Zabad is a name carried by several different men, and the Bible gives each only a line. In 2 Chronicles 24:26 one of them, the son of an Ammonite woman named Shimeath, is among the conspirators who struck down King Joash. The other Zabads are in Ezra 10, which lists men of Zattu, Hashum and Nebo who had married foreign wives and promised to put them away. That is a painful list, and Christians read it with different feelings. The name itself is a plain reminder that scripture counts ordinary people, good and bad, one by one.
4 verses
And these are they that conspired against him; Zabad the son of Shimeath an Ammonitess, and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith a Moabitess.
And of the sons of Zattu; Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, and Jeremoth, and Zabad, and Aziza.
Of the sons of Hashum; Mattenai, Mattathah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei.
Of the sons of Nebo; Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jadau, and Joel, Benaiah.
Matthew George Easton, 1897
Gift. (1.) One of David’s valiant men (1 Chr. 11:41), the descendant of Ahlai, of the “children of Sheshan” (2:31).
(2.) A descendant of Tahath (7:21).
(3.) The son of Shemath. He conspired against Joash, king of Judah, and slew him (2 Chr. 24:25, 26). He is called also Jozachar (2 Kings 12:21).
(4.) Ezra 10:27.
(5.) Ezra 10:33.
(6.) Ezra 10:43.
William Smith, 1884
(gift).
(1.) Son of Nathan son of Attai, son of Ahlai Sheshan’s daughter, (1 Chronicles 2:31-37) and hence called son of Ahlai. (1 Chronicles 11:41) (B.C. 1046.) He was one of David’s mighty men but none of his deeds have been recorded. The chief interest connected with him is in his genealogy, which is of considerable importance in a chronological point of view.
(2.) An Ephraimite, if the text of (1 Chronicles 7:21) Isa correct.
(3.) Son of Shimeath, an Ammonitess; an assassin who, with Jehozabad, slew King Joash, according to (2 Chronicles 24:26) (B.C. 840); but in (2 Kings 12:21) his name is written, probably more correctly, JOZACHAR.
(4.) A layman of Israel, of the sons of Zattu, who put away his foreign wife at Ezra’s command. (Ezra 10:27) (B.C. 458.)
(5.) One of the descendants of Hashum who had married a foreign wife after the captivity. (Ezra 10:33) (B.C. 458.)
(6.) One of the sons of Nebo whose name is mentioned under the same circumstances as the two preceding. (Ezra 10:43)