Abishai

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

("father of gifts".) Nephew of David by his sister Zeruiah; brother of Joab and Asahel. Joab was more of the experienced general, Abishai the devoted champion for David. Thus, when David proposed to Ahimelech the Hittite and Abishai the perilous visit to Saul's camp, Abishai instantly volunteered, reckless of personal danger. His impulsive nature needed occasional checking, in his zeal for David. We find the consistency of character maintained throughout the history; the same spirit prompting the request at Hachilah," Let me smite Saul" ( 1 Samuel 26:8), as subsequently at Bahurim, when Shimei cursed David, prompted his exclamation "Why should this dead dog curse my Lord the king? let me take off his head" ( 2 Samuel 16:9).

He commanded one third of David's army at the battle with Absalom (2 Samuel 18), and rescued David when waxing faint and in imminent peril from the giant Ishbi-benob ( 2 Samuel 21:15-17). In the same war probably he, as chief of the three "mighties," chivalrously broke through the Philistine host to procure water for David from the well of his native Bethlehem ( 2 Samuel 23:14-17). Once he withstood 300 and slew them with his spear. In  2 Samuel 8:13 the victory over the 15,000 Edomites or Syrians in the Valley of Salt is ascribed to David; in  1 Chronicles 18:12, to Abishai. Probably the commander in chief was David, but the victory actually gained by Abishai.

People's Dictionary of the Bible

Abishai ( A-Bĭsh'A-Î or A-Bĭ-Shâ'I ), Father Of A Gift, eldest son of Zeruiah, David's sister, brother of Joab and Asahel, one of the bravest of David's "mighty men,"  1 Chronicles 2:16, always faithful to his royal uncle, and usually a personal attendant. He went with him alone to the tent of Saul,  1 Samuel 26:6-12, and was a leader in the war with Ish-bosheth,  2 Samuel 2:18;  2 Samuel 2:24, in the war with the Edomites,  1 Chronicles 18:12-13, and with the Syrians and Ammonites.  2 Samuel 10:10;  2 Samuel 10:14. In a battle with the Philistines he rescued David, and slew Ish bi-benob the giant,  2 Samuel 21:16-17. He broke through their host around Bethlehem, and lifted up his spear against 300, and slew them,  2 Samuel 23:14-18 : and was with David in the matters of Shimei, Absalom, and Sheba.  2 Samuel 16:9;  2 Samuel 18:2;  2 Samuel 19:21;  2 Samuel 20:6-7.

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

ABISHAI . Son of Zeruiah, David’s step-sister (  2 Samuel 17:25 ,   1 Chronicles 2:16 ). His brothers were Joab and Asahel (  2 Samuel 2:18 ). He was a hot-tempered, ruthless soldier. Accompanying David into Saul’s camp, he would fain have killed the sleeper (  1 Samuel 26:7 ). An editorial addition (  2 Samuel 3:30 ) associates him with Joab in the blood-revenge taken on Abner. Abishai was second in command of the army (  2 Samuel 10:1-19;   2 Samuel 18:1-33 ), and if we make a slight necessary correction at   2 Samuel 23:18 f., we find that he was first of the famous thirty. He is credited with the slaughter of three hundred foes, and David once owed his life to Abishai’s interposition (  2 Samuel 23:18;   2 Samuel 21:16 f.). Notwithstanding their relationship and their usefulness, there was a natural antipathy between the king and the two brothers (  2 Samuel 3:39 ).

J. Taylor.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

A 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,  2 Samuel 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 .

Bridgeway Bible Dictionary

With his brothers Joab and Asahel, Abishai joined David during David’s flight from Saul. The brothers, though related to David and strong supporters of him, were a constant worry to David because of their hotheadedness. Abishai seems to have been the most violent of the three ( 1 Samuel 26:6-9;  2 Samuel 2:18-24;  2 Samuel 3:30;  2 Samuel 3:39;  2 Samuel 16:9-10;  2 Samuel 19:21-22;  2 Samuel 21:16-17). He became one of the highest ranked officers in David’s army, being commander of that group of ‘mighty men’ known as The Thirty ( 2 Samuel 23:18-19). In battle he commanded large divisions of the fighting forces ( 2 Samuel 10:9-10;  2 Samuel 18:2).

Morrish Bible Dictionary

Son of David's sister Zeruiah, and brother of Joab. He was one of David's officers and served him many years. He accompanied David into Saul's camp while he slept.  1 Samuel 26:6-9 . With Joab he slew Abner.  2 Samuel 3:30 . In his zeal for David he asked permission to slay Shimei.  2 Samuel 16:9;  2 Samuel 19:21 . In the rebellion of Absalom he commanded a third of David's army.  2 Samuel 18:2 . He rescued David from Ishbi-benob the giant.  2 Samuel 21:17 . He was captain of the second three of David's 'mighty men,' and slew three hundred men.  2 Samuel 23:18 . To him is attributed the slaughter of eighteen thousand Syrians or Edomites in the valley of salt.  1 Chronicles 18:12;  2 Samuel 8:13 .

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Abisha'i or Abish'a-i. (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 single-handed 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.

Holman Bible Dictionary

 1 Chronicles 2:15-16 1 Samuel 26:7 2 Samuel 2:24 2 Samuel 3:30 2 Samuel 10:1 2 Samuel 16:1 2 Samuel 19:21 2 Samuel 18:1 2 Samuel 20:1 2 Samuel 21:15-17 2 Samuel 23:8-19 1 Chronicles 18:12

Easton's Bible Dictionary

 2 Samuel 2:18 1 Chronicles 2:16 1 Samuel 26:5-12 2 Samuel 18:2,5,12 2 Samuel 21:15-17 2 Samuel 23:18,19 1 Chronicles 11:20,21 2 Samuel 23:18

Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary

the son of Zeruiah, David's sister, who was one of the most valiant men of his time, and one of the principal generals in David's armies.

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

[many Abish' ai] (Heb. Abishay', אֲבַישִׁי , Father [i.e. Desirous ] Of A Gift; Sept. Ἀβισαϊ v, but Ἀβεσσά in  1 Samuel 26:6-9;  1 Chronicles 19:11;  1 Chronicles 19:15; Ἀβισσά in  1 Chronicles 2:16; Ἀβεσσαί in  1 Chronicles 11:20; Ἀβισά in  1 Chronicles 18:12; and Ἀμεσά in  2 Samuel 20:6; also contracted Abshay', אִבשִֻׁי , in the text of  2 Samuel 10:10;  1 Chronicles 2:16;  1 Chronicles 11:20;  1 Chronicles 18:12;  1 Chronicles 19:11;  1 Chronicles 19:15; Josephus Ἀβισαῖος ), a nephew of David (by an unknown father, perhaps a foreigner) through his sister Zeruiah, and brother of Joab and Asahel ( 2 Samuel 2:18;  1 Chronicles 2:16). The three brothers devoted themselves zealously to the interests of their uncle during his wanderings. Though David had more reliance upon the talents of Joab, he appears to have given more of his private confidence to Abishai, who seems to have attached himself in a peculiar manner to his person, as we ever find him near, and ready for council or action, on critical occasions ( 2 Samuel 2:24;  1 Chronicles 19:11). Abishai, indeed, was rather a man of action than of council; and, although David must have been gratified by his devoted and uncompromising attachment, he had more generally occasion to check the impulses of his ardent temperament than to follow his advice ( 2 Samuel 3:30). Abishai was one of the two persons whom David asked to accompany him to the camp of Saul, and he alone accepted the perilous distinction ( 1 Samuel 26:5-9), B.C. 1055. The desire he then expressed to smite the sleeping king identifies him as the man who afterward burned to rush upon Shimei and slay him for his abuse of David ( 2 Samuel 16:9;  2 Samuel 16:11;  2 Samuel 19:21). When the king fled beyond the Jordan from Absalom, Abishai was by his side; and he was intrusted with the command of one of the three divisions of the army which crushed that rebellion ( 2 Samuel 18:2-12), B.C. cir. 1023. When the insurrection of Sheba occurred David sent him, in connection with Joab, to quicken the tardy preparations of Amasa in gathering troops against the rebel ( 2 Samuel 20:6-10), B.C. cir. 1022. During the last war with the Philistines David was in imminent peril of his life from a giant named Ishbi-benob, but was rescued by Abishai, who slew the giant ( 2 Samuel 21:15-17), B.C. cir. 1018. He was also the chief of the second rank ( 2 Samuel 23:19;  1 Chronicles 11:20) of the three "mighties," who, probably in some earlier war, performed the chivalrous exploit of breaking through the host of the Philistines to procure David a draught of water from the well of his native Bethlehem ( 2 Samuel 23:14-17). Among the exploits of this hero it is mentioned ( 2 Samuel 23:18) that he withstood 300 men, and slew them with his spear; but the occasion of this adventure, and the time and manner of his death, are equally unknown. In  2 Samuel 8:13, the victory over the Edomites in the Valley of Salt (B.C. cir. 1037) is ascribed to David, but in  1 Chronicles 18:12, to Abishai. It is hence probable that the victory was actually gained by Abishai, in connection with Joab ( 1 Kings 11:16), but is ascribed to David as king and commander-in-chief (comp.  2 Samuel 10:10;  2 Samuel 10:14). (See David).

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ab´i - shı̄ , a - bı̄´shı̄ ( אבישׁי , 'ăbhı̄shaı̄ , in Ch אבשׁי , 'abhshaı̄  ; 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 ,  2 Samuel 2:24 ). 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 ,  2 Samuel 16:9 ); 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 ,  2 Samuel 20:10 ), 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 Sam 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.

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

Abisha´i, (father of gifts), a nephew of David by his sister Zeruiah, and brother of Joab and Asahel. The three brothers devoted themselves zealously to the interests of their uncle during his wanderings. Though David had more reliance upon the talents of Joab, he appears to have given more of his private confidence to Abishai, whom we find near his person on several critical occasions. He alone accompanied David to the camp of Saul ( 1 Samuel 26:5-9). He fled with him beyond the Jordan from Absalom, and commanded one of three divisions of the army which crushed that rebellion ( 2 Samuel 18:2). He rescued David when in imminent peril of his life from a giant named Ishbibenob ( 2 Samuel 21:15-17), and was also the chief of the three 'mighties,' who performed the chivalrous exploit of breaking through the host of the Philistines to procure David a draught of water from the well of his native Bethlehem ( 2 Samuel 23:14-17). Among the exploits of this hero it is mentioned that he withstood 300 men and slew them with his spear: but the occasion of this adventure, and the time and manner of his death, are equally unknown.