Abishai

Biblical Record

Abishai is called "the son of Zeruiah." First Chronicles 2:16 identifies Zeruiah as a sister of David and lists her sons as three brothers: Abishai, Joab, and Asahel. Abishai was therefore David's nephew. His father's name does not appear in Scripture.

• Infiltration of Saul's camp: When David, pursued by Saul, entered Saul's camp by night, Abishai volunteered to go with him. He asked permission to strike the sleeping Saul with a spear, but David restrained him, saying that he could not stretch forth his hand against "the LORD's anointed" (1 Samuel 26:6-12).
• Killing of Abner: In the battle at Gibeon, his younger brother Asahel was killed by Abner. Afterward Abishai and Joab killed Abner (2 Samuel 2:18-24; 3:30).
• War with Ammon and Aram: When Joab divided the army, Abishai took command of the forces facing the Ammonites (2 Samuel 10:10-14; 1 Chronicles 19:11-15).
• Campaign against Edom: He is recorded as having struck down eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt (1 Chronicles 18:12).
• Absalom's rebellion: Twice he asked to behead Shimei, who had cursed David. David refused, saying, "What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah?" (2 Samuel 16:9-11; 19:21-22). In the battle against Absalom, he commanded a third of the army alongside Joab and Ittai the Gittite (2 Samuel 18:2).
• Sheba's rebellion: At David's command he pursued Sheba (2 Samuel 20:6-10).
• Rescue of David: When the Philistine giant Ishbi-benob sought to kill David, Abishai struck him down and saved David (2 Samuel 21:15-17).
• List of mighty men: He is described as chief of "the three"; he killed three hundred men with his spear, yet he did not attain to the first three mighty men (2 Samuel 23:18-19; 1 Chronicles 11:20-21).

Significance within Scripture

Abishai is portrayed as a valiant commander who remained loyal to David to the end. At the same time, he repeatedly displays a rashness that seeks to dispose of enemies at once. This rashness stands in contrast to David's restraint. The same contrast appears in the scenes where David groups him with his brother Joab as "the sons of Zeruiah" and distances himself from them. Abishai is not mentioned in the New Testament.

Interpretation and Debated Issues

• Who led the campaign against Edom: Second Samuel 8:13 attributes the victory over Edom to David, while 1 Chronicles 18:12 attributes it to Abishai. The superscription of Psalm 60 mentions Joab and twelve thousand men. Some view these accounts as crediting both the commander and the king, while others regard them as reflecting differing traditions.
• "The three" and "the thirty": In 2 Samuel 23:18-19, manuscripts and translations are known to differ between the readings "the three" and "the thirty."
• Why he is identified by his mother rather than his father: A common explanation is that Zeruiah was David's sister. The text itself, however, gives no reason.

In the Korean Church

Abishai is treated mainly as a supporting character in the story of David. First Samuel 26 in particular is frequently used as a sermon text to illustrate David's refusal to take revenge and his willingness to leave the matter to God. In such sermons Abishai is often presented as someone who tries to seize an opportunity according to human reasoning. At the same time, concerns have been raised both inside and outside the church that the phrase "do not strike the anointed" has been used to silence even legitimate criticism of church leaders.