With his brothers Joab and Asahel, Abishai joined David during David’s flight from Saul. The brothers, though related to David and strong supporters of him, were a constant worry to David because of their hotheadedness. Abishai seems to have been the most violent of the three (1 Samuel 26:6-9; 2 Samuel 2:18-24; 2 Samuel 3:30; 2 Samuel 3:39; 2 Samuel 16:9-10; 2 Samuel 19:21-22; 2 Samuel 21:16-17). He became one of the highest ranked officers in David’s army, being commander of that group of ‘mighty men’ known as The Thirty (2 Samuel 23:18-19). In battle he commanded large divisions of the fighting forces (2 Samuel 10:9-10; 2 Samuel 18:2).