Zeruiah

“These men the sons of Zeruiah be too hard for me,” David says of Joab and Abishai, and he was king. Zeruiah was David’s sister, and her three sons, Joab, Abishai and Asahel, serve him as fighters, loyal and fierce. Asahel was “as light of foot as a wild roe.” When Shimei cursed the king, Abishai offered to “take off his head.” David told him to leave it alone, because the LORD had permitted the curse. The whole exchange is in 2 Samuel 16:9-11.

7 verses

2 Samuel

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 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 16:11

And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him.

2 Samuel 17:25

And Absalom made Amasa captain of the host instead of Joab: which Amasa was a man's son, whose name was Ithra an Israelite, that went in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister to Zeruiah Joab's mother.

1 Chronicles

1 Chronicles 2:16

Whose sisters were Zeruiah, and Abigail. And the sons of Zeruiah; Abishai, and Joab, and Asahel, three.

From Easton's Bible Dictionary

Matthew George Easton, 1897

Stricken of the Lord, David’s sister, and the mother of Abishai, Joab, and Asahel (1 Chr. 2:16), who were the three leading heroes of David’s army, and being his nephews, they were admitted to the closest companionship with him.

From Smith's Bible Dictionary

William Smith, 1884

(balsam), the mother of the three leading heroes of David’s army --Abishai, Joah and Asahel-- known as the "sons of Zeruiah." Of Zeruiah’s husband there is no mention in the Bible. (B.C. before 1046.)