What is the meaning of 2 Samuel 3:5? and his sixth was Ithream, • The sixth son in the inspired list (2 Samuel 3:2-5) closes an initial set of six, underscoring that David’s family is quickly expanding even before he rules all Israel. • Ithream’s name is recorded only in these genealogies (see also 1 Chronicles 3:3). That quiet presence reminds us that every child, whether prominent or little-known, is known to God. • The order of birth here matters: later conflicts among David’s sons—Amnon’s sin (2 Samuel 13), Absalom’s rebellion (2 Samuel 15-18), Adonijah’s grasp for the throne (1 Kings 1-2)—all hinge on seniority. Recording Ithream’s birth secures the historical line and vindicates Scripture’s accuracy. • Six often signals incompleteness in Scripture (Genesis 1:31-2:2). By stopping at six in Hebron, the text hints that David’s family—and reign—are still unfinished until God moves him to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 5:6-10). by David’s wife Eglah. • Eglah is singled out as “wife,” just as earlier wives are named (Michal, Abigail, Ahinoam, Maacah, Haggith). The wording affirms covenant marriage rather than concubinage (compare 2 Samuel 5:13). • God never endorses polygamy, yet He records it truthfully. David’s multiple marriages reflect human weakness (Deuteronomy 17:17), but God still weaves His redemptive plan through flawed people. • Listing Eglah prevents any claim that Ithream was illegitimate. In a time of dynastic struggle between Saul’s house and David’s (2 Samuel 3:1), every legitimate heir counts toward the promise that “a dynasty will be established for you” (2 Samuel 7:11-16). • Though Eglah plays no later role, her inclusion honors the women who bore and nurtured the next generation—echoing how Scripture later praises Bathsheba’s influence on Solomon (1 Kings 2:19). These sons were born to David in Hebron. • Hebron was David’s base for seven and a half years (2 Samuel 2:11), before Jerusalem became the capital. The note stamps authenticity on the chronology; later births occur only after the move (2 Samuel 5:13-16). • Hebron itself is rich with covenant history: Abraham built an altar there (Genesis 13:18), the patriarchs are buried there (Genesis 49:29-31), and Caleb claimed it by faith (Joshua 14:13-15). By giving David sons in Hebron, God signals continuity with those earlier promises. • In the middle of civil war (2 Samuel 3:1), the peaceful birth of sons shows that God is securing David’s house even while enemies oppose him—an echo of Psalm 23:5, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.” • The phrase also brackets this entire unit (2 Samuel 3:2-5), reminding readers that every detail fits God’s unfolding plan: the Messiah will ultimately descend from David, and every recorded birth supports that unbroken line (Matthew 1:1-6). summary The brief statement, “and his sixth was Ithream, by David’s wife Eglah. These sons were born to David in Hebron,” does more than log names—it quietly showcases God’s faithfulness. It completes the initial list of heirs, confirms their legitimacy, anchors them in Hebron’s covenant setting, and assures us that even amid human imperfection and national turmoil, the Lord is steadily building the house of David for His redemptive purposes. |
    |