01In brief
Ahiezer is the name borne by at least two distinct figures in the Hebrew Bible. Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai served as chieftain of the tribe of Dan during the wilderness period, assisting Moses and Aaron in the census of Israel and commanding Dan's troop, which marched as the rear guard of the Israelite divisions. Ahiezer son of Shemaah of Gibeah was a Benjaminite warrior who joined David at Ziklag while David was hiding from Saul. The Hebrew name אֲחִיעֶזֶר means "Kinsman is Help."
02Ahiezer Son of Ammishaddai, Chieftain of Dan
Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai is named in Numbers as the representative and chieftain of Dan. In the wilderness census conducted in the second year after the Exodus, he was one of the tribal heads appointed to assist Moses and Aaron in recording males aged twenty and older who were able to bear arms. Dan's enrolled fighting force was recorded as 62,700.[1]
In the camp arrangement, Dan's division stood on the north side under Ahiezer, with Asher and Naphtali grouped in the same division.[2] When the Israelites marched, the standard of Dan traveled troop by troop as the rear guard of all the divisions, with Ahiezer in command.[3]
On the tenth day of the dedication of the Tabernacle altar, Ahiezer presented Dan's offering. It consisted of a silver bowl weighing 130 sanctuary shekels and a silver basin weighing 70 shekels, both filled with choice flour mixed with oil; a gold ladle of 10 shekels filled with incense; one bull, one ram, and one yearling lamb for a burnt offering; one goat for a purgation offering; and, for a well-being offering, two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, and five yearling lambs.[4]
03Ahiezer Son of Shemaah, Warrior at Ziklag
A second figure named Ahiezer appears in 1 Chronicles 12. He and Joash were sons of Shemaah of Gibeah and members of the tribe of Benjamin. Ahiezer was among the warriors who came to David at Ziklag while David was hiding from Saul son of Kish. The passage describes these men as Saul's Benjaminite kinsmen, armed with bows and able to use either hand to sling stones or shoot arrows. Ahiezer is presented as a leader of the group.[5]
04Name and Etymology
The Hebrew name אֲחִיעֶזֶר (Ahiezer) means "Kinsman is Help."[6][7] The cited English biblical and reference sources render it as "Ahiezer."[1][7] The two biblical figures are distinguished by their different fathers, tribal affiliations, and historical settings.[1][5]
A 2004 reference table also lists Ahi'ezer as an Israeli moshav in the Coastal Plain's Lod Region, founded in 1950 and within the Lod Plain Regional Council. The table records a population of 1,285 on 31 December 2004; this is a historical figure, not a current population.[8]
Sources
- 1Jewish Virtual Library, The Book of Bamidbar (Numbers): Chapter 1, accessed on September 23, 2026.
- 2Jewish Virtual Library, The Book of Bamidbar (Numbers): Chapter 2, accessed on September 23, 2026.
- 3Jewish Virtual Library, The Book of Bamidbar (Numbers): Chapter 10, accessed on September 23, 2026.
- 4Jewish Virtual Library, The Book of Bamidbar (Numbers): Chapter 7, accessed on September 23, 2026.
- 5Jewish Virtual Library, Book of Divrei HaYamim I (Chronicles 1): Chapter 12, accessed on September 23, 2026.
- 6Sefaria, Numbers 1:12, accessed on September 23, 2026.
- 7Jewish Encyclopedia, AHIEZER - JewishEncyclopedia.com, accessed on September 23, 2026.
- 8Encyclopedia.com, Land of Israel: Population, accessed on September 23, 2026.
IsraelPedia Question & Answers
Who is Ahiezer in the Hebrew Bible?
Ahiezer is the name borne by at least two distinct figures in the Hebrew Bible. The first, Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai, served as chieftain of the tribe of Dan during the wilderness period, assisting Moses and Aaron in the census of Israel and commanding Dan's troop as the rear guard of the Israelite divisions. The second, Ahiezer son of Shemaah of Gibeah, was a Benjaminite warrior who joined David at Ziklag while David was hiding from Saul.
What was Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai's role in the Israelite census?
Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai was one of the tribal heads appointed to assist Moses and Aaron in the wilderness census conducted in the second year after the Exodus. His role was to help record males aged twenty and older who were able to bear arms. Dan's enrolled fighting force was recorded as 62,700.
What offering did Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai present at the dedication of the Tabernacle altar?
On the tenth day of the dedication of the Tabernacle altar, Ahiezer presented Dan's offering. It included a silver bowl weighing 130 sanctuary shekels and a silver basin weighing 70 shekels, both filled with choice flour mixed with oil; a gold ladle of 10 shekels filled with incense; one bull, one ram, and one yearling lamb for a burnt offering; one goat for a purgation offering; and, for a well-being offering, two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, and five yearling lambs.
Who was Ahiezer son of Shemaah?
Ahiezer son of Shemaah was a Benjaminite warrior mentioned in 1 Chronicles 12. He and his brother Joash were sons of Shemaah of Gibeah. Ahiezer came to David at Ziklag while David was hiding from Saul son of Kish, and is described as a leader of the group of warriors, who were armed with bows and able to use either hand to sling stones or shoot arrows.
What does the Hebrew name Ahiezer mean?
The Hebrew name אֲחִיעֶזֶר (Ahiezer) means "Kinsman is Help."