Biblical Profile: Abishai

Abishai

Abishai was a powerful and successful warrior and a leader in David’s army. He was David’s nephew, a son of David’s sister Zeruiah and the brother of Joab and Asahel (1 Chr 2:13-16).

Abishai was completely devoted to David and quick to suggest violence against David’s enemies. When God allowed David and Abishai to penetrate Saul’s war camp while the troops were sleeping, Abishai wanted to assassinate Saul, but David restrained him. Later, when the revolt of Absalom required that David leave Jerusalem, the king was cursed by Shimei, a member of Saul’s family, and Abishai wanted to execute Shimei (2 Sam 16:5-9). David twice rejected that proposal (2 Sam 16:10-13; 19:18-23). The vengeful spirit of Abishai and his brothers also came out in an earlier conflict: After Saul’s general, Abner, killed Abishai’s brother Asahel in self-defense, Joab and Abishai took revenge by killing Abner (3:22-30).

Abishai was brave and very capable. He once killed three hundred soldiers in a single battle. For this, he was made leader of the Thirty, a group of especially skillful warriors surpassed only by the Three (1 Chr 11:20-21). Abishai also won a major victory over the Edomites (1 Chr 18:12-13). In a battle with the Philistines, Abishai saved David’s life by killing the giant Ishbi-benob (2 Sam 21:15-17). Abishai also led the army, and when it divided for strategic purposes, Abishai led one group while his brother Joab led the other (10:1-19; 18:1-18). Their military efforts were usually very successful.

Though Joab’s actions eventually led to his death, we nowhere read about the same fate befalling Abishai, who, like Joab, was a violently impulsive military leader.

Passages for Further Study

1 Sam 26:6-12; 2 Sam 2:18; 3:30, 39; 10:10-14; 16:9-12; 18:1-8; 19:21-23; 20:6-10; 21:17; 23:18-19; 1 Chr 2:16; 11:20-21; 18:12-13; 19:11-15