Amminadab

Amminadab, the ancestor of David (Sistine Chapel fresco by Michelangelo)

A close-up on Amminadab from the Sistine Chapel fresco

Amminadab (Hebrew: עַמִּינָדָב, ‘Ammīnāḏāḇ, "my people are noble") is a minor character referred to in the Book of Exodus. He is the father-in-law of High Priest Aaron, brother of Moses.

Amminadab is also mentioned in the Book of Ruth, (and also in Gospel of Mathew and Gospel of Luke), as the father of Nahshon, ancestor of King David and therefore the ancestor of Jesus.

The same name is mentioned in the Book of Samuel. This Amminadab was a Levite and the son of Uzziel. He likely served in the tabernacle. He was one of 112 Levites who received the great honor of bringing the ark of the covenant, back to Jerusalem from the Philistines.

History[]

According to the Biblical genealogies, he was born of Ram (also known as Aram)^[1] during the Israelite exile in Ancient Egypt; Ram was the great-grandson of Judah. He was the father of Nahshon, chief of the tribe of Judah (Numbers 1:7; 2:3; 7:12, 17; 10:14). His daughter Elisheva was Aaron's wife (Exodus 6:23), making him Aaron's father-in-law.^[2]

Amminadab is one of the ancestors of Christ painted in the lunettes of the Sistine chapel.

In popular culture[]

In the 1956 film The Ten Commandments, Amminadab is portrayed by H.B. Warner. During the Exodus, he is too old and frail to travel, so Bithiah allows him to ride in her litter.

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