Bible Dictionary
Abihail
Abihail is the name of several Old Testament persons, including a Levite, members of the tribes of Judah and Gad, a woman connected with Rehoboam’s family, and the father of Esther and uncle of Mordecai.
Definition
Abihail, meaning “father,” “cause,” or “possessor of strength,” is the name of several Old Testament persons. They include a Levite, the wife of Abishur, a head of the tribe of Gad, a woman connected with Rehoboam’s family, and the father of Esther and uncle of Mordecai.
Biblical Usage
Abihail appears in genealogical and royal records. The name belongs to persons from Levi, Judah, and Gad, to a woman connected with Rehoboam’s family, and to Esther’s father. Esther became the wife of Ahasuerus, king of Persia, while Mordecai was her uncle.
Historical Background
The Abihail connected with Gad lived in Gilead of Bashan. The record concerning Rehoboam’s family may identify Abihail as his wife or as the mother of his wife Mahalath; the latter interpretation is presented as probable.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Father of might. (1.) Num. 3:35. (2.) 1 Chr. 2:29. (3.) 1 Chr. 5:14. (4.) The second wife of King Rehoboam (2 Chr. 11:18), a descendant of Eliab, David’s eldest brother. (5.) The father of Esther and uncle of Mordecai (Esther 2:15).
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(father of, i.e. possessing, strength).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>ab'-i-hal ('abhichayil; in some manuscripts 'abhihayil, when feminine, but best reading is the former: "father, or cause, of strength"): Five persons in the Old Testament are called by this name:</p><p>(1) A Levite and the father of Zuriel, who in the Wilderness was head of the house of Merari, Levi's youngest son (Nu 3:35);</p><p>(2) The wife of Abishur, a man of the tribe of Judah, in the line of Hazron and Jerahmeel (1Ch 2:29);</p><p>(3) One of the heads of the tribe of Gad, who dwelt in Gilead of Bashan (1Ch 5:14);</p><p>(4) Either a wife of Rehoboam, king of Judah, or mother of his wife Mahalath, according to the interpretation of the text (2Ch 11:18); probably the latter view is correct, since there is no conjunction in the text, and since (2Ch 11:19) contemplates only one wife as already mentioned. This being true, she was the wife of Jerimath, a son of David, and daughter of Eliab, David's eldest brother. It is interesting to note this frequent intermarriage in the Davidic house;</p><p>(5) Father of Queen Esther, who became wife of Xerxes (Biblical Ahasuerus) king of Persia, after the removal of the former queen, Vashti, (Es 2:15; 9:29). He was uncle of Mordecai.</p><p>Edward Mack</p>