Two Men Named “Servant” in the Records of Israel
The name Abda (Hebrew: עַבְדָּא, Abda’*), which literally means "Servant" or is an abbreviated form of "Servant of the Lord" (*Abdi-Yah), is applied to two different individuals in the Old Testament. Both are minor figures whose inclusion, though brief, provides insight into the administrative and spiritual structures of the Kingdom of Israel and the post-exilic community.
Abda, the Father of a Royal Official
The first Abda is connected to the reign of King Solomon, a period of great building and administrative organization.
| Relationship | Context in Scripture | Significance |
| Father of Adoniram | Mentioned in a list of King Solomon’s high officials. | His son, Adoniram, was in charge of the tribute (KJV), or forced labor, for Solomon’s massive building projects, including the Temple. |
| Historical Period | Reign of King Solomon (c. 970–931 B.C.). | He was the progenitor of a family of high standing who held significant, if controversial, administrative power in the kingdom. |
| Scriptural Reference | 1 Kings 4:6 | “And Ahishar was over the household: and Adoniram the son of Abda was over the tribute.” |
Abda’s name, “Servant,” stands in silent contrast to the heavy-handed nature of his son’s office, who was eventually stoned by the rebellious northern tribes (1 Kings 12:18), illustrating the dangers of placing men over oppressive labor systems, even in the King’s service.
Abda, the Levite in the Restoration
The second Abda lived centuries later, after the Babylonian exile, and belonged to the Levitical family that returned to Jerusalem to re-establish proper Temple worship.
Dual Identity in the Genealogy
This Abda is noted in the records detailing who resided in the newly re-settled Jerusalem under the governorship of Nehemiah. This individual appears under a slightly different name in a parallel passage, a common occurrence in Hebrew genealogy:
| Identity in Nehemiah | Identity in Chronicles | Connection |
| Abda the son of Shammua (Nehemiah 11:17) | Obadiah the son of Shemaiah (1 Chronicles 9:16) | Both genealogies trace this man to the line of Jeduthun, a chief musician appointed by King David. |
Role in the Restored Temple
As a member of the Jeduthunite family, this Abda was a Levite responsible for music and thanksgiving in the Temple service. His presence in Jerusalem underscores the continuity of worship and the revival of the spiritual heart of the nation after the exile. Unlike the first Abda, whose legacy was tied to royal compulsion, the second Abda’s legacy is tied to voluntary service and heartfelt praise.
Scriptural Reference:
“And Mattaniah the son of Mica, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, was the principal to begin the thanksgiving in prayer: and Bakbukiah the second among his brethren, and Abda the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun.” (Nehemiah 111:17)