Abishai (biblical figure)

An 1873 illustration of Abishai (centre) encouraging David (right) to strike Saul.

Abishai was a military leader under the biblical King David. He was the eldest son of David's sister Zeruiah. According to Josephus (Antiquities, VII, 1, 3) his father was called Suri.[1] The meaning of his name is "Father of a gift".[2] He was the brother of Joab and Asahel.[3]

Abishai was the only one who accompanied David when he went to the camp of Saul and took the spear and water bottle from Saul as he slept.[4]

After a battle between Judah and Israel, his brother Asahel chased the northern army's general Abner, and was killed by the back of Abner's spear.[5] Joab and Abishai were enraged at the death of Asahel, and later murdered Abner. David disowned responsibility for the murder, led a national lament for Abner, and pronounced a curse on Joab and Abishai, saying, "these men the sons of Zeruiah are too hard for me; the LORD reward the evildoer according to his wickedness."[6]

Abishai had the command of one of the three divisions of David's army at the battle with Absalom.[7] He was the commander and "most honoured" of the second rank of David's officers, below the three "mighty men".[8] On one occasion, he withstood 300 men and slew them with his own spear.[9]

Abishai slew the Philistine giant Ishbi-benob, who threatened David's life.[10] In the Haggadah, this incident is elaborated with miraculous details.[11] The Sanhedrin tractate in the Talmud says that Orpah (mother of Goliath and Ishbi-benob)was killed by King David's general Abishai, the son of Zeruiah, with her own spindle.[12]

  1. ^ Flavius Josephus, Jewish Antiquaties, VII, 1, 3.
  2. ^ Cheyne and Black (1899), Encyclopaedia Biblica, entry for Abishai.
  3. ^ 2 Sam 2:18; 1 Chr 2:16
  4. ^ 1 Sam 26:5–12
  5. ^ 2 Sam 2:11–24
  6. ^ 2 Sam 3:26–39
  7. ^ 2 Sam 18:2,5,12
  8. ^ 2 Sam 23:18,19; 1 Chr 11:20,21
  9. ^ 2 Sam 23:18
  10. ^ 2 Sam 21:15–17
  11. ^ Kent, Charles Foster; Ginzberg, Louis (1901–1906). "Abishai or Abshai". In Singer, Isidore; et al. (eds.). The Jewish Encyclopedia. New York: Funk & Wagnalls.
  12. ^ Talmud Sanhedrin 95a