Abishai אֲבִישַׁי
David's nephew, one of his mighty men and commanders
Who is Abishai in the Bible?
Abishai was the son of Zeruiah and nephew of King David, serving as one of David's most loyal military commanders and mighty men (1 Chronicles 2:16). He was the brother of Joab and Asahel, making him part of an influential military family during David's reign. Known for his bravery and combat skills, Abishai participated in numerous military campaigns alongside David, including battles against Abner and foreign enemies (2 Samuel 2:18, 10:10). Early in David's life, when they encountered the sleeping King Saul in the wilderness, Abishai offered to kill him, but David refused to harm the Lord's anointed (1 Samuel 26:6-9). Abishai's unwavering loyalty to David and his military valor made him essential to establishing and maintaining David's kingdom.
Biography
Abishai was the son of Zeruiah, King David's sister, making him David's nephew (1Ch.2.16). He was the brother of Joab and Asahel, two other prominent figures in David's military ranks (2Sa.2.18). Abishai was one of David's mighty men and a trusted commander in his army.
During David's flight from King Saul, Abishai accompanied him and showed his loyalty by offering to kill Saul when they found him sleeping in the camp (1Sa.26.6-9). However, David refused to allow Abishai to harm the Lord's anointed (1Sa.26.9-11).
Abishai played a significant role in many of David's military campaigns. He fought alongside Joab against Abner and the forces of Ish-bosheth (2Sa.2.24). After Abner killed Asahel, Joab and Abishai pursued him but were convinced to halt their pursuit (2Sa.2.24-28). Later, Abishai supported Joab in avenging Asahel's death by killing Abner (2Sa.3.30).
In the battle against the Ammonites, Abishai led a division of the army and helped secure victory for Israel (2Sa.10.10-14; 1Ch.19.11-15). He also accompanied David during the rebellion of Absalom and was one of the three commanders of David's forces (2Sa.18.2,5,12).
Abishai intervened to save David's life when a giant named Ishbi-benob threatened to kill the king (2Sa.21.17). He was also known for his bravery and military exploits, being credited with killing three hundred men with his spear (2Sa.23.18; 1Ch.11.20).
Throughout David's reign, Abishai remained a loyal and trusted commander, playing a crucial role in maintaining David's kingdom and defending Israel against its enemies.
Family
Parents
In Scripture
3 biblical books1 Samuel 4 verses
- 1 Samuel 26:6
"And David asked Ahimelech the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, “Who will go down with me to Saul in the camp?” “I will go with you,” answered Abishai."
- 1 Samuel 26:7
"That night David and Abishai came to the troops, and Saul was lying there asleep in the inner circle of the camp, with his spear stuck in the ground by his head. And Abner and the troops were lying around him."
- 1 Samuel 26:8
"Abishai said to David, “Today God has delivered your enemy into your hand. Now, therefore, please let me thrust the spear through him into the ground with one stroke. I will not need to strike him twice!”"
- 1 Samuel 26:9
"But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him, for who can extend a hand against the LORD’s anointed and be guiltless?”"
2 Samuel 5 verses
- 2 Samuel 2:18
"The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Now Asahel was fleet of foot like a wild gazelle,"
- 2 Samuel 2:24
"But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner. By sunset, they had gone as far as the hill of Ammah opposite Giah on the way to the wilderness of Gibeon."
- 2 Samuel 3:30
"(Joab and his brother Abishai murdered Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.)"
- 2 Samuel 10:10
"And he placed the rest of the troops under the command of his brother Abishai, who arrayed them against the Ammonites."
- 2 Samuel 10:14
"When the Ammonites saw that the Arameans had fled, they too fled before Abishai, and they entered the city. So Joab returned from fighting against the Ammonites and came to Jerusalem."
1 Chronicles 5 verses
- 1 Chronicles 2:16
"Their sisters were Zeruiah and Abigail. And the three sons of Zeruiah were Abishai, Joab, and Asahel."
- 1 Chronicles 11:20
"Now Abishai, the brother of Joab, was chief of the Three, and he wielded his spear against three hundred men, killed them, and won a name along with the Three."
- 1 Chronicles 18:12
"Moreover, Abishai son of Zeruiah struck down eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt."
- 1 Chronicles 19:11
"And he placed the rest of the troops under the command of his brother Abishai, who arrayed them against the Ammonites."
- 1 Chronicles 19:15
"When the Ammonites saw that the Arameans had fled, they too fled before Joab’s brother Abishai, and they entered the city. So Joab went back to Jerusalem."
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | אֲבִישַׁי |
Abishai
wo (2Sa 2:18). He was chief of the second group of three among David's "mighty men" (2Sa 23:18).
He first appears with David, who was in the Wilderness of Ziph, to escape Saul. When David called for a volunteer to go down into Saul's camp by night, Abishai responded, and counseled the killing of Saul when they came upon the sleeping king (1Sa 26:6-9). In the skirmish between the men of Ishbosheth and the men of David at Gibeon, in which Asahel was killed by Abner, Abishai was present (2Sa 2:18,24). He was with and aided Joab in the cruel and indefensible murder of Abner, in revenge for their brother Asahel (2Sa 3:30).
In David's campaign against the allied Ammonites and Syrians, Abishai led the attack upon the Ammonites, while Joab met the Syrians; the battle was a great victory for Israel (2Sa 10:10-14). He was always faithful to David, and remained with him, as he fled from Absalom. When Shimei, of the house of Saul, cursed the fleeing king, Abishai characteristically wished to kill him at once (2Sa 16:8,9); and when the king returned victorious Abishai advised the rejection of Shimei's penitence, and his immediate execution (2Sa 19:21).
In the battle with Absalom's army at Mahanaim Abishai led one division of David's army, Joab and Ittai commanding the other two (2Sa 18:2). With Joab he put down the revolt against David of Sheba, a man of Benjamin (2Sa 20:6,10), at which Joab treacherously slew Amasa his cousin and rival, as he had likewise murdered Abner, Abishai no doubt being party to the crime. In a battle with the Philistines late in his life, David was faint, being now an old man, and was in danger of death at the hands of the Philistine giant Ishbihenob when Abishai came to his rescue and killed the giant (2Sa 21:17). In the list of David's heroes (2Sa 23) Abishai's right to leadership of the "second three" is based upon his overthrowing three hundred men with his spear (2Sa 23:18). He does not appear in the struggle of Adonijah against Solomon, in which Joab was the leader, and therefore is supposed to have died before that time.
He was an impetuous, courageous man, but less cunning than his more famous brother Joab, although just as cruel and relentless toward rival or foe. David understood and feared their hardness and cruelty. Abishai's best trait was his unswerving loyalty to his kinsman, David.
Edward Mack
a-bish'-a-lom: Variant of ABSALOM, which see.
a-bish'-u-a, abi-shoo'-a ('abhishua`, uncertain, perhaps "father of wealth," or "my father i