Lexical Summary Kilab: Kilab Original Word: כִּלְאָב Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Chileab Apparently from kala' and 'ab; restraint of (his) father; Kilab, an Israelite -- Chileab. see HEBREW kala' see HEBREW 'ab NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom kala Definition a son of David NASB Translation Chileab (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs כִּלְאָב proper name, masculine second son of David, 2 Samuel 3:3 = דָּנִיֵּאל 1 Chronicles 3:1, see דָּנִיֵּאל 1 above כלב (√ of following; meaning unknown; Thes regards כֶּלֶב as onomatopoetic) Topical Lexicon Family Background Kilab was the second son of David, born during the seven-and-a-half-year period when David reigned at Hebron (circa 1010-1003 BC). His mother was Abigail, formerly the widow of Nabal of Carmel (1 Samuel 25), whom David married after Nabal’s death. Unlike several other wives taken for political alliances, Abigail was welcomed into David’s household because of her demonstrated faith and wisdom. Kilab therefore stood in a unique position—son of a woman whose character Scripture commends and who had no foreign ties that might threaten Israel’s covenantal purity. Biblical Occurrence 2 Samuel 3:3 alone records the name: “his second was Chileab, by Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel; the third was Absalom the son of Maacah daughter of Talmai king of Geshur”. The verse appears in a catalog of six sons born to David in Hebron, each by a different wife. The brief notice serves primarily to establish his place in the royal lineage. Chronological Setting David’s Hebron years were formative both politically and spiritually. While consolidating Judah’s loyalty, David began a family that would later embody both promise and tragedy. Kilab’s birth falls between Amnon—the firstborn—and Absalom, the third son. This placement granted him natural rights of succession under normal circumstances. Possible Identification with “Daniel” In 1 Chronicles 3:1 the Chronicler lists “Daniel” rather than “Kilab” for the same position in the birth order. The most natural explanation is that the two names belong to one individual. Dual names are common in the Old Testament (e.g., Hadassah/Esther; Jehoahaz/Shallum). The apparent difference does not introduce contradiction but illustrates an accepted ancient practice of alternate naming, perhaps reflecting a personal name and a throne name, or a name change prompted by a significant life event. Silence of Scripture and Inferences Scripture never reports Kilab’s deeds, moral failures, or death. His absence from the later narratives—unlike Amnon’s crime or Absalom’s rebellion—suggests at least three possibilities: 1. He died relatively young, before David’s move to Jerusalem. Because the text is silent, any conclusion remains tentative; nevertheless, the conspicuous quiet regarding Kilab contrasts sharply with the turmoil that surrounded his brothers, underscoring the principle that notoriety is not equivalent to divine favor. Theological Reflections 1. Covenant Faithfulness—Kilab’s mother Abigail exemplified covenant loyalty; her son’s placement in the lineage testifies to God’s recognition of righteous choices within a royal household often marred by compromise. Lessons for Ministry • Serve Without Spotlight—Kilab teaches ministers to labor contentedly even when unnoticed, trusting the Lord who “sees in secret” (Matthew 6:4). Kilab’s single biblical mention may seem minor, yet his place in David’s household and the broader redemptive narrative provides enduring insights into God’s governance of families, kingdoms, and individual callings. Forms and Transliterations כִלְאָ֔ב כלאב chilAv ḵil’āḇ ḵil·’āḇLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 2 Samuel 3:3 HEB: וּמִשְׁנֵ֣הוּ כִלְאָ֔ב [לַאֲבִיגֵל כ] NAS: and his second, Chileab, by Abigail KJV: And his second, Chileab, of Abigail INT: and his second Chileab Abigal the widow 1 Occurrence |
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