(brother of the king, i.e. the king's friend,) was the son of Ahitab, and brother of Ahiah, who was most probably his predecessor in the high priesthood. When David fled from Saul, he went to Nob, a city of the priests in Benjamin, where the tabernacle then was; and by representing himself as on pressing business from the king, he obtained from Ahimelech some of the sacred bread which had been removed from the presence-table. He was also furnished with the sword which he had himself taken from Goliath, and which had been laid up as a trophy in the tabernacle. (1 Sam. xxii. 1-9.) These circumstances were witnessed by Doeg, an Edomite in the service of Saul, and were so reported by him to the jealous king as to appear acts of connivance at, and support to David's imagined disloyal designs. Saul immediately sent for Ahimelech and the other priests then at Nob, and laid this crime to their charge, which they repelled by declaring their ignorance of any hostile designs on the part of David towards Saul or his kingdom. The king, however, commanded his guard to slay them. Their refusal to fall upon persons invested with so sacred a character might have brought even Saul to reason; but he repeated the order to Doeg himself, and was too readily obeyed by that malignant person, who, with the men under his orders, not only slew the priests then present, eighty-six in number, but marched to Nob, and put to the sword every living creature it contained. The only one of the priests that escaped was Abiathar, son of Ahimelech, who fled to David, and afterwards became high priest. (1 Sam. xxiii.)

AHITHOPHEL (brother of foolishness, i.e. foolish), the very singular name of the man who, in the time of David, was renowned throughout all Israel for his worldly wisdom. He was of the council of David; but at the time of Absalom's revolt, was at Giloh, his native place, whence he was summoned to Jerusalem; and it shows the strength of Absalom's cause in Israel that a man so capable of foreseeing results, and estimating the probabilities of success, took his side in so daring an attempt. (2 Sam. xv. 12.) The news of this defection appears to have occasioned David more alarm than any other single incident in the rebellion. He earnestly prayed God to turn the sage counsel of Ahithophel "to foolishness" (probably alluding to his name); and being immediately after joined by his old friend Hushai, he induced him to go over to Absalom with the express view that he might be instrumental in defeating the counsels of this dangerous person. (xv. 31-37.) Hushai interposed with his plausible advice, the object of which was to gain time to enable David to collect his resources. When Ahithophel saw that his counsel was rejected for that of Hushai, he gave up the cause of Absalom for lost; and he forthwith returned to his home, and hanged himself, B.C. 1023. (ch. xvii.) This is the only case of suicide which the Old Testament records, unless the last acts of Samson and Saul may be regarded as such.