Ahban

Biblical Record

Ahban appears only once in Scripture, in 1 Chronicles 2:29. The text reads: "And the name of the wife of Abishur was Abihail, and she bare him Ahban, and Molid." According to the surrounding verses, the line descends from Judah through Pharez, Hezron, Jerahmeel, Onam, and Shammai to Abishur, and Ahban belongs to the next generation (1 Chronicles 2:25–29). Scripture records nothing about Ahban's life, deeds, or descendants. His brother, Molid, is named alongside him.

Significance in Scripture

Ahban appears in the genealogies of 1 Chronicles 1–9, within the section devoted to the house of Jerahmeel, one branch of the tribe of Judah. These genealogies are generally thought to have helped the Israelite community after the Babylonian exile establish the origins of its tribes and families. The verse names not only Ahban's father but also his mother, Abihail. Ahban is not mentioned in the New Testament.

Interpretation and Debates

Because the text provides only a name and family relationships, there are no known points on which interpretations differ by denomination or tradition. Various meanings have been proposed for the name, but none has been established. Accounts that add details about Ahban's life have no basis in the biblical text.

In the Korean Church

Sermons, praise songs, and Sunday school materials devoted specifically to Ahban are nearly nonexistent. Church members usually encounter the name when reading the genealogies of 1 Chronicles while reading through the Bible.