1 Chronicles

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1 Chronicles 3 – Skeptic's Annotated Bible answered

A response and reply to the notes on 1 Chronicles 3 in the Skeptic's Annotated Bible (SAB).

King James Version

SAB comment

My comment


1 Now 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:

2 The third, Absalom the son of Maachah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur: the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith:

3 The fifth, Shephatiah of Abital: the sixth, Ithream by Eglah his wife.

4 These 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.

5 And these were born unto him in Jerusalem; Shimea, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon, four, of Bath-shua the daughter of Ammiel:

6 Ibhar also, and Elishama, and Eliphelet,

(3:5-8) This list of David's sons that were born in Jerusalem is given in two other places (2 Sam.5:14-16, 1 Chr.14:3-7), but none of them give the same set of names. In this list, for example, Nogah is missing, but it is included in the other two.
The sons of David born in Jerusalem
The difference here with chapter 14:5 is most easily resolved by assuming that Elishama is not listed twice, but is called Elishua there and Eliphelet is called Elpalet. This could be a scribe fault, but as has been pointed out many times, people could have had two names as well. And in case they had different mothers, which does not seem unlikely, the same names won't have been that confusing I assume.
Matthew Henry suggest that those two children had died in their infancy. David had given their names to sons he begat later.

7 And Nogah, and Nepheg, and Japhia,

 
I did not understand why the author of the SAB says Nogah is missing. It is missing in the list in 2 Sam. 5:14-16

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

9 These were all the sons of David, beside the sons of the concubines, and Tamar their sister.

10 And Solomon’s son was Rehoboam, Abia his son, Asa his son, Jehoshaphat his son,

11 Joram his son, Ahaziah his son, Joash his son,

(3:11-12, 15-16) The gospel of Mathew Mt.1:6-11gives the same genealogy as is given here, except Matthew, in an attempt to preserve the magical number 14, leaves out four generations (Joash, Amaziah, Azariah, and Jehoiakim).
Generations from David to the Babylonian Captivity

12 Amaziah his son, PrAzariah his son, Jotham his son,

13 Ahaz his son, Hezekiah his son, Manasseh his son,

14 Amon his son, Josiah his son.

15 And the sons of Josiah were, the firstborn Johanan, the second Jehoiakim, the third Zedekiah, the fourth Shallum.

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

17 And the sons of Jeconiah; Assir, Salathiel his son,

18 Malchiram also, and Pedaiah, and Shenazar, Jecamiah, Hoshama, and Nedabiah.

 
The translation here is somewhat unclear. It should be read as: "Salathiel's sons were Malchiram, and Pedaiah ...". See also the next verse.

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

On Zerubbabel's father, see Ezra 3:2.

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

(3:19-20) Seven sons of Zerubbabel are listed, not five as is said in verse 20.
The SAB author has not read this verse correctly. These five are the sons of Meshullam mentioned in the previous verse.

21 And the sons of Hananiah; Pelatiah, and Jesaiah: the sons of Rephaiah, the sons of Arnan, the sons of Obadiah, the sons of Shechaniah.

22 And the sons of Shechaniah; Shemaiah; and the sons of Shemaiah; Hattush, and Igeal, and Bariah, and Neariah, and Shaphat, six.

Five sons of Shemiah are listed, not six as is said in this verse.
The author of Chronicles here includes Shemaiah in the count. The six indicates the sons and grandsons of Shechaniah.

23 And the sons of Neariah; Elioenai, and Hezekiah, and Azrikam, three.

24 And the sons of Elioenai were, Hodaiah, and Eliashib, and Pelaiah, and Akkub, and Johanan, and Dalaiah, and Anani, seven.