I Chronicles 3, Descendants of David

We have now reached the line of David. This chapter will follow that line, looking at David's descendants, continuing through the Babylonian captivity to about 500 BC.

1 Chronicles 3: 1-9, The sons of David
These were the sons of David born to him in Hebron: The firstborn was Amnon the son of Ahinoam of Jezreel; the second, Daniel the son of Abigail of Carmel; the third, Absalom the son of Maacah daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital; and the sixth, Ithream, by his wife Eglah.

These six were born to David in Hebron, where he reigned seven years and six months. David reigned in Jerusalem thirty-three years, and these were the children born to him there: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan and Solomon. 

These four were by Bathsheba daughter of Ammiel. There were also Ibhar, Elishua, Eliphelet, Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, Elishama, Eliada and Eliphelet--nine in all. All these were the sons of David, besides his sons by his concubines. And Tamar was their sister.

The sons of David are also given in 2 Samuel 3: 1-5. (There Daniel is named Kileab.) The rest of 2 Samuel describes the life of David and his household, including David's affair with Bathsheba, the rape of Tamar, the murder of Amnon by Absalom and other "highlights" of David's reign.

1 Chronicles 3: 10-16, The royal line of Solomon

Solomon's son was Rehoboam, Abijah his son, Asa his son, Jehoshaphat his son, Jehoram his son, Ahaziah his son, Joash his son, Amaziah his son, Azariah his son, Jotham his son, Ahaz his son, Hezekiah his son, Manasseh his son, Amon his son, Josiah his son. The sons of Josiah: Johanan the firstborn, Jehoiakim the second son, Zedekiah the third, Shallum the fourth. The successors of Jehoiakim: Jehoiachin his son, and Zedekiah.

We track here the descendants of Solomon, many of whom are kings of Judah. Ahaziah also went by the name Uzziah. Shallum is apparently the same as Jehoahaz. This is the first we hear of Josiah's firstborn, Johanan (says Payne); presumably Johanan died young, before there wer any issues about succession to the throne.

1 Chronicles 3: 17-24, Descendants after the exile

The descendants of Jehoiachin the captive: Shealtiel his son, Malkiram, Pedaiah, Shenazzar, Jekamiah, Hoshama and Nedabiah. The sons of Pedaiah: Zerubbabel and Shimei. The sons of Zerubbabel: Meshullam and Hananiah. Shelomith was their sister. There were also five others: Hashubah, Ohel, Berekiah, Hasadiah and Jushab-Hesed.

The descendants of Hananiah: Pelatiah and Jeshaiah, and the sons of Rephaiah, of Arnan, of Obadiah and of Shecaniah. The descendants of Shecaniah: Shemaiah and his sons: Hattush, Igal, Bariah, Neariah and Shaphat--six in all. The sons of Neariah: Elioenai, Hizkiah and Azrikam--three in all. The sons of Elioenai: Hodaviah, Eliashib, Pelaiah, Akkub, Johanan, Delaiah and Anani--seven in all.

In verse 22 the Chronicler lists five sons of Shemaiah, but says there are six in all. Over the centuries of manuscripts, apparently one name has been lost.

The descendants of David after the exile will not be kings (as Judah is still controlled by Babylon) but they are important for the lineage of Jews rebuilding Jerusalem and the temple. And they continue to track the Messianic line. Some of these descendants will show up in Ezra's recount of the rebuilding of Jerusalem. Jeconiah, Shealtiel, and Zerubbabel appear in the lineage of Messiah Jesus in Matthew 1: 12 and Luke 3: 27.