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Abishai (biblical figure) 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] Other people with the name AbishaiAbisha or Abishai is also the name of the Semitic chief who offers gifts to the lord of Beni-Hassan in an inscription at that site in Middle Egypt.[13] Referenceshttps://sarata.com/bible/chapter/Chronicles-1.2.html#2:16
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