Bible Commentaries
1 Chronicles 3

Verses 1-24

CHAPTER 3 From David to Zedekiah

1. The sons of David (1 Chronicles 3:1-9 )

2. David’s line to Zedekiah (1 Chronicles 3:10-15 )

3. The sons of Jeconiah (1 Chronicles 3:16-24 )

Six sons were born to David during his reign in Hebron. Four are mentioned as the offspring from Bath-shua, another name for Bath-sheba (2 Samuel 11:3 ). Then follow the names of other nine sons. As the name Elishama appears twice, it has been suggested that one is Elishua (2 Samuel 5:15 ). Eglah is called David’s wife. Some claim that it is Michal, who became childless after her mockery when David danced before the ark. Then the line of Solomon is traced up to Zedekiah. The usurping Queen Athaliah (2 Kings 11:3 ) is omitted, for she was not of the house of David. Then follows the list of the sons of Jeconiah. The name “Assir” which follows Jeconiah in verse 17 means “the captive.” “Jeconiah, the captive,” is the proper rendering. His son Salathiel was therefore born in the captivity (Matthew 1:12 ). Jeconiah was written “childless,” which does not mean that he was to have no sons, but that no son of his should sit upon the throne of David (Jeremiah 22:30 ). The son of Salathiel was Zerubbabel (Matthew 1:12 ; Ezra 3:2 ; Ezra 5:2 ; Haggai 1:1 ; Haggai 1:12 ). It seems that, in some way, the different names as they appear in the Hebrew text were dislocated. The following arrangement has been suggested to remove the difficulty.

“And the sons of Jeconiah, the captive, Salathiel, his son. And the sons of Salathiel; Zerubbabel and Shimei; and the sons of Zerubbabel; Meshullam, Hananiah and Shelomith their sister. And Hashubah, and Ohel, and Berechiah, and Hasadiah, jushab-hezed. And Malchiram, and Rephaiah, and Shenazar, Jecamiah, Hoshama, and Nedabiah. The sons of Hananiah; Pelatiah and Jesiah; the sons of Rephaiah; his son Arnan, his son Obadiah, his son Shecaniah.”