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Abishai
A brother of Joab and one of David's chief warriors, fiercely loyal and fierce in battle.
What we know — and how we know it
Bible — stated in scripture (with verse) · 1
Ancient writers — non-biblical testimony · 1
Scholarly — supported scholarly belief · 1
Family & lineage
Life, role & deeds
Scan by NYPL — Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)
Ancient writersJosephus recounts the exploits of Abishai (Abisai), son of Zeruiah and brother of Joab, as one of David's leading warriors. The reference is real but derivative, following the books of Samuel closely.
Josephus, Jewish Antiquities 7 (David's reign), recounting Abishai (Abisai) son of Zeruiah, brother of Joab, among David's leading warriors; narrative derivative of 1-2 Samuel. Text: ed./tr. R. Marcus, Loeb Classical Library, Josephus vol. V (Antiquities V-VIII), Harvard Univ. Press, 1934.
Name & titles
ScholarlyAbishai (אֲבִישַׁי) is generally parsed as abi ('my father') plus shai ('gift'), giving a sense like 'my father is a gift' or 'father of a gift'; some scholars instead connect the second element to the name Jesse.
Hebrew onomastic analysis; the meaning of the -shai element is debated in the scholarly literature.
Where in scripture
1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Chronicles
1 Samuel 26:61 Samuel 26:71 Samuel 26:82 Samuel 2:182 Samuel 2:242 Samuel 3:302 Samuel 10:102 Samuel 10:142 Samuel 16:92 Samuel 16:112 Samuel 18:22 Samuel 18:52 Samuel 18:122 Samuel 19:212 Samuel 20:62 Samuel 20:102 Samuel 21:172 Samuel 23:181 Chronicles 2:161 Chronicles 11:201 Chronicles 18:121 Chronicles 19:111 Chronicles 19:15
Family
In their own words — 4 recorded sayings
“Then David said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai, the son of Zeruiah, brother of Joab, Who will go down with me to the tents of Saul? And Abishai said, I will go down with you.” — 1 Samuel 26:6
“Then Abishai said to David, God has given up your hater into your hands today; now let me give him one blow through to the earth with his spear, and there will be no need to give him a second.” — 1 Samuel 26:8
“Then Abishai, the son of Zeruiah, said to the king, Is this dead dog to go on cursing my lord the king? let me go over and take off his head.” — 2 Samuel 16:9
“But Abishai, the son of Zeruiah, said, Is not death the right fate for Shimei, because he has been cursing the one marked by the holy oil?” — 2 Samuel 19:21
Speaker attribution: Clear Bible MACULA (CC BY 4.0). Wording: Bible in Basic English (public domain).