SARVIA (Hebr. Šērājāh, “wounded”?, “perfumed with storax”?).—Sister, or rather half-sister (cf. II Sam. 16:9; 19:21), David (v.), mentioned only as the mother of Ioab, Asael, Abisai (v.).
It is strange that these three brothers are always (about 20 times) called by their mother’s name and not, as usage required, by that of their father, who was nevertheless well known (ibid. 2:32; Flavius Josephus knows his name: Sur). Among the many hypotheses, the most plausible is that the intention was to emphasize their kinship with David.