What is the meaning of 2 Samuel 3:4? his fourth was Adonijah • 2 Samuel 3:4 notes: “his fourth was Adonijah, the son of Haggith.” • This simple genealogical statement quietly introduces a man who will loom large later. In 1 Kings 1:5–10 Adonijah proclaims himself king while David is still alive, mirroring Absalom’s earlier rebellion (2 Samuel 15). • The placement of Adonijah in the birth order—fourth—matters. With Amnon dead (2 Samuel 13:28–29), Chileab apparently absent from the record (1 Chronicles 3:1), and Absalom slain (2 Samuel 18:14–15), Adonijah sees himself as next in line by human calculation. God, however, had already chosen Solomon (2 Samuel 7:12–13; 1 Chronicles 22:9–10). • The verse shows that God’s purposes are not determined by birth order or human ambition (Romans 9:10–13). the son of Haggith • Naming Adonijah’s mother reminds us that David had multiple wives (2 Samuel 3:2–5). The family fractures that unfold later stem in part from this polygamy, even though the narrative presents it matter-of-factly (Deuteronomy 17:17 warns that multiplying wives leads hearts astray). • Haggith’s anonymity elsewhere underscores that prominence in Scripture comes from God’s calling, not social standing (1 Corinthians 1:26-29). • By mentioning Haggith, the text signals that each child’s maternal line could influence palace alliances and rivalries, a theme that surfaces when Bathsheba defends Solomon’s right to the throne against Adonijah (1 Kings 1:15-21). his fifth was Shephatiah • The verse continues: “his fifth was Shephatiah, the son of Abital.” Shephatiah never reappears in the narrative. His silence highlights that not every royal son pursued power. • The name Shephatiah means “Yahweh judges,” echoing the truth that ultimate authority rests with God (Psalm 75:6-7). Though absent from later events, his inclusion in the list affirms that God knows every individual (Luke 12:7). the son of Abital • Abital’s mention parallels Haggith’s: another wife, another potential faction. Yet Scripture offers no further story line, suggesting that peaceful obscurity can be a blessing amid palace intrigue (1 Thessalonians 4:11). • Her name, recorded only here and in 1 Chronicles 3:3, preserves her place in covenant history. Even seemingly minor figures contribute to the unfolding lineage that leads ultimately to Christ (Matthew 1:6). summary 2 Samuel 3:4 is more than a genealogical footnote. By naming Adonijah and Shephatiah alongside their mothers, the Spirit-inspired text foreshadows future conflict, exposes the complexity introduced by multiple wives, and teaches that God’s sovereign choice—not birth order, ambition, or obscurity—determines destiny. |
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