Sons of David

This chapter is entirely dedicated to the family of David. The starting point for his genealogy is Hebron (1Chr 3:1), where he is anointed king by all Israel (1Chr 11:3). Hebron also speaks of death: it is the cemetery of, among others, Sarah (Gen 23:2; 19) and Isaac (Gen 35:27). But from Hebron also Joseph went out to seek his brothers (cf. Gen 37:14). It is also a city of refuge and a priest city (Jos 21:13).

In these verses the sons are named after the places where they were born: Hebron (1Chr 3:1-4) and Jerusalem (1Chr 3:5-9; 2Sam 3:2-5; 2Sam 5:13-16; 2Sam 13:1). Remarkably, some sons born in Hebron are rejected, such as Amnon, Absalom and Adonijah. Only when the government is definitively established in Jerusalem, in Solomon, the man according to God’s counsels, comes to the fore.

The place of a person’s birth can be of significance for his later development. This is also important from a spiritual point of view. What education does a newly converted person receive in a local church? Is there edification and a living in God’s presence? Or is someone getting the wrong food and being given the wrong example?

Descendants From Solomon to Zedekiah

In these verses, the descendants of David are listed from Solomon to Zedekiah, that is, as long as the kingdom existed. Zedekiah is the last king of the two tribes realm of Judah. During his reign Judah is carried away into exile by Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon.

Descendants of Jeconiah

Here are the descendants of David listed who lived during and after the exile. David’s generation is kept by God even when He can no longer recognize His people as His people and He has given the power of reign to the nations.

The only names we know in this list are those of Sealthiel and his (grand)son Zerubbabel. Led by Zerubbabel, the son of Sealthiel, in reality the grandson, a remnant from Babylon has returned to Israel after seventy years of exile.