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Abishai

Abishai, the son of Zeruiah and nephew of David, was a loyal commander and one of David's mighty men, known for his bravery and military prowess.

The name Abishai means “the present of my father”

MaleDavid's warriorTribe of JudahUnited Monarchy eraOld Testament3 books33 verses

Summary

A warrior living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1 Samuel 26:6; only referred to as Abishai (אֲבִישַׁי); his mother was Zeruiah; a brother of Joab and Asahel.

Profile

Abishai was a strong and successful warrior and a leader in David's army. He was David's nephew, the son of David's sister Zeruiah, and the brother of Joab and Asahel (1 Chronicles 2:13–16).

Abishai was very loyal to David and often suggested violence against David's enemies. God allowed David and Abishai to enter Saul's war camp while the troops slept. Abishai wanted to kill Saul, but David stopped him. Later, during Absalom's revolt, David had to leave Jerusalem. Shimei, a member of Saul's family, cursed the king, and Abishai wanted to kill Shimei (2 Samuel 16:5–9). David refused this idea twice (2 Samuel 16:10–13; 19:18–23). Abishai and his brothers' desire for revenge also appeared earlier: After Saul's general, Abner, killed Abishai's brother Asahel in self-defense, Joab and Abishai killed Abner in revenge (2 Samuel 3:22–30).

Abishai was brave and skilled. He once killed three hundred soldiers in one battle. Because of this, he became the leader of the Thirty, a group of highly skilled warriors, ranking just below the Three (1 Chronicles 11:20–21). Abishai also achieved a major victory over the Edomites (1 Chronicles 18:12–13). In a battle with the Philistines, Abishai saved David's life by killing the giant Ishbi-benob (2 Samuel 21:15–17). Abishai also led the army, and when it split for strategic reasons, he led one group while his brother Joab led the other (2 Samuel 10:1–19; 18:1–18). Their military efforts were usually very successful.

Joab's actions eventually led to his death. However, we do not learn about Abishai meeting the same fate. Like Joab, Abishai was also a violently impulsive military leader.

Passages for Further Study

1 Samuel 26:6–12; 2 Samuel 2:18; 3:30, 39; 10:10–14; 16:9–12; 18:1–8; 19:21–23; 20:6–10; 21:17; 23:18–19; 1 Chronicles 2:16; 11:20–21; 18:12–13; 19:11–15

Glossary entries

Abishai

Family members

Father

Zeruiah's husband

Mother

Zeruiah

Siblings

Asahel Joab

Alternative names

Mentions

Includes 9 verses that refer to Abishai without naming them, as “he”, “she”, or the subject of a verb.

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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!”
  4. 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?”
  5. 1 Samuel 26:11Referred to, not named
    But the LORD forbid that I should extend my hand against the LORD’s anointed. Instead, take the spear and water jug by his head, and let us go.”
  6. 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,
  7. 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.
  8. 2 Samuel 3:30
    (Joab and his brother Abishai murdered Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.)
  9. 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.
  10. 2 Samuel 10:11Referred to, not named
    “If the Arameans are too strong for me,” said Joab, “then you will come to my rescue. And if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come to your rescue.
  11. 2 Samuel 10:12Referred to, not named
    Be strong and let us fight bravely for our people and for the cities of our God. May the LORD do what is good in His sight.”
  12. 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.
  13. 2 Samuel 16:9
    Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head!”
  14. 2 Samuel 16:11
    Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Behold, my own son, my own flesh and blood, seeks my life. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone and let him curse me, for the LORD has told him so.
  15. 2 Samuel 18:2
    He sent out the troops, a third under Joab, a third under Joab’s brother Abishai son of Zeruiah, and a third under Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the troops, “I will surely march out with you as well.”
  16. 2 Samuel 18:5
    Now the king had commanded Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, “Treat the young man Absalom gently for my sake.” And all the people heard the king’s orders to each of the commanders regarding Absalom.
  17. 2 Samuel 18:12
    The man replied, “Even if a thousand shekels of silver were weighed out into my hands, I would not raise my hand against the son of the king. For we heard the king command you and Abishai and Ittai, ‘Protect the young man Absalom for my sake.’
  18. 2 Samuel 19:21
    But Abishai son of Zeruiah said, “Shouldn’t Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD’s anointed?”
  19. 2 Samuel 20:6
    And David said to Abishai, “Now Sheba the son of Bichri will do us more harm than Absalom. Take your lord’s servants and pursue him, or he will find fortified cities and elude us.”
  20. 2 Samuel 20:7Referred to, not named
    So Joab’s men, along with the Cherethites, the Pelethites, and all the mighty men, marched out of Jerusalem in pursuit of Sheba son of Bichri.
  21. 2 Samuel 20:8Referred to, not named
    And while they were at the great stone in Gibeon, Amasa joined them. Now Joab was dressed in military attire, with a dagger strapped to his belt. And as he stepped forward, he slipped the dagger from its sheath.
  22. 2 Samuel 20:10
    Amasa was not on guard against the dagger in Joab’s hand, and Joab stabbed him in the stomach and spilled out his intestines on the ground. And Joab did not need to strike him again, for Amasa was dead. Then Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba son of Bichri.
  23. 2 Samuel 21:17
    But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to his aid, struck the Philistine, and killed him. Then David’s men swore to him, “You must never again go out with us to battle, so that the lamp of Israel may not be extinguished.”
  24. 2 Samuel 23:18
    Now Abishai, the brother of Joab and son of Zeruiah, was chief of the Three, and he wielded his spear against three hundred men, killed them, and won a name along with the Three.
  25. 2 Samuel 23:19Referred to, not named
    Was he not more honored than the Three? And he became their commander, even though he was not included among the Three.
  26. 1 Chronicles 2:16
    Their sisters were Zeruiah and Abigail. And the three sons of Zeruiah were Abishai, Joab, and Asahel.
  27. 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.
  28. 1 Chronicles 11:21Referred to, not named
    He was doubly honored above the Three, and he became their commander, even though he was not included among the Three.
  29. 1 Chronicles 18:12
    Moreover, Abishai son of Zeruiah struck down eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.
  30. 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.
  31. 1 Chronicles 19:12Referred to, not named
    “If the Arameans are too strong for me,” said Joab, “then you will come to my rescue. And if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come to your rescue.
  32. 1 Chronicles 19:13Referred to, not named
    Be strong and let us fight bravely for our people and for the cities of our God. May the LORD do what is good in His sight.”
  33. 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.