Abdi

Abdi is a name found in a Levitical genealogy, in the account of Hezekiah’s temple reform, and among the men of Elam listed in Ezra 10. The passages must be distinguished: in 2 Chronicles 29:12, the Levite who takes part in the reform is Kish, son of Abdi, rather than Abdi himself.

The genealogy of Ethan

1 Chronicles 6:44 names Ethan as the son of Kishi, Kishi as the son of Abdi, and Abdi as the son of Malluch. The family belongs to the descendants of Merari. This passage identifies Abdi as Ethan’s grandfather; it does not narrate personal deeds of Abdi.

The father of Kish

2 Chronicles 29:12 lists Kish, son of Abdi, among the Merarite Levites who arose for the work under Hezekiah. Abdi’s name identifies Kish’s father. The passage does not say that this father personally led the reform or describe his character.

The man listed in Ezra

Ezra 10:26 includes an Abdi among the sons of Elam in the account of marriages to foreign women. This is a different setting from the Levitical records. The verse does not supply an individual speech or detailed account of his response. These brief records should not be expanded into an invented biography.