1 Samuel 26:6

Ahimelech the Hittite. Though a portion of this once powerful people ( Genesis 15:20 ; 1:26 ) was reduced to the position of bondmen ( 1 Kings 9:20 ), yet others had retained their independence, and their kings even are spoken of ( ibid. 10:29; 2 Kings 7:6 ). As Ahimelech is mentioned before Abishai, he must have held an honourable place with. David, as did subsequently another Hittite, Uriah ( 2 Samuel 11:3 ). Abishai the son of Zeruiah. Zeruiah is described in 1 Chronicles 2:16 as sister to Jesse's sons, but apparently only by adoption, as both she and Abigail seem to have been daughters of the king of Ammon ( 2 Samuel 17:25 ), whence probably the absence of any direct reference to their father. Abishai, who was probably about David's age, and his two brothers were high in rank among David's heroes ( 1 Chronicles 11:6 , 1 Chronicles 11:20 , 1 Chronicles 11:26 ), and apparently he was one of the three captains who, when David was in the cave of Adullam, broke through the host of the Philistines to fetch him water from the well of Bethlehem. Who will go down? It is evident that David and his men remained upon the mountains, which extend from Maon far to the southwest. Saul's camp, being "by the way," i.e. near the road, would be on the lower ground. David having personally examined it, and seen that the watches were ill kept, asks which of the two will accompany him for the more hazardous enterprise of penetrating into it. Ahimelech seems prudently to have declined, but Abishai at once offers his services.