Bible Dictionaries
Zeruiah

Holman Bible Dictionary

(zeh ruh i' uh) Personal name meaning, “perfumed with mastix” or “bleed.” Mother of three of David's generals, Joab, Abishai, and Asahel (2 Samuel 2:18 ). According to 1 Chronicles 2:16 , Zeruiah was David's (half) sister. According to 2 Samuel 17:25 , her sister, Abigail, was the (grand)daughter of Nahash rather than of Jesse, David's father. Kinship with David accounts for the positions of trust enjoyed by Zeruiah's sons.