What is "zeruiah"

Zeruiah (צרויה, sometime transliterated Tzruya or Zeruya) is a figure in the Hebrew Bible. She was a sister of King David. According to 1 Chronicles 2:13-16 and also the Babylonian Talmud (Shabbat 55), Zeruiah was a daughter of Jesse (Sister to Abigail another of Jesse's daughter according to 2 Samuel 17:25). Zeruiah had three sons, Abishai, Joab, and Asahel, all of whom were soldiers in David's army (and also David's nephews).

Very little is told of her. However, her sons are invariably mentioned with the matronymic "son of Zeruiah", in marked contrast to most other Biblical characters (and people in many other cultures) who are known by a patronymic. This suggests that she was an exceptionally important person, though the specific circumstances are not given.

Her name is used—though not very frequently—as a female given name in contemporary Israel (see Tzruya Lahav, Zeruya Shalev).

Category:David Category:Judaism and women Category:Women in the Old Testament Category:Women in the Hebrew Bible