1 Chronicles — Chapter 3

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1Now 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.

10And 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.

17And 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.

1Now these were 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;

2the third, Absalom the son of Maacah 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:

4six 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;

6and Ibhar, and Elishama, and Eliphelet,

7and Nogah, and Nepheg, and Japhia,

8and Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphelet, nine.

9All these were the sons of David, besides the sons of the concubines; and Tamar was their sister.

10And Solomon`s son was Rehoboam, Abijah 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: the first-born Johanan, the second Jehoiakim, the third Zedekiah, the fourth Shallum.

16And the sons of Jehoiakim: Jeconiah his son, Zedekiah his son.

17And the sons of Jeconiah, the captive: Shealtiel his son,

18and Malchiram, and Pedaiah, and Shenazzar, Jekamiah, Hoshama, and Nedabiah.

19And the sons of Pedaiah: Zerubbabel, and Shimei. And the sons of Zerubbabel: Meshullam, and Hananiah; and Shelomith was their sister;

20and Hashubah, and Ohel, and Berechiah, and Hasadiah, Jushab-hesed, five.

21And the sons of Hananiah: Pelatiah, and Jeshaiah; the sons of Rephaiah, the sons of Arnan, the sons of Obadiah, the sons of Shecaniah.

22And the sons of Shecaniah: Shemaiah. And the sons of Shemaiah: Hattush, and Igal, and Bariah, and Neariah, and Shaphat, six.

23And the sons of Neariah: Elioenai, and Hizkiah, and Azrikam, three.

24And the sons of Elioenai: Hodaviah, and Eliashib, and Pelaiah, and Akkub, and Johanan, and Delaiah, and Anani, seven.

1These were the sons of David who were born to him in Hebron: The firstborn was Amnon, whose mother was Ahinoam from Jezreel; the second was Daniel, whose mother was Abigail from Carmel;

2the third was Absalom, whose mother was Maacah, daughter of King Talmai of Geshur;the fourth was Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith;

3the fifth was Shephatiah, whose mother was Abital;the sixth was Ithream, whose mother was Eglah, David’s wife.

4These six were born to David in Hebron, where he ruled for seven years and six months.He ruled thirty-three years in Jerusalem.

5These were the sons born to him in Jerusalem:Shimea, Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon—the mother of these four was Bathsheba the daughter of Ammiel.

6The other nine were Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet,

7Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia,

8Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.

9These were all the sons of David, not counting the sons of his concubines. Tamar was their sister.

10Solomon’s son was Rehoboam,followed by Abijah 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.

15The sons of Josiah: Johanan was the firstborn; Jehoiakim was born second; Zedekiah third, and Shallum fourth.

16The sons of Jehoiakim: his son Jehoiachin and his son Zedekiah.

17The sons of Jehoiachin the exile: Shealtiel his son,

18Malkiram, Pedaiah, Shenazzar, Jekamiah, Hoshama, and Nedabiah.

19The sons of Pedaiah: Zerubbabel and Shimei.The sons of Zerubbabel: Meshullam and Hananiah. Shelomith was their sister.

20The five others were Hashubah, Ohel, Berechiah, Hasadiah, and Jushab Hesed.

21The descendants of Hananiah: Pelatiah, Jeshaiah, the sons of Rephaiah, of Arnan, of Obadiah, and of Shecaniah.

22The descendants of Shecaniah: Shemaiah and his sons: Hattush, Igal, Bariah, Neariah, and Shaphat—six in all.

23The sons of Neariah: Elioenai, Hizkiah, and Azrikam—three in all.

24The sons of Elioenai: Hodaviah, Eliashib, Pelaiah, Akkub, Johanan, Delaiah, and Anani—seven in all.

1Now 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;

2the third, Absalom the son of Maacah 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:

4six were born to him in Hebron; and he reigned there seven years and six months. He reigned thirty-three years in Jerusalem;

5and these were born to him in Jerusalem: Shimea, Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon, four, of Bathshua the daughter of Ammiel;

6and Ibhar, Elishama, Eliphelet,

7Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia,

8Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet, nine.

9All these were the sons of David, besides the sons of the concubines; and Tamar was their sister.

10Solomon’s son was Rehoboam, Abijah 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, and Josiah his son.

15The sons of Josiah: the firstborn Johanan, the second Jehoiakim, the third Zedekiah, and the fourth Shallum.

16The sons of Jehoiakim: Jeconiah his son, and Zedekiah his son.

17The sons of Jeconiah, the captive: Shealtiel his son,

18Malchiram, Pedaiah, Shenazzar, Jekamiah, Hoshama, and Nedabiah.

19The sons of Pedaiah: Zerubbabel and Shimei. The sons of Zerubbabel: Meshullam and Hananiah; and Shelomith was their sister;

20and Hashubah, Ohel, Berechiah, Hasadiah, and Jushab Hesed, five.

21The sons of Hananiah: Pelatiah and Jeshaiah; the sons of Rephaiah, the sons of Arnan, the sons of Obadiah, the sons of Shecaniah.

22The son of Shecaniah: Shemaiah. The sons of Shemaiah: Hattush, Igal, Bariah, Neariah, and Shaphat, six.

23The sons of Neariah: Elioenai, Hizkiah, and Azrikam, three.

24The sons of Elioenai: Hodaviah, Eliashib, Pelaiah, Akkub, Johanan, Delaiah, and Anani, seven.

Summary

Authorship & Background

Map & Geography

Commentary

Videos

Reflection

Summary

The royal line of David is documented, listing his sons born in Hebron and Jerusalem, then tracing the Davidic dynasty through Solomon to the exile and beyond. This chapter preserves the messianic lineage through the post-exilic generations.

Authorship & Background

Author: Traditionally attributed to Ezra the scribe. Originally one book with 2 Chronicles. Written post-exile (approximately 450-400 BC) for the returned remnant. The Chronicler retells Israel's history from a priestly/worship perspective, emphasizing the Davidic covenant, Temple worship, and God's faithfulness. Key themes: genealogical continuity (God preserved His people), proper worship (the Temple and its services), the Davidic line (pointing to Messiah), and hope for restoration.

Historical Context: Chapter 3 is the heart of the Chronicler's genealogical project — the royal line of David from his sons through the kings of Judah to the post-exilic descendants. This chapter answers the critical question for the returned exiles: "Does the house of David still exist?" The answer is a resounding yes. The line is traced through Solomon and the kings of Judah (vv.10-16), through the exile (v.17 — "Jeconiah, the captive"), and into the post-exilic period (vv.17-24). This is a chapter of messianic hope: despite exile, despite Jeconiah's curse (Jeremiah 22:30), the Davidic line survived and continued.

The chapter divides into three sections: David's sons born in Hebron (vv.1-4a) and Jerusalem (vv.4b-9), the kings of Judah from Solomon to exile (vv.10-16), and the post-exilic descendants of David (vv.17-24). The first section shows David's growing house — political marriages (Maacah, daughter of a Geshurite king) alongside personal unions. The second section is the royal succession from Solomon through 21 kings to the exile. The third section — often overlooked — is the most theologically significant for the original audience: it proves that David's house survived Babylon. Zerubbabel, who led the return (Ezra 3:2), appears in verse 19 as a descendant of David. The line did not end. Hope lives.

Map & Geography

Largely parallels 1-2 Samuel geographically. Jerusalem (Zion/City of David) is the theological and political center.
Key sites: Hebron (David's first capital, 7 years), the threshing floor of Ornan/Araunah (future Temple site, ch.21).
Chapters 1-9 (genealogies) contain tribal allotments but minimal narrative geography.

Commentary

Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik notes the tension between Jeremiah's curse on Jeconiah and the continuation of the Davidic line. He emphasizes that the Chronicler's inclusion of post-exilic descendants (vv.17-24) was an act of theological hope — declaring that God's promise to David survived even the catastrophe of exile. The line endured, and hope for a future king remained alive.
Charles Spurgeon: "Here is David's house — born in Hebron, expanded in Jerusalem, carried to Babylon, and yet surviving still. What power on earth could destroy a line that God Himself had sworn to preserve? Not the sins of Solomon, not the wickedness of Manasseh, not the flames of Nebuchadnezzar's anger could extinguish this lamp. God said to David, 'Thy throne shall be established for ever,' and here in this little genealogy we see the receipt of that promise — generation after generation, through exile and return, the house of David stands. And it stands still, for Jesus Christ, the Son of David, reigns eternally."

Videos

The Bible Project — 1 Chronicles Overview

Reflection

1. God keeps His promises through catastrophe (vv.10-19). From Solomon to Zerubbabel, the Davidic line passes through the worst disaster in Israel's history — the exile. Kings become captives, palaces become prisons. Yet the line survives. God's promises are not cancelled by circumstances, no matter how devastating. If you feel your life has passed through its own "exile," know that God's purposes for you have not been destroyed — only redirected.
2. The Chronicler focuses on grace, not disgrace (v.5). Bathsheba is recorded as a legitimate wife and mother of four royal sons — no mention of adultery or Uriah. This is not denial but theological perspective: God's grace truly covers sin. Forgiven sin does not define you. If God has forgiven your past, you are not obligated to be defined by it forever.
3. Hope persists in the darkest times (v.17). "Jeconiah, the captive" — yet he has sons. A cursed king in a Babylonian prison still becomes a father. Life continues. God's plan continues. Even in your lowest, most confined, most "cursed" moments, God may be preparing the next generation of blessing through you.
4. God resolves impossible contradictions (vv.17-19). How can Jeconiah be cursed from kingship AND David's throne be eternal? The answer unfolds across centuries — through Nathan's line, through levirate marriage, through the mystery of incarnation. God is not limited by our either/or logic. Trust Him with the contradictions in your life that seem unresolvable.
5. Obscure faithfulness matters (vv.19-24). The post-exilic names in verses 19-24 are virtually unknown — Hashubah, Ohel, Berechiah, Hasadiah. Yet they preserved the Davidic line in obscurity until the fullness of time. Your faithfulness in obscurity may be preserving something precious for a future generation you will never see.