Ahikar

Ahikar or Ahiqar or Haiqar or Achiacharus was a man known in the ancient Near East for his outstanding wisdom.

According to folklore, Ahikar was chancellor to the Assyrian kings Sennacherib and Esarhaddon. Having no child of his own, he adopted his nephew Nadab, and raised him to be his successor. Nadab ungratefully plotted to have his uncle murdered, but Ahikar escaped. Nadab died in prison.

Much of the story of Ahikar consists of wise proverbs directed to his nephew.

In the book of Tobit (New American Bible), Tobit is the uncle of Ahiqar.

External links

• The Story of Ahikar

• AḤIḳAR at JewishEncyclopedia.com

• Selected Proverbs of Ahikar The Wise

See also