| Easton's Bible Dictionary Father of (i.e., "desirous of") a gift, the eldest son of Zeruiah, David's sister. He was the brother of Joab and Asahel (2 Samuel 2:18; 1 Chronicles 2:16). Abishai was the only one who accompanied David when he went to the camp of Saul and took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul's bolster (1 Samuel 26:5-12). He had the command of one of the three divisions of David's army at the battle with Absalom (2 Samuel 18:2, 5, 12). He slew the Philistine giant Ishbi-benob, who threatened David's life (2 Samuel 21:15-17). He was the chief of the second rank of the three "mighties" (2 Samuel 23:18, 19; 1 Chronicles 11:20, 21); and on one occasion withstood 300 men, and slew them with his own spear (2 Samuel 23:18). Abishai is the name of the Semitic chief who offers gifts to the lord of Beni-Hassan. See illustration facing page 10. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia ABISHAI ab'-i-shi, a-bi'-shi ('abhishai, in Ch 'abhshai; meaning is doubtful, probably "my father is Jesse," BDB): Son of Zeruiah, David's sister, and one of the three famous brothers, of whom Joab and Asahel were the other two (2 Samuel 2:18). He was chief of the second group of three among David's "mighty men" (2 Samuel 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 (1 Samuel 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 (2 Samuel 2:18, 24). He was with and aided Joab in the cruel and indefensible murder of Abner, in revenge for their brother Asahel (2 Samuel 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 (2 Samuel 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 (2 Samuel 16:8, 9); and when the king returned victorious Abishai advised the rejection of Shimei's penitence, and his immediate execution (2 Samuel 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 (2 Samuel 18:2). With Joab he put down the revolt against David of Sheba, a man of Benjamin (2 Samuel 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 (2 Samuel 21:17). In the list of David's heroes (2 Samuel 23) Abishai's right to leadership of the "second three" is based upon his overthrowing three hundred men with his spear (2 Samuel 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 |  | Multi-Version Concordance Abishai (25 Occurrences) 1 Samuel 26:6 Then answered David and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying, "Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp?" Abishai said, "I will go down with you." (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) 1 Samuel 26:7 So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and, behold, Saul lay sleeping within the place of the wagons, with his spear stuck in the ground at his head; and Abner and the people lay around him. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) 1 Samuel 26:8 Then said Abishai to David, "God has delivered up your enemy into your hand this day. Now therefore please let me strike him with the spear to the earth at one stroke, and I will not strike him the second time." (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) 1 Samuel 26:9 David said to Abishai, "Don't destroy him; for who can put forth his hand against Yahweh's anointed, and be guiltless?" (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) 2 Samuel 2:18 The three sons of Zeruiah were there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild gazelle. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) 2 Samuel 2:24 But Joab and Abishai pursued after Abner: and the sun went down when they were come to the hill of Ammah, that lies before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) 2 Samuel 3:30 So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) 2 Samuel 10:10 The rest of the people he committed into the hand of Abishai his brother; and he put them in array against the children of Ammon. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) 2 Samuel 10:14 When the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians had fled, they likewise fled before Abishai, and entered into the city. Then Joab returned from the children of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) 2 Samuel 16:9 Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, "Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Please let me go over and take off his head." (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) 2 Samuel 16:11 David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, "Behold, my son, who came forth from my bowels, seeks my life. How much more this Benjamite, now? Leave him alone, and let him curse; for Yahweh has invited him. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) 2 Samuel 18:2 David sent forth the people, a third part under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. The king said to the people, "I will surely go forth with you myself also." (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) 2 Samuel 18:5 The king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, "Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom." All the people heard when the king commanded all the captains concerning Absalom. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) 2 Samuel 18:12 The man said to Joab, "Though I should receive a thousand pieces of silver in my hand, I still wouldn't put forth my hand against the king's son; for in our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, saying,'Beware that none touch the young man Absalom.' (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) 2 Samuel 19:21 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered, "Shall Shimei not be put to death for this, because he cursed Yahweh's anointed?" (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) 2 Samuel 20:6 David said to Abishai, "Now Sheba the son of Bichri will do us more harm than did Absalom. Take your lord's servants, and pursue after him, lest he get himself fortified cities, and escape out of our sight." (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) 2 Samuel 20:7 So there went after Abishai, Joab and the Cherethites and the Pelethites and all the fighting-men; they went out of Jerusalem to overtake Sheba, the son of Bichri. (BBE NIV) 2 Samuel 20:10 But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab's hand. So he struck him with it in the body, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and didn't strike him again; and he died. Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) 2 Samuel 21:17 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah helped him, and struck the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David swore to him, saying, "You shall go no more out with us to battle, that you don't quench the lamp of Israel." (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) 2 Samuel 23:18 Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief of the three. He lifted up his spear against three hundred and killed them, and had a name among the three. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) 1 Chronicles 2:16 and their sisters were Zeruiah and Abigail. The sons of Zeruiah: Abishai, and Joab, and Asahel, three. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NIV) 1 Chronicles 11:20 Abishai, the brother of Joab, he was chief of the three; for he lifted up his spear against three hundred and killed them, and had a name among the three. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NIV) 1 Chronicles 18:12 Moreover Abishai the son of Zeruiah struck of the Edomites in the Valley of Salt eighteen thousand. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) 1 Chronicles 19:11 The rest of the people he committed into the hand of Abishai his brother; and they put themselves in array against the children of Ammon. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NIV) 1 Chronicles 19:15 When the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians had fled, they likewise fled before Abishai his brother, and entered into the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NIV) |
