Zeruiah צְרוּיָה
Sister of David; mother of Joab, Abishai, and Asahel
Who is Zeruiah in the Bible?
Zeruiah was the sister of King David and the mother of three prominent military leaders: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel (1 Chronicles 2:16). Her sons served as among David's most trusted commanders, with Joab notably serving as the commander of David's army (2 Samuel 8:16). Though Zeruiah herself appears only briefly in biblical narratives, she is consistently mentioned as the mother of her sons, highlighting her significance in one of Israel's most important royal families. Her sons were fiercely loyal to David and played crucial roles in his military campaigns and political consolidation, though their sometimes violent actions occasionally created tension with the king (1 Kings 2:5).
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
"And David asked Ahimelech the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, “Who will go down with me to Saul in the camp?” “I will go with you,” answered Abishai."
2 Samuel 5 verses
- 2 Samuel 2:13
"So Joab son of Zeruiah and the servants of David marched out and met them by the pool of Gibeon. And the two groups took up positions on opposite sides of the pool."
- 2 Samuel 2:18
"The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Now Asahel was fleet of foot like a wild gazelle,"
- 2 Samuel 3:39
"And I am weak this day, though anointed as king, and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too fierce for me. May the LORD repay the evildoer according to his evil!”"
- 2 Samuel 8:16
"Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder;"
- 2 Samuel 14:1
"Now Joab son of Zeruiah perceived that the king’s heart longed for Absalom."
1 Kings 3 verses
- 1 Kings 1:7
"So Adonijah conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, who supported him."
- 1 Kings 2:5
"Moreover, you know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me—what he did to Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether, the two commanders of the armies of Israel. He killed them in peacetime to avenge the blood of war. He stained with the blood of war the belt around his waist and the..."
- 1 Kings 2:22
"King Solomon answered his mother, “Why do you request Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Since he is my older brother, you might as well request the kingdom for him and for Abiathar the priest and for Joab son of Zeruiah!”"
1 Chronicles 5 verses
- 1 Chronicles 2:16
"Their sisters were Zeruiah and Abigail. And the three sons of Zeruiah were Abishai, Joab, and Asahel."
- 1 Chronicles 11:6
"Now David had said, “Whoever is the first to strike down a Jebusite will become chief commander.” And Joab son of Zeruiah went up first, and he became the chief."
- 1 Chronicles 11:39
"Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah,"
- 1 Chronicles 18:12
"Moreover, Abishai son of Zeruiah struck down eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt."
- 1 Chronicles 18:15
"Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder;"
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | צְרוּיָה |
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