The name Abiram (‘abhiram) means “exalted father” or “my father is an exalted one” in Hebrew. There are two distinct individuals named Abiram in the King James Version of the Bible, both of whom are associated with acts of grave disobedience and divine judgment.
1. Abiram, the Reubenite Conspirator
The first and most prominent Abiram was the son of Eliab from the tribe of Reuben. He is famously known for his role in a major rebellion against the God-ordained authority of Moses and Aaron during the wilderness wandering.
- The Rebellion: Abiram, along with his brother Dathan and the Levite Korah, led a faction that challenged the leadership of Moses and the priesthood of Aaron. Their rebellion centered on the claim that Moses and Aaron had “lifted up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD” (Numbers 16:3, KJV). Abiram and Dathan specifically refused to come when Moses sent for them, directly challenging his authority: “We will not come up” (Numbers 16:12, KJV).
- The Divine Judgment: The judgment for this rebellion was immediate and terrifying. The Lord intervened to confirm the authority of Moses and Aaron and to demonstrate the severity of their sin against God.”And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods. They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation.” (Numbers 16:32-33, KJV).
- A Lasting Warning: This judgment was remembered throughout Israel’s history as a stark warning against rebellion. The tribe of Reuben was later counted, and the record confirms the fate of Abiram and Dathan:”And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up together with Korah, when that company died, what time the fire devoured two hundred and fifty men: and they became a sign.” (Numbers 26:10, KJV).
2. Abiram, Son of Hiel the Bethelite
The second Abiram is mentioned centuries later and is a figure of tragedy who became an unwitting part of a fulfilled prophecy.
- The Rebuilding of Jericho: During the reign of Ahab, Hiel the Bethelite defied the ancient curse pronounced by Joshua against anyone who would rebuild the destroyed city of Jericho.”And Joshua adjured them at that time, saying, Cursed be the man before the LORD, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho: he shall lay the foundation thereof in his firstborn, and in his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it.” (Joshua 6:26, KJV).
- The Fulfillment of the Curse: Hiel began the work of rebuilding, and the consequence of his disobedience was the death of his children, starting with his eldest son, Abiram, when the foundation was laid.”In his days did Hiel the Beth-elite build Jericho: he laid the foundation thereof in Abiram his firstborn, and set up the gates thereof in his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Joshua the son of Nun.” (1 Kings 16:34, KJV).
The death of Abiram as the foundation was laid, and the later death of his youngest brother Segub when the gates were set up, served as a powerful and visible confirmation that God’s word, as spoken through Joshua, remained active and true hundreds of years later.