Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Chronicles 11:20

"And Abishai, the brother of Joab, he was chief of the three; for he lifted up his spear against three hundred and slew them, and had a name among the three." — 1 Chronicles 11:20 (ASV)

Abishai the brother of Joab. —Heb., Abshai, but in Samuel, Abishai. (Compare Abram and Abiram.) Samuel adds “son of Zeruiah” after Joab. (Compare 1 Chronicles 2:16 and 1 Chronicles 18:12; 1 Chronicles 19:11 and following for other deeds of Abishai.)

He was chief of the three. —Apparently the second triad, one of whose famous exploits has just been related (1 Chronicles 11:15–19). The Hebrew text of Samuel seems to read “knights,” but some manuscripts, the Hebrew margin, and all the versions, agree with Chronicles.

For lifting up ... —Literally, and he had brandished his spear over three hundred slain. The exploit of Jashobeam (1 Chronicles 11:11).

And had a name among the three. —That is, among the second triad, of which he was captain.