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Who was Abishai in the Bible?

David's warrior, during the united monarchy

Abishai was the son of Zeruiah, King David's sister, making him David's nephew (1Ch.2.16). Abishai appears in 24 verses across 3 books of the Bible.

Abishai Saves David's Life
Abishai Saves David's Life · Gustave Doré, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

What does the Bible say about Abishai?

Abishai was the son of Zeruiah, King David's sister, making him David's nephew (1Ch.2.16). He was the brother of Joab and Asahel, two other prominent figures in David's military ranks (2Sa.2.18). Abishai was one of David's mighty men and a trusted commander in his army. During David's flight from King Saul, Abishai accompanied him and showed his loyalty by offering to kill Saul when they found him sleeping in the camp (1Sa.26.6-9). However, David refused to allow Abishai to harm the Lord's anointed (1Sa.26.9-11). Abishai played a significant role in many of David's military campaigns. He fought alongside Joab against Abner and the forces of Ish-bosheth (2Sa.2.24). After Abner killed Asahel, Joab and Abishai pursued him but were convinced to halt their pursuit (2Sa.2.24-28). Later, Abishai supported Joab in avenging Asahel's death by killing Abner (2Sa.3.30). In the battle against the Ammonites, Abishai led a division of the army and helped secure victory for Israel (2Sa.10.10-14; 1Ch.19.11-15). He also accompanied David during the rebellion of Absalom and was one of the three commanders of David's forces (2Sa.18.2,5,12). Abishai intervened to save David's life when a giant named Ishbi-benob threatened to kill the king (2Sa.21.17). He was also known for his bravery and military exploits, being credited with killing three hundred men with his spear (2Sa.23.18; 1Ch.11.20). Throughout David's reign, Abishai remained a loyal and trusted commander, playing a crucial role in maintaining David's kingdom and defending Israel against its enemies.

Definition text: STEPBible · Tyndale House Cambridge. Licensed CC BY 4.0. Lightly edited for length and formatting.

Compiled by Protos: the verse list on this page. Where one name belongs to more than one person or place, each of them gets a separate entry.

Where does Abishai appear in the Bible?

Abishai is referenced in 24 verses across 3 books. Every passage below is about this one, not just every verse the word turns up in.

2 Samuel 151 Chronicles 51 Samuel 4

What else appears in these passages?

These turn up in the same passages as Abishai.

JoabZeruiahDavidBrotherAmmonitesJerusalem

Common questions

How many times does the Bible mention Abishai?

Abishai appears in 24 verses across 3 books, most often in 2 Samuel, which accounts for 15 of them.

Which books of the Bible mention Abishai?

2 Samuel, 1 Chronicles, 1 Samuel.

Where can I read every verse about Abishai?

This page lists 24 of them. Protos carries all 24, and opens this entry on the verse you are reading rather than in a separate tab.

Read it in context

Read 2 Samuel with Abishai explained on the verse.

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