Zeruiah צְרוּיָה

Zeruiah, David's sister, was the mother of Joab, Abishai, and Asahel, who were among David's mighty men and military leaders.

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Where Zeruiah appears

2 Samuel (14), 1 Chronicles (7), 1 Kings (3), 1 Samuel (1)

Key verses

• 1 Samuel 26:6 first mention — Then answered David and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying, Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp? And Abishai said, I will go down with thee.
• 2 Samuel 2:18 — And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe.
• 2 Samuel 3:39 — And I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah be too hard for me: the LORD shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness.
• 2 Samuel 8:16 — And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder;
• 2 Samuel 16:9 — Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head.
• 2 Samuel 16:10 — And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? so let him curse, because the LORD hath said unto him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so?
• 2 Samuel 18:2 — And David sent forth a third part of the people under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said unto the people, I will surely go forth with you myself also.
• 2 Samuel 19:22 — And David said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah, that ye should this day be adversaries unto me? shall there any man be put to death this day in Israel? for do not I know that I am this day king over Israel?
• 2 Samuel 21:17 — But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succoured him, and smote the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David sware unto him, saying, Thou shalt go no more out with us to battle, that thou quench not the light of Israel.
• 1 Kings 1:7 — And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: and they following Adonijah helped him.
• 1 Kings 2:5 — Moreover thou knowest also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, and what he did to the two captains of the hosts of Israel, unto Abner the son of Ner, and unto Amasa the son of Jether, whom he slew, and shed the blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war upon his girdle that was about his loins, and in his shoes that were on his feet.
• 1 Chronicles 18:12 — Moreover Abishai the son of Zeruiah slew of the Edomites in the valley of salt eighteen thousand.

Person data: STEPBible.org TIPNR, Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0), adapted. Verse text: King James Version.