The big picture
David, the king named in Judah’s family line, now receives a fuller family record. Judah is the tribe from which his royal house comes. His children are grouped by Hebron and Jerusalem, the two cities where he ruled. The list then follows Solomon, one of his sons, through later rulers. It continues into further generations of the family. The chapter offers names and relationships rather than an account of each person’s deeds.
In this chapter
- Children in Two Royal Cities 1 Chronicles 3:1-9
Six sons are born to David during his rule in Hebron.
- Solomon’s Line Leads to Later Kings 1 Chronicles 3:10-16
The line now passes from Solomon to Rehoboam and onward through sons.
- The Family List Continues 1 Chronicles 3:17-24
Jeconiah’s descendants lead into further branches of David’s family.
Central truth
David’s family record follows his children and later generations, keeping the royal line visible through many changes.
Scripture beside the summary
1 Chronicles · King James Version · 241 Chronicles 3:1-9
Children in Two Royal Cities
Six sons are born to David during his rule in Hebron. Their mothers are named, including Maachah, the daughter of a king. The account gives the length of his reign there and in Jerusalem. It then names children born in Jerusalem. Four are sons of Bath-shua, including Solomon, followed by nine more sons. Other sons born to concubines, partners with lower standing than wives, are not listed individually. Tamar is named as their sister. The record groups the family by birthplaces and mothers instead of treating every child as one undivided line.
In everyday life
A registrar opens two birth registers in a town records room. She groups one father’s children under the towns where the family lived. Different mothers appear beside their children, and a daughter’s name is added with her brothers. The arrangement prevents separate households from being confused. David’s two cities also mark stages of his rule as king.
Notice
1 Chronicles 3:4 The reign lengths appear between the two groups of children. They help connect the family list with David’s years in each royal city.
1 Chronicles 3:1-9
King James Version1Now 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:
2The third, Absalom the son of Maachah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur: the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith:
3The fifth, Shephatiah of Abital: the sixth, Ithream by Eglah his wife.
4These 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.
5And these were born unto him in Jerusalem; Shimea, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon, four, of Bath-shua the daughter of Ammiel:
6Ibhar also, and Elishama, and Eliphelet,
7And Nogah, and Nepheg, and Japhia,
8And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphelet, nine.
9These were all the sons of David, beside the sons of the concubines, and Tamar their sister.
1 Chronicles 3:10-16
Solomon’s Line Leads to Later Kings
The line now passes from Solomon to Rehoboam and onward through sons. It names rulers known from Judah’s royal family, including Hezekiah and Josiah. Each link is brief, with no judgement on the person’s reign. At Josiah the record widens to name four sons in order. It then follows Jehoiakim’s branch through Jeconiah and Zedekiah. The list keeps the line clear. It does not retell each reign. Very different lives thus share the same short form. One son follows his father in the line.
In everyday life
A heraldic artist draws a royal family tree on a panel in a castle gatehouse. She uses the same thin line for an admired ruler and a disgraced one. The labels show who descends from whom, while separate panels explain their conduct. A family link does not itself offer praise. The biblical list belongs within Israel’s history, not a temporary display.
Notice
1 Chronicles 3:15 Josiah’s sons receive their order of birth. The list is explaining family relationships here, so their positions should not be read as a sequence of reigns.
1 Chronicles 3:10-16
King James Version10And Solomon’s son was Rehoboam, Abia his son, Asa his son, Jehoshaphat his son,
11Joram his son, Ahaziah his son, Joash his son,
12Amaziah his son, Azariah his son, Jotham his son,
13Ahaz his son, Hezekiah his son, Manasseh his son,
14Amon his son, Josiah his son.
15And the sons of Josiah were, the firstborn Johanan, the second Jehoiakim, the third Zedekiah, the fourth Shallum.
16And the sons of Jehoiakim: Jeconiah his son, Zedekiah his son.
1 Chronicles 3:17-24
The Family List Continues
Jeconiah’s descendants lead into further branches of David’s family. Pedaiah’s sons include Zerubbabel and Shimei. Zerubbabel’s children are named, with Shelomith identified as their sister. More groups follow through Hananiah, Shechaniah, and Neariah. The final entry names seven sons of Elioenai. The account gives few events or roles to explain these later people. Their names still carry the line onward. The family record does not stop after the familiar kings; it preserves descendants whose place is given mainly through their links to parents, siblings, and children.
In everyday life
A granddaughter turns over a faded family portrait beside her grandfather’s care-home bed. The famous great-grandparent fills the picture. She adds new births on its back. Several have no public title or achievement to place beside them. She records them because they belong to the family. David’s continuing line has a place in this book wider than private remembrance.
Notice
1 Chronicles 3:19 Shelomith is named as a sister among Zerubbabel’s children. Her presence keeps the family list from becoming only a chain of male descendants.
1 Chronicles 3:17-24
King James Version17And the sons of Jeconiah; Assir, Salathiel his son,
18Malchiram also, and Pedaiah, and Shenazar, Jecamiah, Hoshama, and Nedabiah.
19And the sons of Pedaiah were, Zerubbabel, and Shimei: and the sons of Zerubbabel; Meshullam, and Hananiah, and Shelomith their sister:
20And Hashubah, and Ohel, and Berechiah, and Hasadiah, Jushab-hesed, five.
21And the sons of Hananiah; Pelatiah, and Jesaiah: the sons of Rephaiah, the sons of Arnan, the sons of Obadiah, the sons of Shechaniah.
22And the sons of Shechaniah; Shemaiah: and the sons of Shemaiah; Hattush, and Igeal, and Bariah, and Neariah, and Shaphat, six.
23And the sons of Neariah; Elioenai, and Hezekiah, and Azrikam, three.
24And the sons of Elioenai were, Hodaiah, and Eliashib, and Pelaiah, and Akkub, and Johanan, and Dalaiah, and Anani, seven.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
1 Chronicles 3:1 begins with “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…”
Where the chapter turns
1 Chronicles 3:1 forms a natural hinge: “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…”
The final note
1 Chronicles 3:24 leaves the reader with “And the sons of Elioenai were, Hodaiah, and Eliashib, and Pelaiah, and Akkub, and Johanan, and Dalaiah, and Anani, seven.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words sons, born, daughter, David, Elioenai, Eliphelet help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
Music and video connected to the passage
Related media appears when its Scripture reference overlaps this study. Music and video can illuminate a theme while the biblical text remains the foundation.
