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Abishai

maleUnited Monarchy

Meaning: “Father of a gift

A nephew of David and brother of Joab, a fearless warrior who chief among the mighty men, who once saved David’s life from a giant.

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Biography

Abishai was a son of Zeruiah, David's sister, and the brother of Joab and Asahel. A fierce and fiercely loyal warrior, he was chief of one rank of David's mighty men, credited with lifting his spear against three hundred and slaying them (2 Samuel 23:18).

Loyal and ruthless

Abishai twice urged David to kill the sleeping Saul — and was restrained by the king (1 Samuel 26:8–9). He helped Joab kill Abner and stood with David through Absalom's revolt, eager to behead Shimei for cursing the king (2 Samuel 16:9).

Rescuer of the king

In a battle late in David's life, when the giant Ishbi-benob nearly killed the weary king, "Abishai the son of Zeruiah succoured him, and smote the Philistine, and killed him" (2 Samuel 21:17). His strength and devotion made him one of David's most valued warriors.

Life Timeline

1018 BC

Restrained by David from killing the sleeping Saul

1 Samuel 26:9
975 BC

Saves David’s life from the giant Ishbi-benob

2 Samuel 21:17

On the Bible timeline

Abishai belongs to the The United Monarchy era (c. 1050 – 930 BC).

  1. c. 1010 – 970 BCDavid's Reign
  2. c. 966 BCSolomon's Temple Built
  3. c. 930 BCThe Kingdom Divides

Family Tree

AAbishaiUnited Monarchy
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Themes & lessons from Abishai

Biblical themes that run through the passages where Abishai appears.

Abishai18×Self-Control4×Spear4×Zeruiah4×Zobah4×Abner3×Shimei3×Ammonites, the2×Armies2×Asahel2×Hadadezer2×Medeba2×Meekness2×Syria2×Chiding1×Pillow1×Revenge1×Roe, the1×

People they appear with

Joab13×
David8×
Abner3×
Asahel3×
Absalom3×
Saul2×
Ahimelech1×
Shimei1×
Amasa1×

Places in their story

Gibeon2×

Scripture Appearances

24 verses in 3 books
1 Samuel4 verses

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? And Abishai said, I will go down with thee.

1 Samuel 26:7

So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and, behold, Saul lay sleeping within the trench, and his spear stuck in the ground at his bolster: but Abner and the people lay round about him.

1 Samuel 26:8

Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I will not smite him the second time. delivered: Heb. shut up

1 Samuel 26:9

And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD'S anointed, and be guiltless?

2 Samuel15 verses

2 Samuel 2:18

And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe. of foot: Heb. of his feet as a wild: Heb. as one of the roes that is in the field

2 Samuel 2:24

Joab also and Abishai pursued after Abner: and the sun went down when they were come to the hill of Ammah, that lieth before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon.

2 Samuel 3:30

So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.

2 Samuel 10:10

And the rest of the people he delivered into the hand of Abishai his brother, that he might put them in array against the children of Ammon.

2 Samuel 10:14

And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, then fled they also before Abishai, and entered into the city. So Joab returned from the children of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem.

2 Samuel 16:9

Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head.

2 Samuel 16:11

And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him.

2 Samuel 18:2

And David sent forth a third part of the people 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. And the king said unto the people, I will surely go forth with you myself also.

2 Samuel 18:5

And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom.

2 Samuel 18:12

And the man said unto Joab, Though I should receive a thousand shekels of silver in mine hand, yet would I not put forth mine hand against the king's son: for in our hearing the king charged thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that none touch the young man Absalom. receive: Heb. weigh upon mine hand Beware: Heb. Beware whosoever ye be of, etc

2 Samuel 19:21

But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD'S anointed?

2 Samuel 20:6

And David said to Abishai, Now shall Sheba the son of Bichri do us more harm than did Absalom: take thou thy lord's servants, and pursue after him, lest he get him fenced cities, and escape us. escape: Heb. deliver himself from our eyes

2 Samuel 20:10

But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab's hand: so he smote him therewith in the fifth rib, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and struck him not again; and he died. So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri. struck: Heb. doubled not his stroke

2 Samuel 21:17

But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succoured him, and smote the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David sware unto him, saying, Thou shalt go no more out with us to battle, that thou quench not the light of Israel. light: Heb. candle, or, lamp

2 Samuel 23:18

And Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief among three. And he lifted up his spear against three hundred, and slew them, and had the name among three. and slew them: Heb. slain

1 Chronicles5 verses

1 Chronicles 2:16

Whose sisters were Zeruiah, and Abigail. And the sons of Zeruiah; Abishai, and Joab, and Asahel, three.

1 Chronicles 11:20

And Abishai the brother of Joab, he was chief of the three: for lifting up his spear against three hundred, he slew them, and had a name among the three.

1 Chronicles 18:12

Moreover Abishai the son of Zeruiah slew of the Edomites in the valley of salt eighteen thousand. Abishai: Heb. Abshai

1 Chronicles 19:11

And the rest of the people he delivered unto the hand of Abishai his brother, and they set themselves in array against the children of Ammon. Abishai: Heb. Abshai

1 Chronicles 19:15

And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, they likewise fled before Abishai his brother, and entered into the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem.

Frequently asked about Abishai

Who was Abishai in the Bible?

A nephew of David and brother of Joab, a fearless warrior who chief among the mighty men, who once saved David’s life from a giant.

What does the name Abishai mean?

The name Abishai means “Father of a gift”.

What did Abishai do in the Bible?

Abishai served as captain in david's army, of the tribe of Judah.

Where does Abishai appear in the Bible?

Abishai is mentioned 24 times across 3 books: 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Chronicles.

What can we learn from Abishai?

The story of Abishai touches on themes of abishai, self-control, spear, zeruiah — explore each to study the lessons drawn from Abishai's life.

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