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[many Abish' ai] (Heb. Abishay', àֲáַéùִׁé , father [i.e. desirous] of a gift; Sept. Á᾿âéóáú v, but Á᾿âåóóÜ in 1Sa_26:6-9; 1Ch_19:11; 1Ch_19:15; Á᾿âéóóÜ in 1Ch_2:16; Á᾿âåóóáß in 1Ch_11:20; Á᾿âéóÜ in 1Ch_18:12; and Á᾿ìåóÜ in 2Sa_20:6; also contracted Abshay', àִáùִֻׁé , in the text of 2Sa_10:10; 1Ch_2:16; 1Ch_11:20; 1Ch_18:12; 1Ch_19:11; 1Ch_19:15; Josephus Á᾿âéóáῖïò ), a nephew of David (by an unknown father, perhaps a foreigner) through his sister Zeruiah, and brother of Joab and Asahel (2Sa_2:18; 1Ch_2:16). The three brothers devoted themselves zealously to the interests of their uncle during his wanderings. Though David had more reliance upon the talents of Joab, he appears to have given more of his private confidence to Abishai, who seems to have attached himself in a peculiar manner to his person, as we ever find him near, and ready for council or action, on critical occasions (2Sa_2:24; 1Ch_19:11). Abishai, indeed, was rather a man of action than of council; and, although David must have been gratified by his devoted and uncompromising attachment, he had more generally occasion to check the impulses of his ardent temperament than to follow his advice (2Sa_3:30). Abishai was one of the two persons whom David asked to accompany him to the camp of Saul, and he alone accepted the perilous distinction (1Sa_26:5-9), B.C. 1055. The desire he then expressed to smite the sleeping king identifies him as the man who afterward burned to rush upon Shimei and slay him for his abuse of David (2Sa_16:9; 2Sa_16:11; 2Sa_19:21). When the king fled beyond the Jordan from Absalom, Abishai was by his side; and he was intrusted with the command of one of the three divisions of the army which crushed that rebellion (2Sa_18:2-12), B.C. cir. 1023. When the insurrection of Sheba occurred David sent him, in connection with Joab, to quicken the tardy preparations of Amasa in gathering troops against the rebel (2Sa_20:6-10), B.C. cir. 1022. During the last war with the Philistines David was in imminent peril of his life from a giant named Ishbi-benob, but was rescued by Abishai, who slew the giant (2Sa_21:15-17), B.C. cir. 1018. He was also the chief of the second rank (2Sa_23:19; 1Ch_11:20) of the three “mighties,” who, probably in some earlier war, performed the chivalrous exploit of breaking through the host of the Philistines to procure David a draught of water from the well of his native Bethlehem (2Sa_23:14-17). Among the exploits of this hero it is mentioned (2Sa_23:18) that he withstood 300 men, and slew them with his spear; but the occasion of this adventure, and the time and manner of his death, are equally unknown. In 2Sa_8:13, the victory over the Edomites in the Valley of Salt (B.C. cir. 1037) is ascribed to David, but in 1Ch_18:12, to Abishai. It is hence probable that the victory was actually gained by Abishai, in connection with Joab (1Ki_11:16), but is ascribed to David as king and commander-in-chief (comp. 2Sa_10:10; 2Sa_10:14). SEE DAVID.