Abishai in the Bible Encyclopedia - ISBE
ab'-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 Sam
2:18). He was chief of the second group of three among
David's "mighty men" (2 Sam 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 Sam 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 Sam 2:18,24). He was with and aided
Joab in the cruel and indefensible murder of Abner, in
revenge for their brother Asahel (2 Sam 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 Sam
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 Sam 16:8,9); and when the king
returned victorious Abishai advised the rejection of
Shimei's penitence, and his immediate execution (2 Sam
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 Sam 18:2). With Joab he put down
the revolt against David of Sheba, a man of Benjamin (2 Sam
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 Sam 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 Sam 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
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