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Abishai (i.e., "desirous of"), a character in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament. Abishai was the eldest son of Zeruiah, King David's sister. His brothers were Joab and Asahel (2 Sam. 2:18; 1 Chr. 2:16). Abishai became one of David's most trusted generals and served David during his flight from Saul and during his later reigns over Judah and Israel.

INTRODUCTION

After slaying Goliath, David gained popular acclaim among the people of Israel. This incited jealousy in King Saul. Eventually, David was forced to flee Saul's kingdom after Saul attempted to kill David (1 Sam 19:15). During his flight from Saul, David went into hiding in the caves at Adullam where the Bible he was joined by members of his family as well as others who were "in distress" (1 Sam. 22:1-2). This seems the most likely point in the biblical account where Abishai and his younger borthers would have joined David's nomadic band of mercenaries, which the Bible tells us numbered 600 men. (1 Sam. 27:2).

During this time of wandering, David's troops also hid in the land of Ziph, a desert region south of Hebron. Saul received a tip-off from some of the people living in Ziph that David was encamped there, so Saul and his army moved in. However, David's army discovered Saul's army first, camped on a hill named Hakilah. David asked a couple of his men to accompany him into Saul's camp that night on a reconaissance mission. The only man who volunteered was Abishai (1 Sam. 26:6). This is the first time Abishai's name is mentioned in the Bible.

That same night, David and Abishai crept through Saul's encampment. They found their way into the center of the camp where Saul was sleeping. The biblical account indicates Saul was surrounded by Abner and other soldiers (but fails to clarify whether Saul was sleeping in the open air or inside a tent). Abishai turned to David and whispered "God has delivered your enemy into your hands," (1 Sam. 26:8), referring, of course, to Saul. Abishai further added "[n]ow let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of my spear; I won't strike him twice." But David held Abishai back and asked rhetorically "[w]ho can lay a hand on the Lord's anointed and be guiltless?" Abishai demurred. David then asked Abishai to take Saul's spear and water jug, both of which were lying near Saul's head. Abishai obeyed. The next morning David stood on a hill and called out to Abner and Saul, showed them the spear and the water jug and emphasized that if he wanted he could have ended Saul's life; but his purpose was to show Saul that he was not his adversary and desired a peaceable reconciliation (1 Sam. 26:24).

DEATH OF ASUHEL

Shortly after Saul's death David was anointed King of Judah. At the same time, Abner, Saul's former commander, allied himself with Ishbosheth (Saul's son) and the two of them proceeded to take control of the Northern tribes of Israel (all the areas outside of Judah and Simeon) (2 Sam. 2:8-9). After assembling a standing army, Abner met David's army at the pools of Gibeon, a city northeast of Jerusalem in the land of Benjamin (see the Twelve Tribes of Israel) (2 Sam. 2:12-13). Joab, Abishai's brother, was the field general in this battle (2 Sam. 2:13).

David's Judean army prevailed over Abner's Israeli army (2 Sam. 2:17). During the retreat, Asahel (brother of Abishai and Joab) took off on foot to pursue Abner. Joab and Abishai followed behind their brother. While being chased, Abner turned back and yelled at Asahel to cease his pursuit. But Asahel did not relent. Abner then attacked Asahel, apparently by stopping dead in his tracks and either turning around or extending his sword behind himself to impail Asahel (1 Sam. 2:23). While other pursuers stopped to look upon Asahel's dead body, Joab and Abishai (Asahel's brothers) continued the chase, following Abner up a hill where they were replussed by Abner's reassembled army. Joab and Abishai retreated but appeared set on revenge (2 Sam. 2:27-28).

A year or so later, Abener decided to ally himself with David. This shift in political alliance came about as a result of Ishbosheth accusing Abner of sleeping with Saul's former concubines (2 Sam. 3:8). This infuriated Abner, so much so that he was willing to break ranks with Ishbosheth. It might also be said that Abner could see David's momentum and increasingly popular reputation would soon strip Ishbosheth of any claim to the Northern Kingdom and was realigning his political interests. After corresponding with letters, David invited Abner and his men to a feast at David's palace in Hebron. There, David and Abner struck an accord, whereby the Northern Kingdom would be tendered to David.

Shortly after Abner departed, Joab (and likely Abishai, his brother and co-commander) returned to Hebron from a military mission. Joab discovered that Abner had been dining with David. Joab was furious and approached David and scolded him for being naive, 'i.e.,' not suspecting Abner was spying. Joab left abruptly and he and Abishai tracked Abner down and murdered him. The biblical account explains that Joab stuck the knife into Abner, but it also implicates Abishai in killing (compare 2 Sam. 3:27, 30).

King David was furious that Joab had murdered Abner. David likely had mixed emotions for Abner but ultimately had hoped their alliance would accelerate his own rise to power over the northern tribes of Israel. In a fit of rage, David cursed Joab (and Abishai) and called them "evildoers" (2 Sam. 3:38-39).

Ishbosheth was also murdered shortly after Abner, though Joab and Abishai played no part in this second killing. Following Ishbosheth's death, the tribes of Israel anointed David as their king, which resulted in the unification of the Twelve Tribes of Israel. As the newly anointed king, one of David's first recorded acts was the choosing of his "cabinet" (as we might think of it in the United States), among whom was Joab, the commander of the armed forces (2 Sam. 8:16).

THE RISE OF ABISHAI

During David's 22-year reign over the unified kingdom of Israel it seems the role of Joab was reduced whereas the role of Abishai increased.

The Falling Away of Joab

As indicated above, there are three events in the life of Joab that caused him to fall out of favor with David. These events include (1) Joab killing Absolom, (2) Joab killing Amasa, and (3) Joab's allegiance with Adinojab, David's eldest son at the time of David's death.

It would seem the most significant event in the relationships between David, Joab and Abishai was the killing of Absolom, David's son. During David's reign over unified Israel Absolom became disenfranchised after his sister was raped by his half-brother Amnon. Absolom reacted by murdering Amnon and retreating from David's Kingdom (to the King of the Geshurites, formerly part of Aman and in the present day near the border of Syria and Jordan). Absolom gathered support from a large number of people and proceeded to stage a coup. Fearing his life, David fled Jerusalem with his priest (Abiathar) and his two trusted generals (Joab and Abishai). David utlimately reassembled his fighting forces in the trans-Jordan area of Mahanaim. Soon, David and Absolom's armies were pitted against each other in battle.

Prior to departing to the killing fields, David told his commanding generals, Joab and Abishai, they were not to kill Absolom. During the battle, Absolom was caught in a tree (his long hair was inadvertently wrapped around the bough of a tall tree as he passed under it on horseback). While hanging above the ground, Joab took a spear and ran it through Absolom, killing him instantly. Although the biblical account does not indicate whether David ever learned about Joab's involvement in Absolom's death one can only suspect that if the author's of the account knew this detail it might also have reached David's ears.

After the death of Absolom, David returned to the throne in Jerusalem. (need to discuss Amasa)

(Adinojab)

Gaining Trust in Abishai

As indicated above, it appears there are three events, however minor, that distinguish Abishai from his younger brother Joab. These include: (1) the battle with the Philistine Ishbi-benob, (2) the retreat from Jerusalem during Absolom's rebellion, and (3) the encounter with Shimei at the River Jordan.

Battle with Ishbi-benob

During David's battle with the Philistine giant Ishbi-benob, who threatened David's life; depending on the exact reading, Abishai either saved David by slaying the giant, or else helped David slay him (2 Sam. 21:15-17). Some Jewish sources interpret this latter option as meaning Abishai's prayers saved David. (need Talmud citation) He was the chief of the second rank of the three "mighties" (2 Sam. 23:18, 19; 1 Chr. 11:20,21). On another occasion, Abishai is said to have withstood 300 men and slew them with his own spear (2 Sam. 23:18).

The Retreat From Jerusalem

Abishai Takes the Helm

Shortly after Absolom's death and David's return to the throne, a man named Sheba organized the tribes in the Northern Kingdom of Israel to conspire against David. This uprising prompted David to send both Abishai and Joab in search of Sheba. This event is important because David chose Abishai to lead the mission; Joab merely followed (2 Sam 20:6).

• Joab's death sentence

ABISHAI'S ROLE IN HISTORY

One can speculate why David did not issue a death sentence for Abishai like he did for Joab. Unlike his younger brother Joab, Abishai did not "pull the trigger" on Absolom, Abner or Amasa. Furthermore, Abishai seems to have exhibited some respect for David's authority (in the stories told above). However, what became of Abishai is a mystery. Nothing is told of Abishai's end of days in the biblical account nor in the Talmud. In some respects, one might have expected Abishai to come to the aid of his brother Joab while Joab was being pursued by Solomon. However, he did not. Instead, it appears Abishai must have died a natural death.

Abishai's role in history has been all but forgotten. There is almost nothing written about Abishai. However, there is one relatively unknown painting that honors him: Abishai Kneels Before David, painted by Konrad Witz in 1457. This painting seems to mirror the biblical account, showing a dedicated Abishai kneeling before King David, who in turn wears the face of a king well-satisfied with his general.

OTHER ABISHAI'S IN HISTORY

Abishai also is the name of the Semitic chief who offers gifts to the lord of Beni-Hassan.

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 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Easton, Matthew George (1897). "Abishai". Easton's Bible Dictionary (New and revised ed.). T. Nelson and Sons.