Ahijah

1. A priest of Shiloh in the time of Saul. He was the son of Ahitub, grandson of Phinehas, and great-grandson of Eli. He was with Saul at Michmash (I Sam 14:2-3). He wore the ephod, and was responsible for the ark of the covenant which followed the army (I Sam 14:18-19). His name may originally have been Ahimelech and he may be identical with Ahimelech No. 1, the priest of Nob, likewise the son of Ahitub (I Sam 22:9, 11-12, 20).

2. The son of Shisha; one of Solomon's scribes (I Kgs 4:1-3).

3. Ahijah the Pelonite, one of David's "mighty men".

4. One of the sons of Jerahmeel; a member of the tribe of Judah.

5. A Levite appointed over the treasuries of the Temple in the time of David.

6. The father of Baasha, king of Israel; he was a member of the tribe of Issachar.

7. A family head in the tribe of Benjamin (I Chr 8:6-7); the son of Ehud.

He may be identical with the Ahoah of I Chronicles 8:4.

8. A prophet from Shiloh during the end of Solomon's reign, and the reign of Rehoboam and Jeroboam; he prophesied to Jeroboam that the kingdom of Israel would be divided and that he, Jeroboam, would become king. To symbolize this Ahijah tore his (or Jeroboam's) new garment into 12 pieces and gave ten to Jeroboam saying: "Take for yourself ten pieces, for thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: 'Behold, I will tear the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon and will give ten tribes to you' " (I Kgs 11:26-39). Bearing out this prophecy, Jeroboam became the first king of the kingdom of Israel. He was regarded as a wicked king, who practiced idolatry, setting up golden calves at Bethel and Dan (I Kgs 12:25-33). When Ahijah was old and blind, Jeroboam sent his wife in disguise to consult the prophet about their son's illness. Ahijah recognized Jeroboam's wife and predicted the imminent death of the child and the doom of Jeroboam's house because of the sins of Jeroboam "who made Israel sin" (I Kgs 14:1-18; II Chr 9:29; 10:15).

9. One of those who sealed Nehemiah's covenant "to walk in God's Law" (Neh 10:1, 26, 29).

This article incorporates text from Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897), a publication now in the public domain.

Ahijah (Hebrew: אֲחִיָּה ; "brother / friend of Jehovah"; Latin and Douay-Rheims: Ahias) is a name of several Biblical individuals:

1. Ahijah the Shilonite, the Biblical prophet who divided the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah.
2. One of the sons of Bela (1 Chr. 8:7, RV). In AV (KJV) called "Ahiah."
3. One of the five sons of Jerahmeel, who was great-grandson of Judah (1 Chr. 2:25).
4. Son of Ahitub (1 Sam. 14:3, 18), Ichabod's brother; the same probably as Ahimelech, who was high priest at Nob in the reign of Saul (1 Sam. 22:11). Some, however, suppose that Ahimelech was the brother of Ahijah, and that they both officiated as high priests, Ahijah at Gibeah or Kirjath-jearim, and Ahimelech at Nob.

Preceded by Ahitub

High Priest of Israel

Succeeded by Ahimelech

1. A Pelonite, one of David's heroes (1 Chr. 11:36); called also Eliam (2 Sam. 23:34).
2. A Levite having charge of the sacred treasury in the temple (1 Chr. 26:20).
3. One of Solomon's secretaries (1 Kings 4:3).

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