Abiram (Son of Hiel)
A person in the Bible. Also called Abiram, Abiram son of Hiel, Abiram the son of Hiel the Bethelite.
| Classification | Biblical figure |
|---|---|
| Era | Reign of King Ahab of the northern kingdom of Israel (generally placed around the 9th century BC, though scholars differ on the dating) |
| Related Figures | Hiel (father), Segub (younger brother), Ahab, Joshua |
| Biblical References | 1 Kings 16:34 |
Abiram was the firstborn son of Hiel the Bethelite, who rebuilt Jericho during the reign of King Ahab of the northern kingdom of Israel. He died when the city's foundation was laid, and Scripture records his death as the fulfillment of Joshua's curse.
About this articleAI draft from a Korean source. Notes on Korean Protestant practice. No sources listed. Not yet reviewed by a person.
- Origin
Drafted by AI from the Korean church.wiki article, then translated and adapted for English readers on 5 November 2026.
- Perspective
Includes notes on Korean Protestant practice; other traditions are noted where they differ.
- Sources
None listed yet. The article draws on the biblical text and general reference works. Add a source
- Review
Not yet reviewed by a person. Last edited by a person: never. Translation updated 5 November 2026. Edit history
Biblical Account
Abiram is mentioned only once, in 1 Kings 16:34. According to this verse, Hiel of Bethel built Jericho during the reign of Ahab. Hiel lost his firstborn son Abiram when he laid the city's foundation, and his youngest son, Segub, when he set up its gates. Scripture records that this happened "according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Joshua the son of Nun." The text does not say how Abiram died or how old he was.
He should be distinguished from another Abiram, the son of Eliab, of the tribe of Reuben, who joined Korah and Dathan in rebelling against Moses (Numbers 16; Numbers 26:9; Deuteronomy 11:6; Psalm 106:17).
Significance in Scripture
After the fall of Jericho, Joshua pronounced a solemn oath that whoever rebuilt Jericho would lose his firstborn son when he laid its foundation and his youngest son when he set up its gates (Joshua 6:26). First Kings 16:34 shows that these words were fulfilled exactly, several centuries later. The verse stands at the end of the passage recounting Ahab's evil deeds, immediately before Elijah appears. It is therefore read as a portrait of an age that treated the word of God lightly. The New Testament does not mention Abiram.
Interpretations and Questions
- Manner of death: The text says only that Hiel "lost" his sons. The traditional interpretation understands this as a judgment sent directly by God. Some scholars, pointing to the ancient Near Eastern practice of offering human sacrifices in building foundations, suggest that Hiel may have sacrificed his sons. The text itself, however, does not say this.
- Did only two sons die?: Jewish tradition reportedly preserves an interpretation holding that the sons born between the firstborn and the youngest also died, one after another, during the construction. This too, however, is not found in the text.
- The meaning of "built": Scripture portrays the Jericho area as inhabited in the intervening period (Judges 3:13; 2 Samuel 10:5). Some therefore understand Hiel's building as the reconstruction of Jericho as a fortified city with walls and gates.
Perspective: Korean Protestant practiceHow this figure is used in Korean churches, kept from the original Korean article.
In Korean Protestant preaching, this passage is often cited together with Joshua 6:26 as an illustration that the word of God is surely fulfilled, even after many years have passed. Hymns and Sunday school materials devoted specifically to Abiram are rare.
See also 8
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