Commentaria in I Paralipomenon
Chapter 3. Synopsis of the Chapter
The sons of David are enumerated, and his descendants the kings of Juda with their sons and daughters.
1. Now David had these sons, who were born to him in Hebron: the firstborn Amnon, of Achinoam the Jezrahelitess; the second Daniel, of Abigail the Carmelitess; 2. the third Absalom, the son of Maacha the daughter of Tholmai king of Gessur; the fourth Adonias, the son of Aggith; 3. the fifth Saphatias, of Abital; the sixth Jethraham, of his wife Egla. 4. So six sons were born to him in Hebron, where he reigned seven years and six months. And he reigned thirty-three years in Jerusalem. 5. And in Jerusalem sons were born to him: Simmaa, and Sobab, and Nathan, and Solomon, four, of Bethsabee the daughter of Ammiel; 6. Jebaar also, and Elisama, 7. and Eliphaleth, and Noge, and Nepheg, and Japhia, 8. and also Elisama, and Eliada, and Eliphaleth, nine: 9. all these were the sons of David, besides the sons of the concubines; and they had a sister Thamar. 10. And the son of Solomon was Roboam, whose son Abia begot Asa. Of him was born Josaphat. 11. The father of Joram; and Joram begot Ochozias, of whom came Joas: 12. and his son Amasias begot Azarias. And the son of Azarias was Joathan, 13. who begot Achaz the father of Ezechias, of whom was born Manasses. 14. And Manasses begot Amon the father of Josias. 15. And the sons of Josias were: the firstborn Johanan, the second Joakim, the third Sedecias, the fourth Sellum. 16. Of Joakim was born Jechonias and Sedecias. 17. The sons of Jechonias were Asir and Salathiel, 18. Melchiram, Phadaia, Senneser, and Jecemia, Sama, and Nadabia. 19. Of Phadaia were born Zorobabel and Semei. Zorobabel begot Mosollam, Hananias, and Salomith their sister, 20. Hasaban also, and Ohol, and Barachias, and Hasadias, Josabhesed, five. 21. And the son of Hananias was Phaltias the father of Jeseias, whose son was Raphaia, whose son also was Arnan, of whom was born Obdias, whose son was Sechenias. 22. The son of Sechenias was Semeia, whose sons were Hattus, and Jegaal, and Baria, and Naaria, and Saphat, six in number. 23. The son of Naaria: Elioenai, and Ezechias, and Ezricam, three. 24. The sons of Elioenai: Oduia, and Eliasub, and Pheleia, and Accub, and Johanan, and Dalaia, and Anani, seven.
1. Now David had these sons.—This and what follows I have explained on 2 Kings 3:2 ff.
5. Four of Bethsabee.—Some think that the first three, namely “Simmaa, Sobab and Nathan,” were sons of Urias, whom David afterwards adopted, to make amends for the injury of adultery and homicide done to Urias; and that the fourth, namely Solomon, was David’s only son by Bethsabee, because Solomon, Proverbs 4:3, says he was “an only son in the sight of his mother.” But others rightly think that all these were sons of David, and that Solomon is called “only-begotten,” that is, singularly beloved by his mother, as I said on Proverbs 4:3.
The daughter of Ammiel.—“Ammiel” was called by another name “Eliam,” who was the son of Achitophel and one of the thirty valiant men, or heroes, of David, 2 Kings 23:34.
15. The firstborn (of Josias) Johanan, the second Joakim, the third Sedecias, the fourth Sellum.—“Johanan” died soon, and perhaps was slain in battle with his father Josias; hence Joachaz succeeded Josias in the kingdom, then Joakim, third Sedecias. Joachaz here had two names: for by another name he was called “Sellum,” and he was begotten third by Josias. For when Joachaz began to reign he was 23 years old, Joakim, succeeding him after three months, was 25, and Sedecias, succeeding him after eleven years of reign, was only 21. You will say: Why then is “Sellum,” that is, “Joachaz,” put last, when Sedecias was in fact the youngest of all? I answer: The reason is that Joachaz reigned only three months, after which he was taken by Pharao and carried away into Egypt; whereas Joakim reigned eleven years, and Sedecias as many; see what I said on Jeremias 21, 414. Joachaz, therefore, was fourth not in age but in the dignity of his reign, or rather its unworthiness and brevity. For in age the first son of Josias was Johanan, the second Joakim, the third Joachaz or Sellum, the fourth Sedecias.
17. The sons of Jechonias were Asir.—Eight sons of Jechonias are here enumerated; yet he is called barren, Jeremias 22:30, because none of them succeeded him in the kingdom, as Jeremias explains there.
19. Of Phadaia were born Zorobabel and Semei.—This Zorobabel is different from the Zorobabel who was an ancestor of Christ, Matthew chapter 1. He was, however, his cousin; for that one, Matthew 1, was the son of Salathiel. Some, however, think that he is one and the same Zorobabel, who was by nature the son of Phadaia, but by adoption of Salathiel. But these must consequently say that one of the sons of Zorobabel who are enumerated here was called by another name Abiud; for in Matthew 1 Zorobabel is said to have begotten Abiud. Hence Mariana supposes that Hananias, who follows here, was called by another name Abiud.