David's warrior living at the time of United Monarchy
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.
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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.
Part of: Kings, prophets and the house of David
Abner killed Joab's brother Asahel in battle while retreating. When Abner came to make peace with David, Joab and Abishai murdered him at Hebron. David publicly cursed Joab's house and mourned Abner.
Sources: 2 Sam 2:18-23 · 2 Sam 3:26-30 · 2 Sam 3:31-39
The three sons of David's sister Zeruiah were David's nephews and among his chief commanders, yet Joab's ruthlessness repeatedly embarrassed David; David said "these sons of Zeruiah are too hard for me".
Sources: 1 Chr 2:15-16 · 2 Sam 3:39 · 2 Sam 18:14
The list of "the thirty" ends with Uriah the Hittite, a foreigner in David's elite ranks, placing his murder in context. Other named members include Abishai, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Asahel, and Eleazar son of Dodo; Benaiah rose to command Solomon's army.
Sources: 2 Sam 23:8-12 · 2 Sam 23:20-23 · 2 Sam 23:24 · 2 Sam 23:39
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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 Sam. 2:18; 1 Chr. 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 Sam. 26:5-12). He had the command of one of the three divisions of David’s army at the battle with Absalom (2 Sam. 18:2, 5, 12). He slew the Philistine giant Ishbi-benob, who threatened David’s life (2 Sam. 21:15-17). He was the chief of the second rank of the three “mighties” (2 Sam. 23:18, 19; 1 Chr. 11:20, 21); and on one occasion withstood 300 men, and slew them with his own spear (2 Sam. 23:18). Abishai is the name of the Semitic chief who offers gifts to the lord of Beni-Hassan. See illustration facing page 10.
(father of a gift), The eldest of the three sons of Zeruiah, David’s sister, and brother to Joab and Asahel. (1 Chronicles 2:16) Like his two brothers he was the devoted follower of David. He was his companion in the desperate night expedition to the camp of Saul. (1 Samuel 26:6-9) (B.C. 1055.) On the outbreak of Absalom’s rebellion he remained true to the king, and commanded a third part of the army in the decisive battle against Absalom. He rescued David from the hands of the gigantic Philistine, Ishbi-benob. (2 Samuel 21:17) His personal prowess on this, as on another occasion, when he fought singlehanded against three hundred, won for him a place as captain of the second three of David’s mighty men. (2 Samuel 23:18; 1 Chronicles 11:20)
the present of my father
ABISH'AI (father of a gift), the eldest son of Zeruiah, David's sister, and among the chief of his mighty men. 2 Sam 2:18. He accompanied David to the camp of Saul, and counselled him to take Saul's life, which David refused to do, 1 Sam 26:5-12, and was probably with David during the latter's wandering life. He was associated with Joab in the assassination of Abner. 2 Sam 3:30. The victory over the Edomites in the valley of Salt, which is ascribed to David in 2 Sam 8:13, is ascribed to Abishai in 1 Chr 18:12. Probably Abishai actually obtained the victory, but as he was an officer under David, it might also with propriety be spoken of as David's achievement. Abishai, with Joab his brother, attacked and defeated the Syrians and the children of Ammon. 2 Sam 10. David appointed him, in conjunction with Joab and Ittai, to the command of the people when they went forth to battle against Israel in the wood of Ephraim. 2 Sam 18:2. He afterward rescued David from the giant Philistine, Ishbi-benob, whom he smote and killed. 2 Sam 21:16, 2 Sam 21:17.
ABISH'AI (father of a gift), the eldest son of Zeruiah, David's sister, and among the chief of his mighty men. 2 Sam 2:18. He accompanied David to the camp of Saul, and counselled him to take Saul's life, which David refused to do, 1 Sam 26:5-12, and was probably with David during the latter's wandering life. He was associated with Joab in the assassination of Abner. 2 Sam 3:30. The victory over the Edomites in the valley of Salt, which is ascribed to David in 2 Sam 8:13, is ascribed to Abishai in 1 Chr 18:12. Probably Abishai actually obtained the victory, but as he was an officer under David, it might also with propriety be spoken of as David's achievement. Abishai, with Joab his brother, attacked and defeated the Syrians and the children of Ammon. 2 Sam 10. David appointed him, in conjunction with Joab and Ittai, to the command of the people when they went forth to battle against Israel in the wood of Ephraim. 2 Sam 18:2. He afterward rescued David from the giant Philistine, Ishbi-benob, whom he smote and killed. 2 Sam 21:16, 2 Sam 21:17.
Easton (1897), Smith (1863), Hitchcock (1869), Hastings (1898) and Schaff are in the public domain. Parsed text: neuu-org/bible-dictionary-dataset (CC BY 4.0). Headwords and whitespace normalised for this site.
24 verses in 3 books · English text: BSB (change it from the menu at the top) · Strong’s H0052
And David asked Ahimelech the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joabʼs brother, “Who will go down with me to Saul in the camp?” “I will go with you,” answered Abishai.
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.
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!”
But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him, for who can extend a hand against the Lordʼs anointed and be guiltless?”
The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Now Asahel was fleet of foot like a wild gazelle,
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.
(Joab and his brother Abishai murdered Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.)
And he placed the rest of the troops under the command of his brother Abishai, who arrayed them against the Ammonites.
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.
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!”
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.
He sent out the troops, a third under Joab, a third under Joabʼs 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.”
Now the king had commanded Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, “Treat the young man Absalom gently for my sake.” And all the people heard the kingʼs orders to each of the commanders regarding Absalom.
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.’
But Abishai son of Zeruiah said, “Shouldnʼt Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORDʼs anointed?”
And David said to Abishai, “Now Sheba the son of Bichri will do us more harm than Absalom. Take your lordʼs servants and pursue him, or he will find fortified cities and elude us.”
Amasa was not on guard against the dagger in Joabʼs 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.
But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to his aid, struck the Philistine, and killed him. Then Davidʼs men swore to him, “You must never again go out with us to battle, so that the lamp of Israel may not be extinguished.”
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.
Their sisters were Zeruiah and Abigail. And the three sons of Zeruiah were Abishai, Joab, and Asahel.
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.
Moreover, Abishai son of Zeruiah struck down eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.
And he placed the rest of the troops under the command of his brother Abishai, who arrayed them against the Ammonites.
When the Ammonites saw that the Arameans had fled, they too fled before Joabʼs brother Abishai, and they entered the city. So Joab went back to Jerusalem.
Names, family links and references: STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Short descriptions were drafted with AI assistance by STEPBible. Family links follow STEPBible’s scholarly decisions where genealogies are ambiguous.