Topical Encyclopedia A'driel is a biblical figure mentioned in the Old Testament, specifically within the historical narratives of 1 Samuel and 2 Samuel. His name, A'driel, is often understood to mean "flock of God" or "my help is God," reflecting the theophoric nature of many Hebrew names.Family and Lineage A'driel is identified as the son of Barzillai the Meholathite. The Meholathites were likely inhabitants of Abel Meholah, a region in the Jordan Valley, which is also associated with the prophet Elisha (1 Kings 19:16). This connection places A'driel within a specific geographical and cultural context in ancient Israel. Marriage to Merab A'driel is most notably recognized for his marriage to Merab, the eldest daughter of King Saul. Initially, Merab was promised to David as a reward for his victory over Goliath and his continued military successes. However, Saul reneged on this promise and instead gave Merab to A'driel. The relevant passage in 1 Samuel 18:19 states: "So when the time came for Saul to give his daughter Merab to David, she was given in marriage to A'driel of Meholah." Children and Tragic Fate A'driel and Merab had five sons, whose lives were marked by tragedy. In 2 Samuel 21, during the reign of King David, a famine struck Israel for three years. Seeking to understand the cause, David learned that it was due to Saul's breach of an oath with the Gibeonites. To atone for this, David handed over seven of Saul's male descendants to the Gibeonites, who executed them as a form of retribution. Among those handed over were the five sons of A'driel and Merab. The text in 2 Samuel 21:8 reads: "But the king took the two sons of Rizpah daughter of Aiah, whom she had borne to Saul—Armoni and Mephibosheth—and the five sons of Saul’s daughter Merab, whom she had borne to A'driel son of Barzillai the Meholathite." Textual Considerations There is a textual discrepancy in 2 Samuel 21:8, where some manuscripts mention Michal instead of Merab as the mother of A'driel's sons. However, this is generally considered a scribal error, as Michal, another daughter of Saul, was childless according to 2 Samuel 6:23. The context and cross-references support the identification of Merab as the mother. Theological Implications A'driel's account, though brief, is interwoven with themes of covenant faithfulness, divine justice, and the complexities of human relationships within the biblical narrative. His marriage to Merab and the subsequent fate of their children highlight the far-reaching consequences of Saul's actions and the fulfillment of divine justice in the history of Israel. Concordance A'driel (1 Occurrence)1 Samuel 18:19 Thesaurus A'driel (1 Occurrence)A'driel. Adriel, A'driel. A'dri-el . Multi-Version Concordance A'driel (1 Occurrence). 1 Samuel 18:19 But it happened at the time ... /a/a'driel.htm - 6k Adriel (2 Occurrences) A'dri-el (1 Occurrence) Resources Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus |
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