Abishai
Easton’s Bible Dictionary (1897) · International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915)
Gustave Doré, La Grande Bible de Tours (1866) — via Wikimedia Commons · Public domain
THE DICTIONARY — Easton’s Bible Dictionary (1897)
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.
THE FULL ARTICLE — from the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915), general editor James Orr — public domain, printed whole.
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 (2Sa 2:18). He was chief of the second group of three among David's "mighty men" (2Sa 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 (1Sa 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 (2Sa 2:18,24). He was with and aided Joab in the cruel and indefensible murder of Abner, in revenge for their brother Asahel (2Sa 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 (2Sa 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 (2Sa 16:8,9); and when the king returned victorious Abishai advised the rejection of Shimei's penitence, and his immediate execution (2Sa 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 (2Sa 18:2). With Joab he put down the revolt against David of Sheba, a man of Benjamin (2Sa 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 (2Sa 21:17). In the list of David's heroes (2Sa 23) Abishai's right to leadership of the "second three" is based upon his overthrowing three hundred men with his spear (2Sa 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