1 - 9 Sons of David
1 Now these were the sons of David who were born to him in Hebron: the firstborn [was] Amnon, by Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; the second [was] Daniel, by Abigail the Carmelitess; 2 the third [was] Absalom the son of Maacah, the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; the fourth [was] Adonijah the son of Haggith; 3 the fifth [was] Shephatiah, by Abital; the sixth [was] Ithream, by his wife Eglah. 4 Six were born to him in Hebron, and there he reigned seven years and six months. And in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years. 5 These were born to him in Jerusalem: Shimea, Shobab, Nathan and Solomon, four, by Bath-shua the daughter of Ammiel; 6 and Ibhar, Elishama, Eliphelet, 7 Nogah, Nepheg and Japhia, 8 Elishama, Eliada and Eliphelet, nine. 9 All [these were] the sons of David, besides the sons of the concubines; and Tamar [was] their sister.
This chapter is entirely dedicated to the family of David. The starting point for his genealogy is Hebron (verse 1), where he is anointed king by all Israel (1Chr 11:3). Hebron also speaks of death: it is the cemetery of, among others, Sarah (Gen 23:2,19) and Isaac (Gen 35:27). But from Hebron also Joseph went out to seek his brothers (cf. Gen 37:14). It is also a city of refuge and a priest city (Jos 21:13).
In these verses the sons are named after the places where they were born: Hebron (verses 1-4) and Jerusalem (verses 5-9; 2Sam 3:2-5; 5:13-16; 13:1). Remarkably, some sons born in Hebron are rejected, such as Amnon, Absalom and Adonijah. Only when the government is definitively established in Jerusalem, in Solomon, the man according to God’s counsels, comes to the fore.
The place of a person’s birth can be of significance for his later development. This is also important from a spiritual point of view. What education does a newly converted person receive in a local church? Is there edification and a living in God’s presence? Or is someone getting the wrong food and being given the wrong example?
10 - 16 Descendants From Solomon to Zedekiah
10 Now Solomon’s son [was] Rehoboam, Abijah [was] his son, Asa his son, Jehoshaphat his son, 11 Joram his son, Ahaziah his son, Joash his son, 12 Amaziah his son, Azariah his son, Jotham his son, 13 Ahaz his son, Hezekiah his son, Manasseh his son, 14 Amon his son, Josiah his son. 15 The sons of Josiah [were] Johanan the firstborn, and the second [was] Jehoiakim, the third Zedekiah, the fourth Shallum. 16 The sons of Jehoiakim [were] Jeconiah his son, Zedekiah his son.
In these verses, the descendants of David are listed from Solomon to Zedekiah, that is, as long as the kingdom existed. Zedekiah is the last king of the two tribes realm of Judah. During his reign Judah is carried away into exile by Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon.
17 - 24 Descendants of Jeconiah
17 The sons of Jeconiah, the prisoner, [were] Shealtiel his son, 18 and Malchiram, Pedaiah, Shenazzar, Jekamiah, Hoshama and Nedabiah. 19 The sons of Pedaiah [were] Zerubbabel and Shimei. And the sons of Zerubbabel [were] Meshullam and Hananiah, and Shelomith [was] their sister; 20 and Hashubah, Ohel, Berechiah, Hasadiah and Jushab-hesed, five. 21 The sons of Hananiah [were] Pelatiah and Jeshaiah, the sons of Rephaiah, the sons of Arnan, the sons of Obadiah, the sons of Shecaniah. 22 The descendants of Shecaniah [were] Shemaiah, and the sons of Shemaiah: Hattush, Igal, Bariah, Neariah and Shaphat, six. 23 The sons of Neariah [were] Elioenai, Hezekiahh and Azrikam, three. 24 The sons of Elioenai [were] Hodaviah, Eliashib, Pelaiah, Akkub, Johanan, Delaiah and Anani, seven.
Here are the descendants of David listed who lived during and after the exile. David’s generation is kept by God even when He can no longer recognize His people as His people and He has given the power of reign to the nations.
The only names we know in this list are those of Sealthiel and his (grand)son Zerubbabel. Led by Zerubbabel, the son of Sealthiel, in reality the grandson, a remnant from Babylon has returned to Israel after seventy years of exile.