1 Chronicles 3:1-24
David's Line
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1These were the sons of David who were born to him in Hebron: The firstborn was Amnon by Ahinoam of Jezreel; the second was Daniel by Abigail of Carmel;
2the third was Absalom the son of Maacah daughter of King Talmai of Geshur; the fourth was Adonijah the son of Haggith;
3the fifth was Shephatiah by Abital; and the sixth was Ithream by his wife Eglah.
4These six sons were born to David in Hebron, where he reigned seven years and six months. And David reigned in Jerusalem thirty-three years,
5and these sons were born to him in Jerusalem: Shimea, Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon. These four were born to him by Bathsheba daughter of Ammiel.
6David’s other sons were Ibhar, Elishua, Eliphelet,
7Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia,
8Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet—nine in all.
9These were all the sons of David, besides the sons by his concubines. And Tamar was their sister.
10Solomon’s son was Rehoboam: Abijah was his son, Asa his son, Jehoshaphat his son,
11Joram his son, Ahaziah his son, Joash his son,
12Amaziah his son, Azariah his son, Jotham his son,
13Ahaz his son, Hezekiah his son, Manasseh his son,
14Amon his son, and Josiah his son.
15The sons of Josiah: Johanan was the firstborn, Jehoiakim the second, Zedekiah the third, and Shallum the fourth.
16The successors of Jehoiakim: Jeconiah his son, and Zedekiah.
17The descendants of Jeconiah the captive: Shealtiel his son,
18Malchiram, Pedaiah, Shenazzar, Jekamiah, Hoshama, and Nedabiah.
19The sons of Pedaiah: Zerubbabel and Shimei. The children of Zerubbabel: Meshullam and Hananiah, their sister Shelomith,
20and five others: Hashubah, Ohel, Berechiah, Hasadiah, and Jushab-hesed.
21The descendants of Hananiah: Pelatiah, Jeshaiah, and the sons of Rephaiah, of Arnan, of Obadiah, and of Shecaniah.
22The six descendants of Shecaniah were Shemaiah and his sons: Hattush, Igal, Bariah, Neariah, and Shaphat.
23The sons of Neariah: Elioenai, Hizkiah, and Azrikam—three in all.
24The sons of Elioenai: Hodaviah, Eliashib, Pelaiah, Akkub, Johanan, Delaiah, and Anani—seven in all.
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
David's sons born in Hebron are listed first, followed by the sons born in Jerusalem. The record names the royal family through Solomon and then traces the kings and descendants who came after him. It is a genealogy, but it also preserves the line through which Israel's throne continued.
The names include children born to different mothers and descendants whose lives are not narrated. David's household was not a simple picture of harmony. Power, marriage, succession, and grief are all present beneath the orderly list.
After the kings, the genealogy names Jeconiah as a captive and lists his descendants. Shealtiel and Pedaiah appear among them; here Zerubbabel is listed as Pedaiah's son. Further generations follow. Captivity has not erased David's family, though a continuing family tree is not the same thing as a restored throne.
The closing names reach into later generations. The list does not promise that every descendant will lead well, but it shows that God's covenant story was not cancelled by the fall of Jerusalem. Memory becomes a form of hope when it keeps a people connected to what God has promised.
Questions
1 Whose descendants are recorded?
AnswerThe record follows David's sons, the kings who came from him, and later descendants connected to the royal line.
2 What happens to the line during exile?
AnswerJeconiah is named as a captive, but the list continues through his descendants, including Pedaiah and Zerubbabel. Jerusalem's defeat does not end David's family.
3 Does royal ancestry guarantee good leadership?
AnswerNo. The genealogy preserves succession, but it does not claim that every king or descendant was faithful.
4 How can remembering a family line give hope?
AnswerIt can show that judgment and displacement did not erase God's continuing work through the generations.
What This Means for Us
David's descendants include kings and a captive. The family's position changes drastically, yet the line continues. God's promise cannot be measured only by what a particular generation can see.
Luke 1:32–33 announces that Jesus will receive David's throne and reign forever. That is a firmer hope than having an impressive ancestry of our own. We belong to a King whose reign will not end, even when our family's circumstances are uncertain.
Prayer
Faithful God, thank You that defeat and exile did not bring Your promise to an end. Help us trust Jesus, the promised King, and rest our hope in His enduring reign. Amen.