📖WEB · 1 Chronicles 3:2
What does 1 Chronicles 3:2 mean?
"the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith;"
— 1 Chronicles 3:2 (World English Bible)
Surrounding context
Now these were the sons of David, who were born to him in Hebron: the firstborn, Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; the second, Daniel, of Abigail the Carmelitess;
the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith;
the fifth, Shephatiah of Abital; the sixth, Ithream by Eglah his wife:
six were born to him in Hebron; and he reigned there seven years and six months. He reigned thirty-three years in Jerusalem;
and these were born to him in Jerusalem: Shimea, Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon, four, of Bathshua the daughter of Ammiel;
Explanation
This verse is part of a genealogical record listing the sons born to King David while he reigned in Hebron, before he became king over all Israel in Jerusalem. In plain terms, it tells us that David's third son was Absalom, whose mother was Maacah, a princess whose father Talmai ruled the Aramean kingdom of Geshur, and that David's fourth son was Adonijah, whose mother was a woman named Haggith. The verse simply records names and lineage, but each name carries a story that the original readers would have recognized.
First Chronicles was likely compiled after the Babylonian exile, addressed to Israelites returning to their homeland who needed to reconnect with their national and covenant identity. The Chronicler begins his book with extensive
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