Ebedmelech
E'bed-me'lech (Hebrews E'bed-Me'lek, עֶבֶד9מֶלֶך, servant of the king, i.e., Arabic Abd el-Malek, Sept. Α᾿βδεμέλεχ,Vulgate Abdemelech), an Ethiopian at the court of Zedekiah, king of Judah, who was instrumental in saving the prophet Jeremiah from death by famine (Jer 38:7-13), and who, for his humanity in this circumstance, was promised deliverance when the city should fall into the enemy's hands (Jer 39:15-18). B.C. 589. SEE JEREMIAH. He is there styled a eunuch (אַישׁ סָרַיס and he probably had charge of the king's harem (compare Jer 38:22-23), an office which would give him the privilege of free private access to the king; but his name seems to be an official title = King's slave, i.e., minister. SEE EUNUCH.
