Ahilud is a figure in the King James Version of the Bible primarily noted for his distinguished descendants who held key administrative positions during the glorious reigns of King David and King Solomon. He is the patriarch of a family that exemplified loyal and professional service to the early united monarchy of Israel.
His name, Ahilud (‘Achiylûd), is thought to mean “Child’s Brother” or “Brother of one born,” suggesting a familial connection to the lineage of Israel.
The Father of the Royal Recorder
Ahilud’s most notable connection is his son, Jehoshaphat the recorder, an official who served as the chronicler, or chief record-keeper, for two of Israel’s greatest kings. The role of the recorder (or “remembrancer,” as some translations render it) was a position of high trust, essentially functioning as the Secretary of State, archivist, and historian for the kingdom.
The Scripture records Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud alongside the highest-ranking officers of the realm, demonstrating the family’s importance in the royal court:
“And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder;” — 2 Samuel 8:16 (KJV)
Jehoshaphat continued in this vital role throughout the transition of power and into the reign of Solomon, providing essential stability and continuity to the monarchy:
“Elihoreph and Ahiah, the sons of Shisha, scribes; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud, the recorder.” — 1 Kings 4:3 (KJV)
The presence of Ahilud’s son at the very heart of both David’s victorious consolidation and Solomon’s golden administration underscores the reputation of the Ahilud family for wisdom and loyalty.
A Potential Patriarch of Solomon’s Administration
It is also generally believed that Ahilud was the father of another administrative figure during Solomon’s reign, named Baana. This Baana was one of the twelve officers appointed by King Solomon to manage the kingdom’s provisions, each for one month of the year.
The text states:
“Baana the son of Ahilud; to him pertained Taanach and Megiddo, and all Bethshean, which is by Zartanah beneath Jezreel, from Bethshean to Abel-meholah, even unto the place that is beyond Jokneam:” — 1 Kings 4:12 (KJV)
If this is the same Ahilud, it shows that his sons spanned two crucial generations, serving in both the centralized court of the capital and the newly organized provincial administration. Ahilud, though rarely mentioned directly, is thus seen as the foundational father of a household dedicated to the prudent governance and stability of God’s chosen kingdom.