Nitzevet

Nitzevet (Nzb'th) was an Israelite woman who was the mother of David according to the Talmud,^[1] but she is not named in the Bible. She was an ancestress of the Kings of Judah.

Family

A depiction of David with a harp from the 11th century, the Gospel Book in National and University Library in Zagreb

Nitzevet’s father was named Adael or Edal.^[2] She married a man called Jesse and their children were:

• Eliab, who was very tall
• Abinadab^[3]
• Shimma
• Nethaneel
• Raddai
• Ozem ("strong")
• David
• Zeruiah – mother of Abishai, Joab and Asahel, all of whom were soldiers
• Abigail^[4]

Her famous grandson was King Solomon.

In the Bible

Although David’s mother is not named in the Bible, she is still mentioned there with her husband.

When David was worried about the safety of his parents, he went to Mizpah in Moab to ask permission from the king to allow his father and mother to stay under the royal protection of the king.^[5] They stayed there until David's fortunes took a turn for the better.^[6]

References

1. Nitzevet, Mother of David
2. Talmud Tractate Bava Batra 91a
3. 1 Samuel 17:13
4. 2 Samuel 17:25
5. 1 Samuel 22:3-4 "And David went thence to Mizpeh of Moab: and he said unto the king of Moab, Let my father and my mother, I pray thee, come forth, and be with you, till I know what God will do for me."
6. First & Second Samuel by James E. Smith