Abiathar [Ăbī'athär]—father of superfluity or excellent father. Son of Ahimelech and the eleventh high priest in succession from Aaron (1 Sam. 22:20-22; 23:6, 9).

Abiathar escaped and fled to David in the cave of Adullam when Doeg the Edomite slew his father and eighty-five priests. He went back to Jerusalem with the Ark when David fled from Absalom. He was joint high-priest with Zadok and conspired to make Adonijah king. He rebelled against David in his old age, was spared by Solomon for the sake of his first love, but dismissed from office for his treachery at the last.