Then answered David, and spake to Ahimelech the Hittite and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah and brother to Joab, saying, "Who will go down with me to Saul, to the host?" Abishai said, "I will go down with thee."

And Joab the son of Zeruiah and the servants of David went out and met them by the Pool of Gibeon. And they sat down, the one part on the one side the pool and the other on the other side.

And there was three sons of Zeruiah there: Joab, Abishai and Asahel - which Asahel was as swift of foot as a wild roe -

And I am this day tender, though I be anointed king. And these men the sons of Zeruiah be too strong for me to rule. But the LORD reward the doer of evil, according to his wickedness."

And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host, and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder.

When Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's heart was turned again to Absalom,

Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, "Why doth this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go and take off the head of him."

And the king said, "What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? Let him curse: for the LORD hath bid him curse David. And who dare presume to say wherefore doth he so?"

And Absalom made Amasa captain of the host in the stead of Joab, which Amasa was a man's son named Ithra a Jezreelite that went into Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister to Zeruiah, Joab's mother.

And he sent one part of them with Joab, and another part with Abishai the son of Zeruiah Joab's brother, and the third part with Ittai the Gittite. And the king said unto the people, "Shall I go with you?"

But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, "Shall Shimei not die for that cause: which cursed the LORD's anointed?"

And the king said, "What matter is between you and me ye sons of Zeruiah, that ye should this day be adversaries unto me? There shall no man die this day in Israel: for I know that I am this day king over Israel."

But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succoured him and smote the Philistine and killed him. Then the servants of David sware unto him, saying, "Thou shalt go no more out with us to battle, that the light of Israel be not put out."

Then Abishai the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah: he was a captain over the three, and he lifted up his spear against three hundred and slew them, and was named with the three.

Zelec an Ammonite; Naharai a Beerothite, the Harness bearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah;

And he communed with Joab the son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest. And they helped Adonijah.

Moreover thou knowest how Joab the son of Zeruiah hath served me, and what he hath done to the two captains of the hosts of Israel - unto Abner the son of Ner, and unto Amasa the son of Jether - how he slew them and shed the blood of war in time of peace, and put the blood of war upon his girdle that was about his loins and in his shoes that were on his feet.

And king Solomon answered and said unto his mother, "Why dost thou ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? But rather ask for him the kingdom, seeing he is mine elder brother! Even for him ask it; and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah."

Whose sisters were Zeruiah and Abigail. The sons of Zeruiah were Abishai, Joab and Asahel, three.

Then said David, "Whosoever smite the Jebusites first, shall be the principal captain and a lord." And Joab the son of Zeruiah went first up, and was therefore the chief captain.

Zelek an Ammonite and Naharai a Beerothite, the bearer of the Harness of Joab the son of Zeruiah;

And Abishai the son of Zeruiah slew of the Edomites in the salt valley eighteen thousand,

And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host, and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud recorder,

and over all that Samuel the seer and Saul the son of Kish, and Abner the son of Ner, and Joab the son of Zeruiah had dedicated. All that was dedicated, was under the hand of Shelomoth and of his brethren.

And Joab the son of Zeruiah began to number. And though he finished it not, yet there fell wrath for that upon Israel. And therefore the number was not put in the chronicles of king David.