Ahuzzath

Biblical Record

Ahuzzath appears only once in the Bible, in Genesis 26:26. In this chapter Isaac stays in Gerar and, after disputes with the herdsmen of Gerar over wells, goes up to Beersheba. Then Abimelech, king of Gerar, comes to Isaac, bringing "Ahuzzath one of his friends, and Phichol the chief captain of his army" (Genesis 26:26). Genesis 26:1 calls Abimelech "king of the Philistines."

Isaac asks why those who hated him and sent him away have now come to him (Genesis 26:27). Abimelech's party replies that they have seen that the LORD is with Isaac and proposes that the two sides swear an oath not to harm each other (Genesis 26:28-29). Isaac prepares a feast, and early the next morning they swear to one another and depart in peace (Genesis 26:30-31). The text records no particular words or actions of Ahuzzath on this occasion.

Significance in the Bible

Ahuzzath was a member of the king's inner circle who accompanied Abimelech when the covenant between Abimelech and Isaac was concluded. The fact that royal officials accompanied the king is understood to show that the oath was not merely a personal promise of the king but a formal commitment on the part of Gerar. Ahuzzath is not mentioned in the New Testament.

Interpretations and Debated Points

• The meaning of "friend": The word rendered "friend" in the Korean Revised Version ("one of his friends" in the KJV) is often understood to denote a close officer of the king, that is, an adviser or confidant. The Septuagint is reported to have translated the term with a word closer to "groomsman," one who attends the bridegroom.
• The name: The name Ahuzzath is thought to be related to a Hebrew word meaning "possession."
• Relationship to Genesis 21: In Genesis 21:22 Abimelech and Phichol make a covenant with Abraham, but Ahuzzath does not appear in that scene. Interpreters differ over whether the Abimelech of the two chapters is the same person or whether "Abimelech" was a title for the kings of Gerar. Accordingly, some hold that Ahuzzath was a new confidant who came on the scene after the events of Genesis 21. Beyond this, the text provides no further information about Ahuzzath's life.

In the Korean Church

Ahuzzath is rarely treated as a subject in his own right. His name is mentioned mainly as one of Abimelech's party in sermons and Bible studies on Genesis 26, the passage in which Isaac yields the wells and makes a covenant of peace at Beersheba.