1 Chronicles 3:1 - Meaning and Application

We already saw an account of David’s sons in (2 Samuel 3:2) and (2 Samuel 5:14). David had many sons, and no doubt he thought as the writer did in (Psalm 127:5), “Happy is the man who has a full quiver of them.” But some of these sons became a sorrow to him, such as Amnon, Absalom, and Adonijah. We do not read that any of them followed David in his devotion to God, except Solomon, and even he fell far short of his father’s example.

One of David’s sons by Bathsheba was named Nathan, probably in honor of Nathan the prophet, the man who had reproved David for that sin and helped bring him to repentance. David seems to have loved this son more for that reason during his lifetime. It is wise to value as our truest friends those who speak honestly and faithfully to us. From this line of David, our Lord Jesus came, as shown in (Luke 3:31).

Here there are two men named Elishama and two named Eliphelet, in (1 Chronicles 3:6) and (1 Chronicles 3:8). Probably the earlier ones had died, so David gave those names again to other sons. There is no reason to think this was unlucky, as some imagine. David also had many concubines, but their children are not named here, because they were not considered worthy of this honor, especially since the concubines had acted falsely toward David in the matter of Absalom.

Of all David’s sons, Solomon was chosen to succeed him. This was likely not because of any special merit in Solomon, since his wisdom was God’s gift. It was rather because God was pleased to do so.