OBED (Hebrew 'Obhēdh' = servant). — Name of several personages in the Old Testament.
1. Son of Boaz and Naomi and grandfather of David (Ruth 4:17, 21-22; 1 Chron. 2:12). — 2. One of the "mighty men" in David's army (ibid., 11:47). — 3. A descendant of the patriarch Judah in the line of Jerahmeel (ibid., 2:37). — 4. A Levite, son of Shemaiah and descendant of Kore, who held the office of temple gatekeeper (ibid., 26:7). — 5. A military leader in the time of Jehoiada; he took part in the conspiracy against Athaliah in favor of the young Joash (2 Chron. 23:1). — 6. Father of Gaal, who led the rebellion of the Shechemites against Abimelech (Hebrew 'Ebbedh'; Judg. 9:26, 28, 30). Angelo Penna