Abiel, whose name means “my father is God” or “God is father,” is the name of two distinct men found in the Old Testament, each playing a role in the lineage or service of Israel’s kings.
Abiel, The Ancestor of King Saul
The first and most notable man named Abiel is an ancestor of the first king of Israel, Saul, and of Saul’s commander-in-chief, Abner. The scriptural record places him within the prominent tribe of Benjamin.
- The Lineage of Saul: Abiel is identified as the progenitor of two influential family lines that led to the highest positions of power in the new monarchy. The book of First Samuel establishes his place in the genealogy:
“Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power.” (1 Samuel 9:1, KJV)
- The Familial Tie to Abner: The close relationship between King Saul and his military captain, Abner, is also explained through their shared ancestry in Abiel.
“And Kish was the father of Saul; and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.” (1 Samuel 14:51, KJV)
This verse indicates that Kish (Saul’s father) and Ner (Abner’s father) were brothers, making Abiel the grandfather of both. Therefore, Abiel is the common patriarch uniting the two most powerful figures in Saul’s kingdom, highlighting the importance of family ties in early Israelite leadership.
Abiel the Arbathite, One of David’s Mighty Men
The second man named Abiel is a distinguished warrior who served under King David. His inclusion in this famous list of heroes marks him as a man of extraordinary valor and loyalty.
- The List of Heroes: Abiel is listed in the book of First Chronicles among the thirty valiant men who formed David’s elite corps of soldiers.
“Hurai of the brooks of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite,” (1 Chronicles 11:32, KJV)
- Alternate Name: It is widely accepted that this Abiel is the same person who is called by a slightly different name in the parallel record in the Book of Second Samuel: Abi-albon.
“Abialbon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,” (2 Samuel 23:31, KJV)
The designation “the Arbathite” identifies his origin, pointing to the region of Arabah, and underscoring that even a warrior from the wilderness region was found worthy to stand among the greatest protectors of David’s throne.