צְרוּיָה

1 Samuel 26:6 צְרוּיָ֜ה Zeruiah

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 2:13 צְרוּיָ֜ה Zeruiah

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 צְרוּיָ֔ה Zeruiah

The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Now Asahel was fleet of foot like a wild gazelle,

Here: David's sister (1 Chr 2:16). Naming the brothers after her ties them directly to David's family: they are his nephews. Their father is never named, though 2:32 mentions his tomb in Bethlehem.

2 Samuel 3:39 צְרוּיָ֖ה Zeruiah

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!”

Here: David's sister (1 Chronicles 2:16), so these men are his nephews. Being named after their mother is unusual. Their family tie to the king is part of why he can't easily get rid of them.

2 Samuel 8:16 צְרוּיָ֖ה Zeruiah

Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder;

2 Samuel 14:1 צְרֻיָ֑ה Zeruiah

Now Joab son of Zeruiah perceived that the king’s heart longed for Absalom.

2 Samuel 16:9 צְרוּיָה֙ Zeruiah

Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head!”

2 Samuel 16:10 צְרֻיָ֑ה Zeruiah

But the king replied, “What have I to do with you, O sons of Zeruiah? If he curses me because the LORD told him, ‘Curse David,’ who can ask, ‘Why did you do this?’”

Here: David's sister (1 Chronicles 2:16), mother of Joab, Abishai and Asahel. The brothers are regularly named after their mother, not their father. In David's mouth 'sons of Zeruiah' has become a label for hard, quick-to-kill men (compare 2 Samuel 3:39).

2 Samuel 17:25 צְרוּיָ֖ה Zeruiah

Absalom had appointed Amasa over the army in place of Joab. Amasa was the son of a man named Ithra, the Ishmaelite who had married Abigail, the daughter of Nahash and sister of Zeruiah the mother of Joab.

2 Samuel 18:2 צְרוּיָה֙ Zeruiah

He sent out the troops, a third under Joab, a third under Joab’s brother Abishai son of Zeruiah, and a third under Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the troops, “I will surely march out with you as well.”

2 Samuel 19:21 צְרוּיָה֙ Zeruiah

But Abishai son of Zeruiah said, “Shouldn’t Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD’s anointed?”

2 Samuel 19:22 צְרוּיָ֔ה Zeruiah

And David replied, “Sons of Zeruiah, what have I to do with you, that you should be my adversaries today? Should any man be put to death in Israel today? Am I not indeed aware that today I am king over Israel?”

2 Samuel 21:17 צְרוּיָ֔ה Zeruiah

But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to his aid, struck the Philistine, and killed him. Then David’s men swore to him, “You must never again go out with us to battle, so that the lamp of Israel may not be extinguished.”

2 Samuel 23:18 צְרוּיָ֗ה Zeruiah

Now Abishai, the brother of Joab and son of Zeruiah, was chief of the Three, and he wielded his spear against three hundred men, killed them, and won a name along with the Three.

2 Samuel 23:37 צְרֻיָֽה׃ ס Zeruiah

Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah,

1 Kings 1:7 צְרוּיָ֔ה Zeruiah

So Adonijah conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, who supported him.

Here: Zeruiah was David's sister (1 Chronicles 2:16). Joab is named after his mother, which is unusual, probably because her link to David mattered. The phrase "sons of Zeruiah" also carries a history: it is how David voiced his frustration with Joab and Abishai's ruthlessness (2 Samuel 3:39; 16:10; 19:22).

1 Kings 2:5 צְרוּיָ֗ה Zeruiah

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 sandals on his feet.

Here: David's sister (1 Chr 2:16). Joab is unusually named after his mother. David had complained before that "these sons of Zeruiah are too hard for me" (2 Sam 3:39), and the name may carry that weariness here.

1 Kings 2:22 צְרוּיָֽה׃ פ Zeruiah

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 2:16 צְרוּיָ֣ה צְרוּיָ֗ה Zeruiah

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

Here: A woman's name. Its meaning is uncertain; it is often linked to tsori, the 'balm' or fragrant resin of Gilead. She is named first, probably because she was the older sister and because her sons were the famous ones.

1 Chronicles 11:6 צְרוּיָ֖ה Zeruiah

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 צְרוּיָֽה׃ ס Zeruiah

Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah,

1 Chronicles 18:12 צְרוּיָ֗ה Zeruiah

Moreover, Abishai son of Zeruiah struck down eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

1 Chronicles 18:15 צְרוּיָ֖ה Zeruiah

Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder;

1 Chronicles 26:28 צְרוּיָ֑ה Zeruiah

Everything that had been dedicated by Samuel the seer, Saul son of Kish, Abner son of Ner, and Joab son of Zeruiah, along with everything else that was dedicated, was under the care of Shelomith and his brothers.

1 Chronicles 27:24 צְרוּיָ֜ה Zeruiah

Joab son of Zeruiah began to count the men but did not finish. For because of this census wrath came upon Israel, and the number was not entered in the Book of the Chronicles of King David.