Bible Strands
1 Samuel 26:6
And David asked Ahimelech the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, “Who will go down with me to Saul in the camp?” “I will go with you,” answered Abishai.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — David stands at the perimeter of Saul’s night encampment and asks Ahimelech the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah which of them will accompany him into the king’s sleeping quarters. Abishai immediately volunteers to go with him.
The words — The Hebrew verb וַיַּעַן (va.ya‘an, H6030) literally renders “and he answered,” recording Abishai’s direct reply to David’s inquiry. The name אֲבִישַׁי (‘a.vi.shai, H52) identifies the volunteer as the brother of Joab.
The thread — The pattern of descending into an enemy camp appears in Judges 7:10, where fear prompts a similar nighttime descent with a servant. The explicit naming of Abishai as a son of Zeruiah and Joab’s brother connects this moment to the military genealogy recorded in 2 Samuel 2:18.
Why it lands — The passage records a factual military question and a willing volunteer, establishing Abishai as David’s designated companion for a dangerous infiltration. It requires the reader to observe how strategic preparation and explicit human agreement precede the subsequent events of the night.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Then answered David and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying, Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp? And Abishai said, I will go down with thee.
Cross-references
- Judges 7:10 But if you are afraid to do so, then go down to the camp with your servant Purah
- 2 Samuel 2:18 The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Now Asahel was fleet of foot like a wild gazelle,
- Genesis 10:15 And Canaan was the father of Sidon his firstborn, and of the Hittites,
- Genesis 15:20 Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites,
- 1 Samuel 14:6 Jonathan said to the young man bearing his armor, “Come, let us cross over to the outpost of these uncircumcised men. Perhaps the LORD will work on our behalf. Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few.”
- 2 Samuel 11:6 At this, David sent orders to Joab: “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” So Joab sent him to David.
- 2 Samuel 11:21 Who struck Abimelech son of Jerubbesheth? Was it not a woman who dropped an upper millstone on him from the wall, so that he died in Thebez? Why did you get so close to the wall?’ If he asks you this, then you are to say, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead as well.’”
- 2 Samuel 11:24 Then the archers shot at your servants from the wall, and some of the king’s servants were killed. And your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead as well.”
- 2 Samuel 12:9 Why then have you despised the command of the LORD by doing evil in His sight? You put Uriah the Hittite to the sword and took his wife as your own. You have slain him with the sword of the Ammonites.
- 2 Samuel 16:9 Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head!”