Topical Encyclopedia
Introduction:Abishai, a prominent figure in the Old Testament, is known for his loyalty and military prowess. He is the son of Zeruiah, David's sister, making him King David's nephew. Abishai is frequently mentioned in the context of David's reign and military campaigns.
Family Background:Abishai is the eldest son of Zeruiah, David's sister, and the brother of Joab and Asahel. The family is noted for their military leadership and close association with King David. Abishai's familial ties to David play a significant role in his life and career.
Military Exploits:Abishai is renowned for his bravery and skill in battle. He first appears in the biblical narrative during David's flight from King Saul. In
1 Samuel 26:6-9, Abishai accompanies David into Saul's camp, where he offers to kill Saul, but David restrains him, emphasizing the sanctity of the Lord's anointed.
Abishai's military achievements are further highlighted in
2 Samuel 2:18-24, where he and his brothers pursue Abner, the commander of Saul's army, after the battle at Gibeon. Although his brother Asahel is killed by Abner, Abishai continues to serve as a key military leader under David.
In
2 Samuel 10:10-14, Abishai is appointed by Joab to lead part of the Israelite army against the Ammonites and their allies. His leadership contributes to the successful defeat of the enemy forces.
Abishai's valor is again demonstrated in
2 Samuel 21:15-17, where he saves David from being killed by a Philistine giant named Ishbi-benob. This act of bravery solidifies his reputation as a formidable warrior and loyal supporter of David.
Role in David's Reign:Abishai's loyalty to David is evident throughout his life. In
2 Samuel 16:9-10, when Shimei curses David, Abishai offers to kill Shimei, but David restrains him, showing his commitment to David's authority and decisions.
During Absalom's rebellion, Abishai remains loyal to David. In
2 Samuel 18:2, David appoints him as one of the commanders of his forces, alongside Joab and Ittai the Gittite, to quell the insurrection.
Character Traits:Abishai is characterized by his fierce loyalty, courage, and impulsive nature. His willingness to act decisively, sometimes without considering the broader implications, is a recurring theme in his interactions with David. Despite his impulsiveness, Abishai's dedication to David and his military acumen make him an invaluable ally.
Biblical References:·
1 Samuel 26:6-9: Abishai accompanies David into Saul's camp.
·
2 Samuel 2:18-24: Pursuit of Abner after the battle at Gibeon.
·
2 Samuel 10:10-14: Leadership in the battle against the Ammonites.
·
2 Samuel 16:9-10: Offer to kill Shimei for cursing David.
·
2 Samuel 18:2: Command during Absalom's rebellion.
·
2 Samuel 21:15-17: Rescue of David from Ishbi-benob.
Conclusion:Abishai's life and actions are integral to the narrative of David's reign, illustrating themes of loyalty, bravery, and the complexities of leadership. His account is a testament to the importance of family ties and the role of military leaders in the establishment and maintenance of David's kingdom.
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
Abishaithe present of my father
ATS Bible Dictionary
AbishaiA son of Zeruiah, David's sister, brother of Joab and Asahel, one of the bravest of David's mighty men,1 Chronicles 2:16, and always faithful to his royal uncle. He went with him alone to the tent of Saul,1 Samuel 26:7-11; and was a leader in the war with Ish-bosheth, 2Sa 2...18,24, in the war with the Edomites,1 Chronicles 18:12,13, and with the Syrians and Ammonites,2 Samuel 10:10. In a battle with the Philistines, he rescued David, and slew Ishbi-benob the giant,2 Samuel 21:16,17. He lifted up his spear against three hundred, and slew them,2 Samuel 23:18; and was with David in the affairs of Shimei, Absalom, and Sheb,2 Samuel 16:9 18:2:20:6,7.
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.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
ABISHAIab'-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
Strong's Hebrew
52. Abishay -- "my father is Jesse," an Israelite name... 51, 52. Abishay. 53 . "my father is Jesse," an Israelite name. Transliteration:
Abishay Phonetic Spelling: (ab-ee-shah'ee) Short Definition:
Abishai.
...Abishai...Library
Love and Remorse
... his host: and Saul lay in the trench, and the people pitched round about him.6.
Then answered David and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and toAbishai the son...
A Soldier who Spared his Enemy
... Then David turned to Ahimelech the Hittite and toAbishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's
brother, and said, "Who will go down with me to Saul's camp?"Abishai said...
'More than Conquerors through Him'
... And the rest of the people he delivered into the hand ofAbishai his brother, that
he might put them in array against the children of Ammon.11....
A Broken-Hearted Father
... And he divided the troops into three divisions; one was under the command of Joab,
another underAbishai, and another under the command of Ittai....
David the Outcast.
... At night he tookAbishai, one of his warriors, and went down from the cliffs to
Saul's camp, where Saul lay sleeping in a trench, and the spear stuck in the...
How the War was Waged against the Ammonites and Happily Concluded.
... part of his men, and set them in opposition to the king of Syria, and the kings
that were with him, and gave the other part to his brotherAbishai, and bid him...
How David Brought under the Philistines, and the Moabites, and the...
... Nor did God give victory and success to him only when he went to the battle himself,
and led his own army, but he gave victory toAbishai, the brother of Joab...
How David, when He had Recovered his Kingdom, was Reconciled to...
... While he was thus entreating the king, and moving him to compassion,Abishai, Joab's
brother, said, "And shall not this man die for this, that he hath cursed...
How David Reigned Over one Tribe at Hebron While the Son Of
... However, both Joab [1] himself, and his brotherAbishai, ran past the dead corpse,
and making their anger at the death of Asahel an occasion of greater zeal...
How the Hebrews were Delivered from a Famine when the Gibeonites...
... He turned back, and ran violently to slay [David] their enemy's king, for he was
quite tired out with labor; butAbishai, Joab's brother, appeared on the sudden...
Thesaurus
Abishai (25 Occurrences)...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
...Abi'shai (25 Occurrences)
Abi'shai.Abishai, Abi'shai. Abishalom . Multi-Version Concordance
Abi'shai (25 Occurrences). 1 Samuel 26:6 Then answered David...
Zeru'iah (24 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 26:6 Then answered David and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and toAbishai
the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying: 'Who will go down with me to...
Zeruiah (25 Occurrences)
... Stricken of the Lord, David's sister, and the mother ofAbishai, Joab, and Asahel
(1 Chronicles 2:16), who were the three leading heroes of David's army, and...
Jo'ab's (8 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 26:6 Then answered David and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and toAbishai
the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying, "Who will go down with me to...
Ittai (9 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 23:13; 27:2; 30:9, 10). He is afterwards with David at Mahanaim, holding
in the army equal rank with Joab andAbishai (2 Samuel 18:2, 5, 12)....
Joab's (13 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 26:6 And David spake and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and toAbishai
the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, saying, Who will go down with me to Saul to...
Abshai (4 Occurrences)
... Abshai (4 Occurrences). 1 Chronicles 2:16 and their sisters were Zeruiah and Abigail.
The sons of Zeruiah:Abishai, and Joab, and Asahel, three. (See NAS)....
It'tai (7 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 18:2 David sent forth the people, a third part under the hand of Joab,
and a third part under the hand ofAbishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother...
Ammah (2 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary A cubit, the name of a hill which Joab andAbishai reached
as the sun went down, when they were in pursuit of Abner (2 Samuel 2:24)....
Resources
Who were the mighty men of David? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible mean when it says not to touch God's anointed? | GotQuestions.orgWho was Joab in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgBible Concordance •
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