Christianity
1 Chronicles 3The House of David
Summary
1 Chronicles 3 lists the sons of David, six born in Hebron and those born during his thirty-three years in Jerusalem, including Solomon, son of Bathshua (Bathsheba). It then traces the kings of Judah from Solomon to Jeconiah and carries the royal family past the exile to Zerubbabel and several later generations. The chapter shows the Chronicler's audience that David's line survived the fall of Jerusalem.
Key verse
“And these were born unto him in Jerusalem; Shimea, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon, four, of Bathshua the daughter of Ammiel:”
1 Chronicles 3:5
Themes
- Davidic Dynasty
- Kings of Judah
- Survival after Exile
- Messianic Hope
Text
Now these were the sons of David, which were born unto him in Hebron; the firstborn Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; the second Daniel, of Abigail the Carmelitess:
The third, Absalom the son of Maachah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur: the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith:
The fifth, Shephatiah of Abital: the sixth, Ithream by Eglah his wife.
These six were born unto him in Hebron; and there he reigned seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years.
And these were born unto him in Jerusalem; Shimea, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon, four, of Bathshua the daughter of Ammiel:
Ibhar also, and Elishama, and Eliphelet,
And Nogah, and Nepheg, and Japhia,
And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphelet, nine.
These were all the sons of David, beside the sons of the concubines, and Tamar their sister.
And Solomon’s son was Rehoboam, Abia his son, Asa his son, Jehoshaphat his son,
Joram his son, Ahaziah his son, Joash his son,
Amaziah his son, Azariah his son, Jotham his son,
Ahaz his son, Hezekiah his son, Manasseh his son,
Amon his son, Josiah his son.
And the sons of Josiah were, the firstborn Johanan, the second Jehoiakim, the third Zedekiah, the fourth Shallum.
And the sons of Jehoiakim: Jeconiah his son, Zedekiah his son.
And the sons of Jeconiah; Assir, Salathiel his son,
Malchiram also, and Pedaiah, and Shenazar, Jecamiah, Hoshama, and Nedabiah.
And the sons of Pedaiah were, Zerubbabel, and Shimei: and the sons of Zerubbabel; Meshullam, and Hananiah, and Shelomith their sister:
And Hashubah, and Ohel, and Berechiah, and Hasadiah, Jushabhesed, five.
And the sons of Hananiah; Pelatiah, and Jesaiah: the sons of Rephaiah, the sons of Arnan, the sons of Obadiah, the sons of Shechaniah.
And the sons of Shechaniah; Shemaiah: and the sons of Shemaiah; Hattush, and Igeal, and Bariah, and Neariah, and Shaphat, six.
And the sons of Neariah; Elioenai, and Hezekiah, and Azrikam, three.
And the sons of Elioenai were, Hodaiah, and Eliashib, and Pelaiah, and Akkub, and Johanan, and Dalaiah, and Anani, seven.
Text: King James Version (1611/1769), public domain.
Across traditions
Christianity
2 Samuel 3: Sons Born in Hebron2 Samuel 3:2 to 5 gives the six Hebron sons, though it names Abigail's son Chileab where Chronicles has Daniel.
Christianity
Matthew 1: Jechonias to ZorobabelMatthew carries the royal line through Jechonias and Salathiel to Zorobabel, the names Chronicles gives as Jeconiah, Salathiel and Zerubbabel.
Questions about 1 Chronicles 3
Who was Zerubbabel's father?
1 Chronicles 3:19 names Pedaiah as Zerubbabel's father, while Ezra 3:2 and Haggai 1:1 call him son of Shealtiel. Interpreters suggest Shealtiel died childless and a levirate marriage, or a legal rather than biological sonship, explains the difference.
Is Bathshua the same as Bathsheba?
Most interpreters take Bathshua daughter of Ammiel (3:5) as a variant spelling of Bathsheba, whose father is called Eliam in 2 Samuel 11:3.