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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0;"/><title>Topical Bible: Ahasbai</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/topical/a/ahasbai.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/newtopical.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/topical/vmenus/2_samuel/23-34.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="//biblehu.com/bmcde/a/ahasbai.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/topical/">Topical</a> > Ahasbai</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/topical/naves/a/ahasai--a_grandson_of_immer.htm" title="Ahasai: A Grandson of Immer">◄</a> Ahasbai <a href="/topical/a/ahas'bai.htm" title="Ahas'bai">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse">Jump to: <a href="#hit" title="Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary">Hitchcock's</a> • <a href="#smi" title="Smith's Bible Dictionary">Smith's</a> • <a href="#isb" title="International Standard Bible Encyclopedia">ISBE</a> • <a href="#cnc" title="Multiversion Concordance">Concordance</a> • <a href="#thes" title="Bible Thesaurus">Thesaurus</a> • <a href="#heb" title="Strong's Hebrew Concordance">Hebrew</a> • <a href="#sub" title="Subtopics">Subtopics</a> • <a href="#rel" title="Related Terms">Terms</a></div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><a name="te" id="te"></a><div class="vheading2">Topical Encyclopedia</div>Ahasbai is a biblical figure mentioned in the Old Testament, specifically in the context of King David's mighty warriors. The name Ahasbai appears in <a href="/2_samuel/23-34.htm">2 Samuel 23:34</a>, where he is identified as the father of one of David's valiant men. The passage reads: "Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maacathite, Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite" . This brief mention places Ahasbai within the genealogical and military framework of David's reign.<br><br><b>Genealogical Context</b><br><br>Ahasbai is noted as the father of Eliphelet, one of the warriors listed among David's elite group known as the "Thirty." This group is celebrated for their bravery and loyalty to King David, playing a crucial role in establishing and securing his kingdom. The mention of Ahasbai as a Maacathite suggests a connection to the region or people of Maacah, a small Aramean kingdom located near the borders of Israel. This detail provides insight into the diverse backgrounds of those who served under David, reflecting the unifying nature of his leadership.<br><br><b>Cultural and Historical Significance</b><br><br>The inclusion of Ahasbai's lineage in the biblical text underscores the importance of family heritage and tribal affiliations in ancient Israelite society. It also highlights the integration of non-Israelite individuals into the fabric of Israel's military and social structure. The Maacathites, though not Israelites, were part of the broader Near Eastern milieu and occasionally interacted with Israel through alliances, conflicts, and intermarriage.<br><br><b>Theological Implications</b><br><br>From a theological perspective, the mention of Ahasbai and his son Eliphelet in the context of David's mighty men illustrates the theme of divine providence and the fulfillment of God's promises to David. The diverse composition of David's warriors, including those from outside traditional Israelite tribes, reflects the inclusive nature of God's plan and the gathering of people from various backgrounds to accomplish His purposes.<br><br><b>Textual Considerations</b><br><br>The name Ahasbai appears only once in the biblical record, and there is limited information about his life or deeds. As with many genealogical entries in the Bible, the primary focus is on the lineage and the notable achievements of his descendants. The brevity of Ahasbai's mention serves as a reminder of the many individuals who played supporting roles in the biblical narrative, contributing to the larger account of God's interaction with His people.<br><br>In summary, Ahasbai is a minor yet significant figure within the context of King David's reign, representing the broader tapestry of individuals who contributed to the establishment of Israel's monarchy and the fulfillment of God's covenantal promises.<a name="hit" id="hit"></a><div class="vheading2">Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary</div><span class="encheading">Ahasbai</span><p>trusting in me; a grown-up brother<a name="smi" id="smi"></a><div class="vheading2">Smith's Bible Dictionary</div><span class="encheading">Ahasbai</span><p>(<i>blooming</i>), father of Eli-phelet, one of David's thirty-seven captains. (<a href="/2_samuel/23-34.htm">2 Samuel 23:34</a>) In the corrupt list in (<a href="/1_chronicles/11-35.htm">1 Chronicles 11:35</a>) Eliphelet appears as "Eliphal the son of Ur." (B.C. about 1050.)<a name="isb" id="isb"></a><div class="vheading2">International Standard Bible Encyclopedia</div><span class="encheading">AHASBAI</span><p>a-has'-bi ('achacbay, "blooming"): The father of Eliphelet, a Maacathite, a soldier in David's army (<a href="/2_samuel/23-34.htm">2 Samuel 23:34</a>). He was either a native of Abel-beth-maacah (<a href="/2_samuel/20-14.htm">2 Samuel 20:14</a>) or, more probably, of Maacah in Syria (<a href="/2_samuel/10-6.htm">2 Samuel 10:6</a>). The list in <a href="/1_chronicles/11-35.htm">1 Chronicles 11:35, 36</a> gives different names entirely. Here we have Ur and Hepher, which simply show that the text is corrupt in one or both places.<br><br>AHASUERUS or ASSEURUS<br><br>a-haz-u-e'-rus, (Septuagint Assoueros, but in Tobit 14:15 Asueros; the Latin form of the Hebrew 'achashwerosh, a name better known in its ordinary Greek form of Xerxes): It was the name of two, or perhaps of three kings mentioned in the canonical, or apocryphal, books of the Old Testament.<br><br>1. In Esther:<br><br>There seems to be little reasonable doubt, that we should identify the Ahasuerus of Esther with the well-known Xerxes, who reigned over Persia from 485 to 465 B.C., and who made the great expedition against Greece that culminated in the defeat of the Persian forces at Salamis and Plataea. If Esther be taken as equivalent to Ishtar, it may well be the same as the Amestris of Herodotus, which in Babylonian would be Ammi-Ishtar, or Ummi-Ishtar. Amestris is said to have been the daughter of Otanes, a distinguished general of Xerxes, and the grand-daughter of Sisamnes, a notorious judge, who was put to death with great cruelty by the king because of malfeasance in office. Sisamnes may be in Babylonian Shamash-ammanu-(shallim). If he were the brother and Otanes the nephew of Mordecai, we can easily account for the ease with which the latter and has ward Esther, were advanced and confirmed in their Positions at the court, of Xerxes.<br><br>2. In Ezra:<br><br>An Ahasuerus is mentioned in <a href="/ezra/4-6.htm">Ezra 4:6</a>, as one to whom some persons unnamed wrote an accusation against Judah and Jerusalem. Ewald and others have suggested that this Ahasuerus was Cambyses, the son and successor of Cyrus. It seems to be more probable that Xerxes, the son and successor of Darius Hystaspis, is meant: first, because in the following verse Artaxerxes, the son and successor of Xerxes, is mentioned; and secondly, because we have no evidence whatever that Cambyses was ever called Ahasuerus, whereas there is absolute certainty that the Pets Khshayarsha, the Hebrew 'achashwerosh, the Greek Assoueros or Xerxes, and the Latin Ahasuerus, are the exact equivalents of one another.<br><br>3. In Tobit:<br><br>In the apocryphal book of Tobit (14:15, the King James Version) it is said that before Tobias died he heard of the destruction of Nineveh, which was taken by Nabuchodonosor and Assuerus. This Assuerus can have been no other than Cyaxares, who according to Herodotus (i.196) took Nineveh and reduced the Assyrians into subjection, with the exception of the Babylonian district. As we shall see below, he was probably the same as the Ahasuerus of <a href="/daniel/9-1.htm">Daniel 9:1</a>. The phrase "which was taken by Nabuchodonosor and Assuerus" is not found in the Syriac version of Tobit.<br><br>4. In Daniel:<br><br>An Ahasuerus is said in <a href="/daniel/9-1.htm">Daniel 9:1</a> to have been the father of Darius the Mede, and to have been of the seed of the Medes. It is probable that this Ahasuerus is the same as the Uvakhshatara of the Persian recension of the Behistun inscription, which in the Babylonian is Umaku'ishtar, in the Susian Makishtarra, and in Herod Cyaxares. It will be noted that both the Greek Cyaxares and the Hebrew Akhashwerosh omit the preformative uwa- and the "t" of the Persian form Uvakhshatara. That this Median king had sons living in the time of Cyrus is shown by the fact that two rebel aspirants to the throne in the time of Darius Hystaspis claimed to be his sons, to wit: Fravartish, a Median, who lied saying, "I am Khshathrita of the family of Uvakhshatara" (Behistun Inscr, col. II, v); and Citrantakhma, who said, "I am king in Sagartia of the family of Uvakhshatara" (id, II, xiv). If we accept the identification of Gubaru with Darius the Mede, then the latter may well have been another of his sons, at first a sub-king to Astyages the Scythian, as he was later to Cyrus the Persian.<br><br>R. Dick Wilson<p><a name="heb" id="heb"></a><div class="vheading2">Strong's Hebrew</div><a href="/hebrew/308.htm"><span class="l">308. Achasbay -- an Israelite</span></a><br><b>...</b> Achasbay. 309 . an Israelite. Transliteration: Achasbay Phonetic Spelling:<br> (akh-as-bah'ee) Short Definition: <b>Ahasbai</b>. <b>...</b> NASB Word Usage <b>Ahasbai</b> (1). <b>Ahasbai</b>. <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/hebrew/308.htm</font><font color="#ff6600" size="-1"> - 5k</font><a name="thes" id="thes"></a><div class="vheading2">Thesaurus</div><a href="/topical/a/ahasbai.htm"><span class="l"><b>Ahasbai</b> (1 Occurrence)</span></a><br><b>...</b><b>AHASBAI</b>. a-has'-bi ('achacbay, "blooming"): The father of Eliphelet, a Maacathite,<br> a soldier in David's army (2 Samuel 23:34). <b>...</b><b>Ahasbai</b> (1 Occurrence). <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/a/ahasbai.htm - 11k</font><p><a href="/topical/a/ahas'bai.htm"><span class="l">Ahas'bai (1 Occurrence)</span></a><br><b>...</b> <b>Ahasbai</b>, Ahas'bai. Ahashtari . <b>...</b> 2 Samuel 23:34 Eliphelet the son of <b>Ahasbai</b>,<br> the son of the Maacathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite; (See RSV). <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/a/ahas'bai.htm - 6k</font><p><a href="/topical/u/ur.htm"><span class="l">Ur (5 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> Vaticanus Sthur; Codex Sinaiticus Ora): Father of Eliphal, one of David's "mighty<br> men," in 1 Chronicles 11:35; in the parallel 2 Samuel 23:34 called "<b>Ahasbai</b>.". <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/u/ur.htm - 15k</font><p><a href="/topical/g/gilo.htm"><span class="l">Gilo (1 Occurrence)</span></a><br><b>...</b> 2 Samuel 23:34 Eliphelet the son of <b>Ahasbai</b>, the son of the Maacathite, Eliam the<br> son of Ahithophel the Gilonite, (Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/g/gilo.htm - 6k</font><p><a href="/topical/g/gilonite.htm"><span class="l">Gilonite (2 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> 2 Samuel 23:34 Eliphelet the son of <b>Ahasbai</b>, the son of the Maacathite, Eliam the<br> son of Ahithophel the Gilonite, (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV). <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/g/gilonite.htm - 7k</font><p><a href="/topical/e/eliphal.htm"><span class="l">Eliphal (1 Occurrence)</span></a><br><b>...</b> the Revised Version (British and American) in a footnote identifies him with Eliphelet,<br> son of <b>Ahasbai</b>, the son of the Maachathite (2 Samuel 23:34; ef Davis <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/e/eliphal.htm - 7k</font><p><a href="/topical/e/eliam.htm"><span class="l">Eliam (2 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> 2 Samuel 23:34 Eliphelet the son of <b>Ahasbai</b>, the son of the Maacathite, Eliam the<br> son of Ahithophel the Gilonite, (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV). <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/e/eliam.htm - 7k</font><p><a href="/topical/e/eliph'elet.htm"><span class="l">Eliph'elet (8 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> (See RSV). 2 Samuel 23:34 Eliphelet the son of <b>Ahasbai</b>, the son of the Maacathite,<br> Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite; (See RSV). <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/e/eliph'elet.htm - 8k</font><p><a href="/topical/e/eliphelet.htm"><span class="l">Eliphelet (8 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> 2 Samuel 23:34 Eliphelet the son of <b>Ahasbai</b>, the son of the Maacathite, Eliam the<br> son of Ahithophel the Gilonite, (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV). <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/e/eliphelet.htm - 9k</font><p><a href="/topical/e/eli'am.htm"><span class="l">Eli'am (2 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> 2 Samuel 23:34 Eliphelet the son of <b>Ahasbai</b>, the son of the Maacathite, Eliam the<br> son of Ahithophel the Gilonite; (See RSV). Eliam, Eli'am. Eliaonias . <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/e/eli'am.htm - 6k</font><p><a name="res" id="res"></a><div class="vheading2">Resources</div><a href="https://www.gotquestions.org/mighty-men-David.html">Who were the mighty men of David? | GotQuestions.org</a><br /><br /><a href="/concordance/">Bible Concordance</a> • <a href="/dictionary/">Bible Dictionary</a> • <a href="/encyclopedia/">Bible Encyclopedia</a> • <a href="/topical/">Topical Bible</a> • <a href="/thesaurus/">Bible Thesuarus</a></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="cnc" id="cnc"></a><div class="vheading2">Concordance</div><span class="encheading">Ahasbai (1 Occurrence)</span><p><span class="rtext"><a href="/2_samuel/23-34.htm">2 Samuel 23:34</a></span><br />Eliphelet the son of <span class="boldtext">Ahasbai</span>, the son of the Maacathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,<br /><span class="source">(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)</span><a name="sub" id="sub"></a><div class="vheading2">Subtopics</div><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/a/ahasbai.htm">Ahasbai</a></p><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/naves/a/ahasbai--father_of_eliphelet.htm">Ahasbai: Father of Eliphelet</a></p><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/naves/a/ahasbai--ur.htm">Ahasbai: Ur</a></p><a name="rel" id="rel"></a><div class="vheading2">Related Terms</div><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/a/ahasbai.htm">Ahasbai (1 Occurrence)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/a/ahashtari.htm">Ahashtari (1 Occurrence)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/topical/naves/a/ahasai--a_grandson_of_immer.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Ahasai: A Grandson of Immer"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Ahasai: A Grandson of Immer" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/topical/a/ahas'bai.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Ahas'bai"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Ahas'bai" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div> <div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"><script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script></div></td></tr></table></div></div></div> <br /><br /> <div align="center"> <div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>