Bible Dictionary
Ammiel
Ammiel was the name of four Old Testament men: a spy from Dan, the father of Machir, the father of Bathsheba, and a son of Obed-edom who served at the sanctuary.
Definition
Ammiel, meaning “people of God” or “my kinsman is God,” was the name of four Old Testament men. One was a spy from Dan who joined the unfavorable report of the land. Another was the father of Machir. A third was the father of Bathsheba, also called Eliam. The fourth was a son of Obed-edom and a Levite doorkeeper.
Biblical Usage
The first Ammiel was one of the spies sent into Canaan and died in the plague following the unfavorable report. The other men appear in genealogical, Davidic, and sanctuary-service records. The Levite Ammiel served as a doorkeeper of the tabernacle.
Historical Background
The name occurs in variant form in the parallel identification of Bathsheba’s father: 1 Chronicles calls him Ammiel, while 2 Samuel calls him Eliam.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
People of God. (1.) One of the twelve spies sent by Moses to search the land of Canaan (Num. 13:12). He was one of the ten who perished by the plague for their unfavourable report (Num. 14:37). (2.) The father of Machir of Lo-debar, in whose house Mephibosheth resided (2 Sam. 9:4, 5; 17:27). (3.) The father of Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, and afterwards of David (1 Chr. 3:5). He is called Eliam in 2 Sam. 11:3. (4.) One of the sons of Obed-edom the Levite (1 Chr. 26:5).
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(people of God).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>am'-i-el (`ammi'el, "my kinsman is God"; (Ameiel)): A name borne by four men in the Old Testament.</p><p>(1) One of the twelve spies sent into Canaan by Moses; son of Gemalli, of the tribe of Da (Nu 13:12).</p><p>(2) A Benjamite, the father of Machir, a friend of David, living at Lodebar in Gilead (2Sa 9:4,5; 17:27).</p><p>(3) Father of Bathshua (or Bathsheba), one of David's wives, who was mother of Solomon (1Ch 3:5). In the parallel passage, 2Sa 11:3, by transposition of the two parts of the name, he is called Eliam, meaning "my God is a kinsman."</p><p>(4) The sixth son of Obed-edom, a Levite, one of the doorkeepers of the tabernacle of God in David's life-time (1Ch 26:5).</p><p>Edward Mack</p>