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Abishai
Meaning: father of a gift (i.e., desirous of a gift)
Abishai is the oldest son of King David’s sister Zeruiah.
Abishai grew to be a mighty warrior, and is a brother of Joab and swift-footed Asahel (2 Samuel 2:18; 1 Chronicles 2:16).
Abishai… was chief of the thirty. …He was most honored of the thirty… —2 Samuel 23:18-19 NASB
…Of the three in the second rank he was the most honored and became their commander… —1 Chronicles 11:20-21 NASB
He had the command of one of the three divisions of David’s army at the battle with Absalom (2 Samuel 18:2; 2 Sam. 18:5; 18:12).
He killed the Philistine giant Ishbi-benob, who threatened David’s life (2 Samuel 21:15-17).
On one occasion Abishai withstood 300 men, and slew them with his own spear (2 Samuel 23:18).
Abishai was the only one who accompanied David when he went to the camp of King Saul and took the spear and the earthenware jar of water from Saul’s bolster (1 Samuel 26:5-12).
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