Ahijah was one of the historians of Solomon's reign according to 2 Ch 9^.
3. 1 K 4', one of two brothers, Solomon's scribes or secretaries. Their father Sliisha (Seraiah, 2 S 8" ; Sheva, 2 S 2(r-» ; Shavsha, 1 Ch 18'") held the same post under David. 4. Father of king Baasha, 1 K 15^-» 21», 2 K 9». 5. 1 Ch 2» (LXX iSe\(p6s auToD), youngest son of Jerahmeel, or his first wife, if we read with Rertheau, ' of or from Ahijah,' D having dropped out. See next verse. 6. 1 Ch 8', one of the 'heads of fathers' housses' of Geba, a son of Ehud, for which read ' Abihud,' V.' (Pesh., Gratz), or ' Ahoah' (v.«). In the begin- ning of the verse read 'namely' for 'and.' The text is very obscure. See Q.P.B. 7. I Ch II", the Pelonite, one of David's mighty men ; but
Kennicott, etc., read instead ' Eliam — Gilonit«,' from 2 S 23". 8. 1 Ch 26a'. (!„ David's time) 'of the Levites, Ahijah was over the treasuries.' LXX, followed by Bertheau, etc., reads, 'the Levites, their brethren (i.e. the sons of Ladan, v."!), were over,' etc. 9. Neh 10^ (RV Ahiah), one of ' the chiefs of the people ' who sealed to the covenant under Nehemiah.
N. J. D. White.
AHIKAM (CB'TO 'my brother has arisen'). — Son of Shaphan, a courtier under Josiah, mentioned as one of the deputation sent by the king to Uuldali the prophetess (2 K 22'2-", 2 Ch 34^), and later as using his influence to protect Jeremiah from the violence of the populace during the reign of Jehoiakim (Jer 26''"). He was father of Gedaliah, the governor of the land of Judah appointed by Nebuchadnezzar (2 K 25-'^ al.),
C. F. Burnet.
AHILUD (n)S'nK, perhaps a contraction of 'ni< ■nS- 'child's brother ').—!. (2 S S" 20«, 1 K 4', 1 Ch 18'°). — Father of Jehoshaphat, the chronicler under David and Solomon. 2. (I K 4'^) Father of Baana, one of Solomon's twelve commissariat officers. C. F. Burnky.
AHIMAAZ (fyo'nx 'my brother ia wrath'). — 1. Son of Zadok. He was a remarkably swift runner, whose style was well known (2 S 18-''), and as such he played an important part on the occasion of Absalom's rebellion. As had been arranged by David (2 S is^-ss-M-sej^ he and Jonathan, son of Abiathar, 'stayed by En-rogel, and a maidservant used to go and tell them,' from the priests, the plans of Absalom which had been divulged by Hushai, 'and they went and told King David.' This must have occurred more than once (2 S 17"). Details of their last and most critical adventure are given (17""*'), when, aided by a woman's craft, they succeeded in conveying the news that saved David's life. After the battle, Ahimaaz offered his services as messenger of victory ; but Joab, fearing that the odium of being the first to tell of Absalom's death might injure the young man's prospects, refused, out of kindness, to allow him to run, and entrusted the duty to the Cushite courier. Ahimaaz, however, saw a way out of the ditticulty ; Joab yielded reluctantly to his impor- tunity, and Ahimaaz ' ran by the way of the Plain ' (the floor of the Jordan valley, Gn 13'" etc.); and by superior swiftness, and al.so, as is implied, by taking an easier route, 'overran the Cushite.' He did not belie David's description : ' He is a good man, and conieth with good tidings,' for by an adroit suppressio veri he achieved his purpose, and left to the Cushite the ungrateful office of creaking the king's heart. We read nothing more of Ahimaaz after this. It does not appear that he was ever high priest, since Azariah his son ( 1 Ch 6*- ') seems to have succeeded Zadok (1 K i% 2. (1 S 14*>) Father of Ahinoam, Saul's wife. 3. (1 K 4") One of Solomon's twelve commissariat officers. He had the district of Naphtali as the field of his operations. Since he alone of the twelve has no father men- tioned, it has been conjectured that he may pos- sibly be the son of Zadok ; but he surely w ould have succeeded his father in the high priesthood. Ahimaaz married Basemath, one of Solomon's daughters. Another of these officers made a similar alliance, which indicates that they held a high rank. N. J. D. Whitk.
AHIMAN (l"'n>< : on the form, see Moore as cited below). — 1. The sons of Anak or Anakites (see Anak) are frequently mentioned, chiefly in D ; but the special names Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai occur only in JE (Nu H*", Jos 15'*) and Jg 1'", cf. v.'*. According to these passages, Ahiman,
AHIMELECH
AHITOB
57
Sheshai, and Talmai were ' sons ' or ' children of Anak ' (piyi 'J3 or 'l'"' t'?" : for the latter, cf. tV nsiT 2 S 21"- **), whose father was Arba (Jos 15", perhaps P). But, as a matter of fact, neither Anak ( = long-necked) nor Arba { = four: with Kiriath-aria cf. Beei-shebii) are personal names (see Moore, Judges 1*). There is therefore no reason to doubt what the context of the above- cited passages suggests, viz. that Ahiinan, Sheshai, and Talmai are the names, not of individuals, but of clans.