Ahimelech (Hebrew: אֲחִימֶ֫לֶך‎ ’Ăḥîmeleḵ, "brother of a king"),[1] the son of Ahitub and father of Abiathar (1 Samuel 22:20-23), but described as the son of Abiathar in 2 Samuel 8:17 and in four places in 1 Chronicles.[1] He descended from Aaron's son Ithamar and the High Priest of Israel Eli. In 1 Chronicles 18:16 his name is Abimelech according to the Masoretic Text,[1] and is probably the same as Ahiah (1 Samuel 14:3, 18).