What is the meaning of 1 Chronicles 3:3? the fifth was Shephatiah • Scripture places Shephatiah as David’s fifth son born at Hebron (1 Chron 3:4; 2 Samuel 3:4). • The numbered order shows that each child was known, counted, and valued—God keeps precise records of covenant families (Genesis 5:1–3; Psalm 139:16). • Though Shephatiah never features prominently later, his inclusion affirms that every person in God’s story matters, even when we learn nothing else about them (1 Corinthians 12:22). by Abital • Abital is listed among David’s wives during his seven-year reign in Hebron (2 Samuel 3:2-5). • Her mention reminds us that Scripture reports David’s polygamy without endorsing it; God’s original pattern remained one man and one woman (Genesis 2:24; Deuteronomy 17:17). • Yet the Lord still works through imperfect family structures to advance His purposes, proving His sovereignty over human weakness (Romans 8:28). and the sixth was Ithream • Ithream completes the Hebron-born sons, marking the close of a distinct season before David moved to Jerusalem (1 Chron 3:4). • His placement at “sixth” underlines that God’s plans unfold in ordered steps; nothing happens randomly in redemptive history (Isaiah 46:9-10). • Like Shephatiah, Ithream fades from the narrative, yet his recorded birth testifies to God’s faithfulness in fulfilling promises to David (2 Samuel 5:13; Psalm 89:3-4). by his wife Eglah • Eglah is explicitly called “his wife,” emphasizing her legitimate status (2 Samuel 3:5). • The note of legitimacy safeguards Ithream’s standing in the royal family, demonstrating God’s concern for clear lineage (Numbers 36:8-9; Ruth 4:10). • Although neither Eglah nor Ithream appear in the Messianic line that runs through Solomon (Matthew 1:6), their inclusion highlights the breadth of David’s household and the meticulous care with which Scripture preserves genealogies (1 Chron 9:1). summary 1 Chronicles 3:3 records the fifth and sixth sons born to David in Hebron—Shephatiah by Abital and Ithream by Eglah—to show God’s precise ordering of David’s family, underscore His sovereignty over imperfect domestic situations, and preserve an accurate royal genealogy. Every name, even those lost to later history, affirms the truth that God sees, values, and weaves each individual into His larger redemption plan. |
    |