In brief
Abishai is the son of Zeruiah, David's sister, and the brother of Joab and Asahel. A faithful companion of David, he goes down with him by night into Saul's camp, commands part of the army and saves the king's life from the giant Ishbi-Benob. He is chief of the second group of three mighty men. But he is also impetuous: he wants to kill the sleeping Saul and to cut off Shimei's head. He is remembered for a real courage that David sometimes had to restrain.
What does the name Abishai mean?
The meaning of his name is debated; it is often linked to the Hebrew word for father, but the Bible does not explain it. He is almost always introduced as the son of Zeruiah, his mother, David's sister (1 Chronicles 2:16), and as Joab's brother.
The story of Abishai
Volunteer in Saul's camp
1 Samuel 26:6-8While Saul pursues David in the wilderness of Ziph, David asks who will go down with him into the enemy camp. Abishai answers at once that he will go down with him. By night they find Saul asleep, his spear stuck in the ground at his head. Abishai asks David's permission to pin him to the ground with one thrust of the spear.
David holds him back
1 Samuel 26:9-12David refuses: no one can lay a hand on Yahweh's anointed and be guiltless, and it is for Yahweh alone to strike him. David takes only the spear and the water jar at Saul's head, and they leave without anyone waking, for Yahweh has put the whole camp into a deep sleep.
With Joab against Abner
2 Samuel 2:18-24; 3:30During the war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Asahel, Abishai's brother, is killed by Abner. Joab and Abishai pursue Abner until sunset. Later the text states that Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel at Gibeon.
Commander in David's army
2 Samuel 10:9-14; 18:2Facing the Syrians and the Ammonites, Joab places the rest of the people under his brother Abishai, and the Ammonites flee before him. During Absalom's revolt, David again puts a third of the army under his command. According to 1 Chronicles 18:12, Abishai also defeats eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.
Facing Shimei
2 Samuel 16:9-12; 19:21-23When David flees from Absalom, Shimei curses him and throws stones at him. Abishai wants to go and cut off his head. David refuses and leaves his affliction to Yahweh. On the king's return, Abishai again calls for Shimei's death, and David rebukes him for acting as his adversary. He spares Shimei.
He saves David's life
2 Samuel 21:15-17During a new war against the Philistines, David grows weary. Ishbi-Benob, one of the descendants of the giant, armed with a spear weighing three hundred shekels of bronze, thinks he can kill him. Abishai comes to his aid, strikes the Philistine and kills him. David's men then swear that he will no longer go out to battle with them.
Among the mighty men
2 Samuel 23:18-19The list of David's heroes names Abishai, Joab's brother, as chief of the three. He wields his spear against three hundred men and kills them. He gains a name among the three and is the most honored of them, but he does not attain to the first three.
What Abishai teaches us
- Courage and loyalty are precious, but they must remain submitted to the will of God.
- A favorable opportunity does not necessarily come from God: David refused to strike Yahweh's anointed.
- Leaving vengeance to God takes more strength than striking oneself.
- God uses faithful companions to rescue his servants when they are weary.
Key verses
David's response to Abishai's offer. Even facing the enemy who pursues him, David refuses to lay a hand on Yahweh's anointed and leaves judgment to God.
David restrains Abishai in the face of Shimei's curses. He leaves his affliction to Yahweh and hopes God will do him good in return, rather than seeking revenge.
Abishai saves the life of an exhausted David from a Philistine giant. The king's men then refuse to let him risk his life in battle again, so as not to quench the lamp of Israel.
Bible verses to meditate on
Sermons about Abishai
Frequently asked questions
How was Abishai related to David?
Abishai is the son of Zeruiah, whom 1 Chronicles 2:16 presents as David's sister. He is therefore his nephew. His brothers are Joab, commander of David's army, and Asahel, killed by Abner. The three are often called the sons of Zeruiah in the books of Samuel.
Why did David restrain Abishai?
Abishai wanted to strike the sleeping Saul (1 Samuel 26:8), then cut off the head of Shimei, who was cursing the king (2 Samuel 16:9). Each time, David refuses. He will not lay a hand on Yahweh's anointed and prefers to commit his cause to God rather than take revenge by violence.
Where is the story of Abishai in the Bible?
He appears in 1 Samuel 26, then several times in 2 Samuel: in chapters 2 and 3 with Joab, 10 and 18 as an army commander, 16 and 19 facing Shimei, 21 for the rescue of David and 23 in the list of the mighty men. 1 Chronicles 11 and 18 also mention him.