Zeruiah צְרוּיָה
Sister of David; mother of Joab, Abishai, and Asahel
Biography
Zeruiah was the sister of King David and the mother of three of his most prominent military leaders: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Her sons played significant roles throughout David's reign, both in military campaigns and in political matters. Joab served as the commander of David's army, while Abishai and Asahel were also known for their bravery and skill in battle. Zeruiah's sons were fiercely loyal to David, though their actions sometimes brought them into conflict with the king. For example, Joab murdered Abner and Amasa, two of David's rivals, without the king's consent. Despite these tensions, David recognized the importance of Zeruiah's sons in establishing and maintaining his kingdom. The fact that Zeruiah is consistently mentioned as their mother highlights her significance in the family and her influence on her sons' roles in David's court.
Family
Parents
Siblings
- David Tribe of JudahKing of JudahAnointed king of Israel, ancestor of Jesus ChristView full profile →
- Eliab Tribe of JudahDavid's brotherEldest brother of King DavidView full profile →
- Abinadab Tribe of JudahDavid's brotherSon of Jesse, brother of DavidView full profile →
- Nethanel Tribe of JudahDavid's brotherBrother of DavidView full profile →
- Raddai Tribe of JudahDavid's brotherOne of David's brothers, son of JesseView full profile →
- Ozem Tribe of JudahDavid's brotherBrother of DavidView full profile →
- Elihu Tribe of JudahDavid's brotherLeader of the tribe of Judah.View full profile →
- Abigail FemaleDavid's wifeWife of Nabal, later married DavidView full profile →
- Shimeah Tribe of BenjaminSaul's familySon of Mikloth and nephew of Ner in Benjamin's genealogy.View full profile →
Offspring
- Abishai Tribe of JudahDavid's compatriotDavid's nephew, one of his mighty men and commandersView full profile →
- Joab Tribe of JudahSon of SeraiahSon of Seraiah, founder of Ge-harashimView full profile →
- Asahel Tribe of JudahDavid's compatriotSon of Zeruiah, brother of Joab, killed by AbnerView full profile →
In Scripture
4 biblical books1 Samuel 1 verse
- 1 Samuel 26:6
"Then David answered and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother of Joab, saying, “Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp?” Abishai said, “I will go down with you.”"
2 Samuel 5 verses
- 2 Samuel 2:13
"Joab the son of Zeruiah and David’s servants went out, and met them by the pool of Gibeon; and they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side of the pool."
- 2 Samuel 2:18
"The three sons of Zeruiah were there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild gazelle."
- 2 Samuel 3:39
"I am weak today, though anointed king. These men, the sons of Zeruiah are too hard for me. May Yahweh reward the evildoer according to his wickedness.”"
- 2 Samuel 8:16
"Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army, Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder,"
- 2 Samuel 14:1
"Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king’s heart was toward Absalom."
1 Kings 3 verses
- 1 Kings 1:7
"He conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest; and they followed Adonijah and helped him."
- 1 Kings 2:5
"“Moreover you know also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, even what he did to the two captains of the armies of Israel, to Abner the son of Ner, and to Amasa the son of Jether, whom he killed, and shed the blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war on his sash that..."
- 1 Kings 2:22
"King Solomon answered his mother, “Why do you ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Ask for him the kingdom also; for he is my elder brother; even for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah.”"
1 Chronicles 5 verses
- 1 Chronicles 2:16
"and their sisters were Zeruiah and Abigail. The sons of Zeruiah: Abishai, Joab, and Asahel, three."
- 1 Chronicles 11:6
"David said, “Whoever strikes the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain.” Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first, and was made chief."
- 1 Chronicles 11:39
"Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Berothite, the armor bearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah,"
- 1 Chronicles 18:12
"Moreover Abishai the son of Zeruiah struck eighteen thousand of the Edomites in the Valley of Salt."
- 1 Chronicles 18:15
"Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder;"
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Strong's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | צְרוּיָה | H6870G |
Zeruiah
17:25; 1Ch 2:16, and elsewhere where the names Joab, Abishai, occur. According to 1Ch 2:16 a sister of David and mother of Joab, Abishai and Asahel, the two former being always referred to as sons of Zeruiah. This latter fact is explained by some as pointing to a type of marriage by which the children belonged to their mother's clan (compare Abimelech, Jud 8:31; 9:1 ff); by others as being due to her husband's early death; and again as a proof of the mother in this case being the stronger personality. Either of the last two reasons may be the correct one, and plenty of parallels from the village names of boys today can be produced to illustrate both explanations. According to 2Sa 2:32, her husband was buried at Bethlehem. In 2Sa 17:25, "Abigal the daughter of Nahash" is said to be her sister.
See ABIGAIL.
David Francis Roberts
ze'-tham (zetham, meaning unknown): A Gershonite Levite (1Ch 23:8; 26:22). In the second passage Curtis holds that "the sons of Jehieli" is a g