Abishai

Military CommanderRoyal Family MemberWarrior

A nephew of King David, and a leader of David’s mighty men.

About Abishai

King David’s nephew. The son of David's sister Zeruiah (his father is not mentioned) and brother of Joab and Asahel (1 Chronicles 2:16).

Abishai went with David to Saul’s camp one night and wanted to kill Saul while he was sleeping, but David stopped him (1 Samuel 26:612). He also helped Joab kill Abner, Saul’s general, to avenge the death of their brother, Asahel (2 Samuel 3:30).

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Family Relationships

Parents
Husband of Zeruiah, Zeruiah
Siblings 2
Joab, Asahel
Niece/Nephew
Zebadiah (1 Chronicles 27:7)
Aunt
Abigail (Sister of King David)
Uncles 8
David, Eliab (Son of Jesse), Abinadab (Son of Jesse), Nethanel (1 Chronicles 2:14), Raddai, Ozem, Elihu (1 Chronicles 27:18), Shimeah
Cousins 24
Amnon, Chileab, Absalom, Adonijah (Son of David), Shephatiah, Ithream, Shammua (2 Samuel 5:14), Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg (2 Samuel 5:15), Japhia (2 Samuel 5:15), Elishama (2 Samuel 5:16), Eliada, Eliphelet, Tamar, Elpelet, Nogah, Jerimoth (2 Chronicles 11:18), Abihail (Daughter of Eliab), Amasa, Jonadab

Key References

1 Samuel 26:6

And David asked Ahimelech the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, “Who will go down with me to Saul in the camp?” “I will go with you,” answered Abishai.

2 Samuel 2:18

The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Now Asahel was fleet of foot like a wild gazelle,

2 Samuel 18:2

He sent out the troops, a third under Joab, a third under Joab’s brother Abishai son of Zeruiah, and a third under Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the troops, “I will surely march out with you as well.”

2 Samuel 23:18

Now Abishai, the brother of Joab and son of Zeruiah, was chief of the Three, and he wielded his spear against three hundred men, killed them, and won a name along with the Three.

1 Chronicles 2:13

Jesse was the father of Eliab his firstborn; Abinadab was born second, Shimea third,

1 Chronicles 2:14

Nethanel fourth, Raddai fifth,

1 Chronicles 2:15

Ozem sixth, and David seventh.

1 Chronicles 2:16

Their sisters were Zeruiah and Abigail. And the three sons of Zeruiah were Abishai, Joab, and Asahel.

All Scripture References (24)

1 Samuel (4)
1 Samuel 26:6

And David asked Ahimelech the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, “Who will go down with me to Saul in the camp?” “I will go with you,” answered Abishai.

1 Samuel 26:7

That night David and Abishai came to the troops, and Saul was lying there asleep in the inner circle of the camp, with his spear stuck in the ground by his head. And Abner and the troops were lying around him.

1 Samuel 26:8

Abishai said to David, “Today God has delivered your enemy into your hand. Now, therefore, please let me thrust the spear through him into the ground with one stroke. I will not need to strike him twice!”

1 Samuel 26:9

But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him, for who can extend a hand against the LORD’s anointed and be guiltless?”

2 Samuel (15)
2 Samuel 2:18

The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Now Asahel was fleet of foot like a wild gazelle,

2 Samuel 2:24

But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner. By sunset, they had gone as far as the hill of Ammah opposite Giah on the way to the wilderness of Gibeon.

2 Samuel 3:30

(Joab and his brother Abishai murdered Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.)

2 Samuel 10:10

And he placed the rest of the troops under the command of his brother Abishai, who arrayed them against the Ammonites.

2 Samuel 10:14

When the Ammonites saw that the Arameans had fled, they too fled before Abishai, and they entered the city. So Joab returned from fighting against the Ammonites and came to Jerusalem.

2 Samuel 16:9

Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head!”

2 Samuel 16:11

Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Behold, my own son, my own flesh and blood, seeks my life. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone and let him curse me, for the LORD has told him so.

2 Samuel 18:2

He sent out the troops, a third under Joab, a third under Joab’s brother Abishai son of Zeruiah, and a third under Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the troops, “I will surely march out with you as well.”

2 Samuel 18:5

Now the king had commanded Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, “Treat the young man Absalom gently for my sake.” And all the people heard the king’s orders to each of the commanders regarding Absalom.

2 Samuel 18:12

The man replied, “Even if a thousand shekels of silver were weighed out into my hands, I would not raise my hand against the son of the king. For we heard the king command you and Abishai and Ittai, ‘Protect the young man Absalom for my sake.’

2 Samuel 19:22

And David replied, “Sons of Zeruiah, what have I to do with you, that you should be my adversaries today? Should any man be put to death in Israel today? Am I not indeed aware that today I am king over Israel?”

2 Samuel 20:6

And David said to Abishai, “Now Sheba the son of Bichri will do us more harm than Absalom. Take your lord’s servants and pursue him, or he will find fortified cities and elude us.”

2 Samuel 20:10

Amasa was not on guard against the dagger in Joab’s hand, and Joab stabbed him in the stomach and spilled out his intestines on the ground. And Joab did not need to strike him again, for Amasa was dead. Then Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba son of Bichri.

2 Samuel 21:17

But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to his aid, struck the Philistine, and killed him. Then David’s men swore to him, “You must never again go out with us to battle, so that the lamp of Israel may not be extinguished.”

2 Samuel 23:18

Now Abishai, the brother of Joab and son of Zeruiah, was chief of the Three, and he wielded his spear against three hundred men, killed them, and won a name along with the Three.

1 Chronicles (5)
1 Chronicles 2:16

Their sisters were Zeruiah and Abigail. And the three sons of Zeruiah were Abishai, Joab, and Asahel.

1 Chronicles 11:20

Now Abishai, the brother of Joab, was chief of the Three, and he wielded his spear against three hundred men, killed them, and won a name along with the Three.

1 Chronicles 18:12

Moreover, Abishai son of Zeruiah struck down eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

1 Chronicles 19:11

And he placed the rest of the troops under the command of his brother Abishai, who arrayed them against the Ammonites.

1 Chronicles 19:15

When the Ammonites saw that the Arameans had fled, they too fled before Joab’s brother Abishai, and they entered the city. So Joab went back to Jerusalem.