1 Chronicles 3:5
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It's easy to skim over this verse, but notice how it names Solomon after Nathan. This order is significant, as Nathan was actually the son who would eventually lineage the Messiah, making Solomon's prominent placement here a testament to his later royal fame and influence rather than his spiritual lineage at birth.
These were born to him in Jerusalem: Shimea, Shobab, Nathan and Solomon, four by Bath-shua, the daughter of Ammiel;
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage is part of a massive genealogy in 1 Chronicles, tracing the lineage of David and his descendants to highlight God's faithfulness in establishing His chosen king. Right before this, the text lists David's sons born in Hebron to his other wives, but here, it specifically zeroes in on those born in Jerusalem, the newly established capital, and names four sons from his marriage to Bath-shua, including the future King Solomon. This detail emphasizes the importance of Jerusalem and the Davidic line beginning to solidify in its royal setting.
This verse pinpoints the births of David's sons to Jerusalem. Why is that detail important?
A New Capital, A New Era
The text highlights that these sons were born in Jerusalem. This isn't just a geographical note; it's symbolic. David had established Jerusalem as his capital city, the political and spiritual heart of Israel. His sons born here are part of this new, unified kingdom under God's chosen king. Their very birth in the capital signifies their place within this divinely appointed lineage and national identity.
We hear the names of the fathers and sons, but the mother is also named. Why is Bath-shua specifically mentioned here?
Bath-shua: A Notable Mother
While genealogies often focus on the father's line, naming Bath-shua, the daughter of Ammiel, is significant. She is also known as Bathsheba, the woman David famously sinned with. Her inclusion here reminds us that even from complicated beginnings and through human failings, God's redemptive plan and lineage continue. She is not just an accessory to David's story but a mother whose identity is woven into this royal line. Her lineage, the daughter of Ammiel, adds another layer to the family tree.
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Among these sons, one would rise to unparalleled fame and wisdom. Who is it, and what does his birth signify here?
The Heir Apparent
Solomon, one of the sons born to David and Bath-shua in Jerusalem, is destined to be David's successor. His birth here, alongside his brothers, marks him as part of the royal lineage. This particular listing, emphasizing his birth in the capital city to Bath-shua, underscores his legitimate place as heir. Later, Solomon would build the very Temple in Jerusalem that his father, David, longed to construct, fulfilling a significant part of God's covenant promises.
This verse lists children born to David in Jerusalem, most notably Solomon, whose lineage is central to the Old and New Testaments. Understanding David's reign, his sin with Bathsheba, and Solomon's subsequent birth provides the crucial context for this significant royal family line.
c. 1055 BC
David Anointed King
David is first anointed king of Judah in Hebron, initiating his rise to power after years of turmoil and fleeing King Saul.
c. 1047 BC
David Captures Jerusalem
David conquers the Jebusite city of Jerusalem and makes it his capital, establishing it as the political and religious center of Israel.
c. 1040 BC— this verse
David and Bathsheba
King David commits adultery with Bathsheba and arranges for her husband, Uriah, to be killed in battle, a profound moral failure.
c. 1039 BC
Birth of Solomon
Solomon, the son of David and Bathsheba, is born in Jerusalem, though not as David's firstborn son. He is seen as a gift from the Lord, 'loved by the Lord'.
c. 1015 BC
David's Later Reign
David's reign continues, marked by further conquests and the establishment of the Davidic dynasty, though shadowed by the consequences of his earlier sin.
c. 970 BC
Solomon Becomes King
Upon David's death, Solomon succeeds him as king, ushering in a golden age of peace and prosperity for Israel.
This passage from Samuel lists the same four sons born to David in Jerusalem, confirming the lineage and highlighting these individuals as significant sons born after David became king.
1 Kings 1:11-17This passage shows Nathan playing a crucial role in ensuring Solomon, one of the sons listed here, became king, demonstrating his later influence and the importance of this royal line.
2 Samuel 11:1-5This passage recounts the sin involving Bathsheba (also referred to as Bath-shua in Chronicles), the mother of Solomon, directly linking her to the significant events and offspring that shaped Israel's history.
1 Kings 1:28-31The prophet Nathan appears again here, actively advocating for Solomon's kingship before David, emphasizing the vital role Solomon, son of Bath-shua, would play as David's successor.
It's easy to skim over this verse, but notice how it names Solomon after Nathan. This order is significant, as Nathan was actually the son who would eventually lineage the Messiah, making Solomon's prominent placement here a testament to his later royal fame and influence rather than his spiritual lineage at birth.
This passage is part of a massive genealogy in 1 Chronicles, tracing the lineage of David and his descendants to highlight God's faithfulness in establishing His chosen king. Right before this, the text lists David's sons born in Hebron to his other wives, but here, it specifically zeroes in on those born in Jerusalem, the newly established capital, and names four sons from his marriage to Bath-shua, including the future King Solomon. This detail emphasizes the importance of Jerusalem and the Davidic line beginning to solidify in its royal setting.
This passage is part of a massive genealogy in 1 Chronicles, tracing the lineage of David and his descendants to highlight God's faithfulness in establishing His chosen king. Right before this, the text lists David's sons born in Hebron to his other wives, but here, it specifically zeroes in on those born in Jerusalem, the newly established capital, and names four sons from his marriage to Bath-shua, including the future King Solomon. This detail emphasizes the importance of Jerusalem and the Davidic line beginning to solidify in its royal setting.
"These were born to him in Jerusalem: Shimea, Shobab, Nathan and Solomon, four by Bath-shua, the daughter of Ammiel;" — It's easy to skim over this verse, but notice how it names Solomon after Nathan. This order is significant, as Nathan was actually the son who would eventually lineage the Messiah, making Solomon's…
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Last reviewed October 2026
