Now these were the sons of David, which were born unto him in Hebron; the firstborn Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; the second Daniel, of Abigail the Carmelitess:

1 CHRONICLES 3:1KJV
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1 Chronicles 3:1 (KJV)

What does 1 Chronicles 3:1 mean?

1 Chronicles 3:1 lists the sons of David who were born to him in Hebron, naming Amnon as his firstborn by Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and Daniel as his second son by Abigail the Carmelitess. This verse begins a record of David’s family, focusing on the order and mothers of his sons during his time in Hebron.

The verse is part of a genealogy written by the Chronicler, likely for the returned exiles of Israel, to clarify the royal lineage of King David. It sets the stage for understanding the succession and family structure of David, which was important for tracing the legitimate line of kings and understanding Israel’s history.

The Hebrew behind 1 Chronicles 3:1

  • בָּנִים (banim; "sons"): This word is used for "sons" and highlights the emphasis on male descendants in royal genealogies, which was crucial for inheritance and succession.
  • בְּכוֹר (bekhor; "firstborn"): The term for "firstborn" carries legal and social significance, as the firstborn son often had special rights and responsibilities in the family and royal succession.
  • יְלִד (yalad; "born"): This verb means "to give birth" or "to be born," marking the importance of birthplace (Hebron) in establishing the legitimacy of these sons.
  • חֶבְרוֹן (Chevron; "Hebron"): Naming Hebron as the place of birth roots these events in a specific historical and geographic context, as Hebron was David’s first capital before Jerusalem.

Why 1 Chronicles 3:1 matters

  • This verse clarifies the order and maternal lineage of David’s sons, which helps explain later events in the books of Samuel and Kings, such as disputes over succession.
  • By specifying Hebron as the birthplace, the verse connects David’s early reign and family life to a key location in Israel’s history, showing a transition from Hebron to Jerusalem.
  • The careful listing of mothers alongside sons highlights the complex family dynamics and political alliances formed through David’s marriages, which influenced later events in Israel’s monarchy.

Where else these words appear

“Carmelitess” Hebrew H3762 · used in 2 verses

  • 1 Samuel 27:3 And David dwelt with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, even David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal's wife.

“Jezreelitess” Hebrew H3159 · used in 5 verses

  • 1 Samuel 27:3 And David dwelt with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, even David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal's wife.
  • 1 Samuel 30:5 And David's two wives were taken captives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.
  • 2 Samuel 2:2 So David went up thither, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail Nabal's wife the Carmelite.

“Ahinoam” Hebrew H293 · used in 7 verses

  • 1 Samuel 14:50 And the name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz: and the name of the captain of his host was Abner, the son of Ner, Saul's uncle.
  • 1 Samuel 27:3 And David dwelt with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, even David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal's wife.
  • 2 Samuel 2:2 So David went up thither, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail Nabal's wife the Carmelite.

“Abigail” Hebrew H26 · used in 17 verses

  • 1 Samuel 25:3 Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail: and she was a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance: but the man was churlish and evil in his doings; and he was of the house of Caleb.
  • 1 Samuel 25:36 And Abigail came to Nabal; and, behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; and Nabal's heart was merry within him, for he was very drunken: wherefore she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light.
  • 1 Samuel 30:5 And David's two wives were taken captives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.