Abi-albon
Abi-albon, also known as Abiel, was one of David's mighty men, an Arbathite.
Biography
Abi-albon the Arbathite appears in the roster of David's thirty mighty men recorded in 2 Samuel 23:31, where his parallel name Abiel is given in 1 Chronicles 11:32. He hailed from Beth-arabah, a settlement in the Jordan Valley borderland between Judah and Benjamin, a rugged terrain that likely shaped his skills as a warrior. The Arbathites were known to inhabit harsh desert frontier territory, suggesting Abi-albon brought hardened wilderness experience to David's elite fighting corps. He served during the United Monarchy, the golden era of Israelite military organization and expansion, when David's mighty men functioned as both a personal guard and a strategic strike force. Though no individual exploit of his is narrated, his standing among the thirty reflects recognized excellence in Israel's service.
Significance
Abi-albon's inclusion among David's mighty men (2 Samuel 23) reminds readers that Israel's national security and the fulfillment of God's promises to David rested in part on the shoulders of faithful, courageous warriors whose names Scripture takes care to preserve. The list of the thirty is not mere military record-keeping; it is a theological statement that God's purposes advance through human courage and loyalty. Abi-albon's dual-name attestation across Samuel and Chronicles also illustrates how the biblical tradition carefully maintained historical memory across generations, honoring those who served at the frontiers of God's covenant kingdom.
Verse Appearances (2)
2 Samuel
1 Chronicles
References
- Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]