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.”

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