Deeper Commentary
1Ch 3:1 Now these were the sons of David, who were born to him in
Hebron: the firstborn, Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; the second,
Daniel, of Abigail the Carmelitess-
"Daniel", 'God is judge', is an understandable name for David to choose
at a time when he was under persecution from Saul and opposition from the
house of Saul to whom he had been so gracious. He was trying to learn to
leave judgment to God, although his imprecatory Psalms seem to struggle at
leaving things at that.
1Ch 3:2 the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king
of Geshur; the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith-
We note David early in his reign had relations with a Gentile woman,
daughter of a Gentile king. It is unsurprising that Solomon repeated this
error, also early in his reign, by marrying Pharaoh's daughter. Whilst
spirituality isn't genetic, it is true that unspiritual attitudes pass on
very easily from fathers to sons.
1Ch 3:3 the fifth, Shephatiah of Abital; the sixth, Ithream by Eglah his
wife-
Solomon wished to imitate his father David in every sense;
his own real personality only really came out in the
Ecclesiastes years, when he took to drink, materialism, women and
idolatry. It took the influence of his parents
many years to wear off. David had weaknesses for
horses (2 Sam. 8:4) and many wives; and Solomon followed in
these steps too. Note that David had six sons in seven years
by six different women, including Gentiles (1 Chron. 3:3). And in addition
to these, David had children by “the concubines” (1 Chron. 3:9). Doubtless
Solomon reasoned, albeit deep within his
psyche, that such behaviour was legitimate
because David his father had done it. David seems to
have over interpreted the promises made to him
about Solomon and the temple, and assumed that his
interpretation was certainly correct. And Solomon did exactly the same.
The weaknesses of the parents all too easily are repeated by the children
to an even greater extent.
1Ch 3:4 Six were born to him in Hebron; and there he reigned seven years
and six months. In Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years-
David was 30 when he became king (2 Sam. 5:4), meaning he lived 70
years. But we must be aware that time periods are often used symbolically
or generally. For David, Saul and Solomon are all said to have reigned 40
years. The period of 40 years assigned to Absalom in 2 Sam. 15:7 has to be
read less than literally.
1Ch 3:5 These were born to him in Jerusalem: Shimea, Shobab, Nathan and
Solomon, four, of Bathshua the daughter of Ammiel-
This could imply that Bathsheba had no other children before those she
had by David. This means that she may have been barren until that point;
her conception was certainly brought about by God. Was it that they would
both have been aware of the unlikelihood of her bearing children, and
therefore perhaps more inclined to take a chance?
1Ch 3:6 and Ibhar, Elishama, Eliphelet-
Eliphelet, "God of deliverance", was to celebrate God's deliverance
of David. But he died in childhood (see on :8), perhaps to remind David
that God doesn't always deliver as we expect.
1Ch 3:7 Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia-
1Ch 3:8 Elishama, Eliada and Eliphelet, nine-
The two sons named Eliphelet (:6) presumably means that one died and
was replaced by another son of the same name.
1Ch 3:9 All these were the sons of David, besides the sons of the
concubines; and Tamar was their sister-
See on :3. The repeated reference to the possession of concubines can
be read as an indication of Israel's weakness in abandoning the ideal
standards of God regarding marriage. Yet we read that even David had
concubines- as if to show the extent of Israel's weakness in the area of
marriage.
1Ch 3:10 Solomon’s son was Rehoboam, Abijah his son, Asa his son,
Jehoshaphat his son-
The kings of Judah all have, for the most part, the 'Yah' prefix or
suffix. Rehoboam stands out as an exception, as does Manasseh and Amon.
1Ch 3:11 Joram his son, Ahaziah his son, Joash his son-
Ahaziah is Jehoahaz (2 Chron. 21:17), Azariah (2 Chron. 22:6) and
Ahaziah (1 Chron. 3:11); a reminder that people carried multiple names,
which explains many of the so called contradictions in the genealogies.
1Ch 3:12 Amaziah his son, Azariah his son, Jotham his son-
Azariah is usually called Uzziah.
1Ch 3:13 Ahaz his son, Hezekiah his son, Manasseh his son-
This is a parade example of how a bad king [Ahaz] has a good son
[Hezekiah] who has a bad son [Manasseh]. One thing we learn from these
genealogies is that spirituality is not genetic. Faith cannot be passed
on, in the sense; but each must forge their own unique, individual
relationship with the Father, just as today.
1Ch 3:14 Amon his son, Josiah his son-
As noted on :13, we have another example of a bad king having a good
son. "Christianity" in its religious sense seems to be generally passed on
from parents to children, but we learn from the genealogies that true
spirituality cannot be passed on. It has to be personally forged.
1Ch 3:15 The sons of Josiah: the firstborn Johanan, the second Jehoiakim,
the third Zedekiah, the fourth Shallum-
This is a list of the kings of Judah, so we wonder why Johanan is
mentioned when he was never king.
Shallum is also known as Jehoahaz (2 Chron. 36:1 cp. Jer. 22:11).
1Ch 3:16 The sons of Jehoiakim: Jeconiah his son, Zedekiah his son-
"His son" may also mean 'his heir' (see on :17), because Zedekiah was
not son but uncle to Jeconiah. "Son" has a wide range of meaning in
Hebrew. Jeconiah of 1 Chron. 3:16 is Coniah in Jer. 22:14, and Jehoiachin
in 2 Chron. 36:8,9; 2 Kings 24:6. A reminder that people carried multiple
names, explaining some of the apparent contradictions in the genealogies.
1Ch 3:17 The sons of Jeconiah the captive: Shealtiel his son-
"The captive" could be translated as AV as the name of another son,
"Assir". Jeconiah didn't have sons in the sense that he had no son to
succeed him on the throne (Jer. 22:27,30), a reminder that "sons" doesn't
always mean literal male children, but descendants who inherited the
throne. See on :16.
1Ch 3:18 and Malchiram, and Pedaiah, and Shenazzar, Jekamiah, Hoshama, and
Nedabiah-
It is unclear whose sons these were (cp. 2 Kings 24;12,15; Jer.
22:30).
1Ch 3:19 The sons of Pedaiah: Zerubbabel, and Shimei. The sons of
Zerubbabel: Meshullam, and Hananiah; and Shelomith was their sister-
In Ezra 7, 15 names are listed between Ezra and Aaron- covering about
1000 years. Clearly many generations were omitted. We note there are 26
names listed between Zerubbabel (a generation or two before Ezra) and
Nashon a contemporary of Aaron, in 1 Chron. 2:10-15; 3:1-19). Some details
of the omitted generations are found in 1 Chron. 9:10,11; Neh. 11:11.
Zerubbabel was son of Shealtiel (Ezra 3:2; Hag. 1:1,2; Lk. 3:27-31). But it seems he was grandson of Pedaiah on his mother's side.
1Ch 3:20 and Hashubah, Ohel, Berechiah, Hasadiah and Jushab Hesed, five-
This separate group of sons may be because they were from a different
mother. Jushab-hesed means "Grace is returned", as if reflecting the
restoration, by grace.
1Ch 3:21 The sons of Hananiah: Pelatiah and Jeshaiah; the sons of
Rephaiah, the sons of Arnan, the sons of Obadiah, the sons of Shecaniah-
The LXX is very different in :19-24, giving six generations between
Hananiah and Shemaiah, and accounting for
eleven generations from Zerubbabel in this genealogy.
1Ch 3:22 The sons of Shecaniah: Shemaiah. The sons of Shemaiah: Hattush,
Igal, Bariah, Neariah and Shaphat, six-
This would make Hattush the great-great-grandson of Zerubbabel. He
returned only at the time of Ezra 8:3, so it seems his family had not
returned with Zerubbabel. Shemaiah is the one of Neh. 3:29. He must have
been an old man, as his son Hattush had returned to Jerusalem with Ezra
(Ezra 8:2,3); again we get the impression of those not naturally adequate
to the work still doing it (goldsmiths, perfumers, daughters,
administrators and now old men). Whilst we are given talents which we
should use in God's service, it is also true that His service is a going
against the grain of our natural desires and not a mere reinforcement of
our natural aptitudes and personalities; ultimately, we are called to
carry the cross of the Lord Jesus.
1Ch 3:23 The sons of Neariah: Elioenai, Hizkiah and Azrikam, three-
Elioenai means “My eyes are towards Jehovah”, implying the looking
for the restoration.
1Ch 3:24 The sons of Elioenai: Hodaviah, Eliashib, Pelaiah,
Akkub,
Johanan, Delaiah and Anani, seven-
Hodaviah (1 Chron. 3:24) may be Abiud (Mt. 1:13) or Juda (Lk. 3:26), (Ezra
3:9; Neh. 11:9; cp. Ezra 2:40; 1 Chron. 9:7).
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