Abdiel (Hebrew òÂáÀãÄÌéàÅì "Servant of God") is a biblical name which has been used as the name for a number of fictional characters including ( chiefly ) the seraph Abdiel appearing in Milton's Paradise Lost (1667), specifically in Book V and Book VI. Two passages from Book V serve to establish Abdiel's character: passage from Book V Had audience; when among the Seraphim Abdiel, than whom none with more zeal adored The Deity, and divine commands obeyed passage from Book V So spake the Seraph Abdiel, faithful found Among the faithless, faithful only he; Abdiel denounces Satan after hearing him incite revolt among the angels, and abandons Lucifer to bring the news of his defection to God. However, when he arrives, he finds that preparations are already underway for battle. In the ensuing fight, Abdiel smites Satan, Ariel, Ramiel, and Arioch, presumably among others. In Asimov's Annotated Paradise Lost, Isaac Asimov theorized that Abdiel was in fact a representation of Milton himself. Likewise, in Cyder, Ambrose Philips refers to Milton as "that other bard" and contrasts Milton to his character Abdiel.

- wikipedia