1 Chronicles 3 Study Notes

3:1-4 This chapter completes the line of Judah. We find the people who are most important for Chronicles: David and his descendants. David’s sons are divided into two groups—those born in Hebron where David was king for seven years and those who were born in Jerusalem, David’s capital for thirty-three years. This is a list of tragedy. Amnon, the firstborn, raped his sister Tamar and was eventually killed by Absalom (2 Sm 13).

3:2 Absalom revolted against David and lost his life in the process (2Sm 15-18). Adonijah survived David’s death, but then was killed in the struggle with Solomon over the throne (1Kg 1-2).

3:5 Bath-shua is more familiar to us as Bathsheba. Solomon carried the house of David forward.

3:6-9 These too were born in Jerusalem but not by Bath-shua.

3:10-16 These verses contain a quick overview of most of 2 Chronicles, the line of descendants of David who were kings of Judah. The significance is that David’s descendants retained the throne.

3:17-24 The line continues after the Babylonian exile, even though there was not an official king of Judah from that point on. These verses help date the book of Chronicles.

3:19 Zerubbabel was the leader of the Jews when they returned from the exile. Under other circumstances, he would have been king. The list ends at a time that is perfectly matched for Ezra to have been the Chronicler.