Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary
1 Chronicles 3:1

Clarke's Commentary

CHAPTER III

The children of David which were born to him in Hebron, 1-4.

Those born to him in Jerusalem, 5-9.

The regal line from Solomon, 10-24.

NOTES ON CHAP. III

Verse 1 Chronicles 3:1. The second, Daniel — In 2 Samuel 3:3, this person is called Chileab; he probably had two names. The Targum says, "The second, Daniel, who was also called Chileab, because he was in every respect like to his father." The Targumist refers here to the import of the word כלאב ke-le-ab, like to the father. Jarchi says the two names were given to this person because David, having taken Abigail immediately after the death of Nabal, it could not be ascertained whether this child were the son of David or of Nabal, therefore David called him דניאל Daniel, God is my Judge, and כלאב Chileab, he who is like to the father; probably from the striking resemblance he bore to David, his reputed father. "God is my Judge, I have not fathered another man's child; this is entirely like unto myself."

Bridgeway Bible Commentary

Descendants of Judah and Simeon (2:1-4:43)

Having listed the children of Jacob (Israel) starting with the eldest son Reuben, the writer immediately turns his attention to the tribe of Judah, the tribe that produced the dynasty of David (2:1-17). He traces the line of David first, then goes back to deal with a number of other important people in Judah and lists their descendants (18-55). On completing this, he returns to list the family of David (3:1-9), the descendants of David who reigned after him to the captivity (10-16), and further descendants who lived during the time of the captivity and later (17-24). The section concludes with a collection of miscellaneous branches from Judah’s family tree (4:1-23).

The tribe of Simeon had no tribal territory of its own, but dwelt within the territory of Judah (Joshua 19:1,Joshua 19:9). It is therefore dealt with here, immediately after the listings for Judah. Some of the Simeonites’ conquests, which are not mentioned elsewhere, are also recorded (24-43).

Coffman's Commentaries on the Bible

“Now these are the sons of David, that were born unto him in Hebron: the first-born, Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; the second, Daniel, of Abigail the Carmelitess; the third, Absalom, of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; the fifth, Shephatiah of Abital; the sixth, Ithream of Eglah his wife: 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; and Ibhar, and Elishama, and Eliphelet, and Nogah, and Nepheg, and Japhia, and Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphelet, nine. All these were the sons of David, besides the sons of concubines; and Tamar was their sister.”

Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible

The sons of David - The writer returns to the point at which he had left the posterity of Ram 1 Chronicles 2:9, 1 Chronicles 2:15, and traces out the family of David - the royal house of the tribe of Judah.

Daniel - See the marginal note and reference.

There are three lists of the sons of David, born in Jerusalem.

A comparison of the three lists serves to show:

(1) that “Shimeah” and the first “Elishama” in the list of this chapter are corruptions;

(2) that David had really 13 sons born in Jerusalem, of whom two - the first Eliphelet and Nogah - probably died in their childhood; and

(3) that Eliada, the twelfth son, was also called Beeliada, the term Baal, “lord,” not having (previous to the introduction of the Baal worship) a bad sense, but being regarded as an equivalent with El, “God.”

Smith's Bible Commentary

Chapter 3

Now we center in on chapter three on David's family and it lists all of the children that were born of David in Hebron there in chapter three. Later we'll get a further list of his children that were born in Jerusalem. Verse five deals with those that were born in Jerusalem. The others were born in Hebron before he was brought to Jerusalem and placed on the throne.

And then we get a direct line of David's descendants down to the carrying away into captivity beginning with verse ten. They just list in order the descendants, one following another, to follow the line from David to Zedekiah, the last king, the king that was carried away captive to Babylon at the end of the dynasty of David. "

Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

Ver. 1-4 Now these were the sons of David,.... The six following born in Hebron, who are reckoned in the same order as in 2 Samuel 3:2, only here the second son is called Daniel, who there goes by the name of Chileab; he had two names, the reason of which see there; and here David's wife, Eglah, is said in the Targum to be Michal, Saul's daughter, 2 Samuel 3:2- :, to which is added an account of his reign both in Hebron and Jerusalem, agreeably to 2 Samuel 5:5.

Henry's Complete Commentary on the Bible

      1 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:   2 The third, Absalom the son of Maachah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur: the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith:   3 The fifth, Shephatiah of Abital: the sixth, Ithream by Eglah his wife.   4 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.   5 And these were born unto him in Jerusalem; Shimea, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon, four, of Bath-shua the daughter of Ammiel:   6 Ibhar also, and Elishama, and Eliphelet,   7 And Nogah, and Nepheg, and Japhia,   8 And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphelet, nine.   9 These were all the sons of David, beside the sons of the concubines, and Tamar their sister.

      We had an account of David's sons, 2 Samuel 3:2-5; 2 Samuel 5:14-16, c. 1. He had many sons and no doubt wrote as he thought, Psalms 127:5. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of these arrows. 2. Some of them were a grief to him, as Amnon, Absalom, and Adonijah; and we do not read of any of them that imitated his piety or devotion except Solomon, and he came far short of it. 3. One of them, which Bath-sheba bore to him, he called Nathan, probably in honour of Nathan the prophet, who reproved him for his sin in that matter and was instrumental to bring him to repentance. It seems he loved him the better for it as long as he lived. It is wisdom to esteem those our best friends that deal faithfully with us. From this son of David our Lord Jesus descended, as appears Luke 3:31. 4. Here are two Elishamas, and two Eliphelets, 1 Chronicles 3:6; 1 Chronicles 3:8. Probably the two former were dead, and therefore David called two more by their names, which he would not have done if there had been any ill omen in this practice as some fancy. 5. David had many concubines; but their children are not named, as not worthy of the honour (1 Chronicles 3:9; 1 Chronicles 3:9), the rather because the concubines had dealt treacherously with David in the affair of Absalom. 6. Of all David's sons Solomon was chosen to succeed him, perhaps not for any personal merits (his wisdom was God's gift), but so, Father, because it seemed good unto thee.