Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible

Adonijah - The same who, when David was dying, aspired to the crown, and was put to death by Solomon.

Shephatiah - “God is judge.” This is the same name as Jehoshaphat, only with the two elements composing it placed in inverted order. Nothing more is known of him or of his brother Ithream.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

And the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith,.... The same that usurped the throne before his father's death, to anticipate Solomon, and died by his order, 1 Kings 1:5,

and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital; of whom we read nowhere else.

John Trapp Complete Commentary

2 Samuel 3:4 And the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;

Ver. 4. And the fourth, Adonijah.] This also was one of David’s tres vomicae, tria carcinomata, imposthumated ulcers, as Augustus called his three untoward daughters.

And the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital.] By six wives he had but six sons. God was not pleased with his polygamy. Erasmus (a) telleth of one Combe, a woman of Eubaea, who brought her husband a hundred children: and of another, an English woman, who, being blind, and married to a poor cripple, was blessed with twelve lusty sons, no way deformed or defective. (b)

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

Adonias was slain by Solomon, (3 Kings ii. 24.; Menochius) for arrogating to himself the right of the first-born, and pretending that the crown belonged to him. (Haydock) --- The names of his mother, and of those who follow, are barely known. (Salien)

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Unabridged

And the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital; No JFB commentary on this verse.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Adonijah

1 Kings 1:5-18; 2:13-25