Inquiry:
Was Solomon David’s second (2 Samuel 12:15, 24) or fourth (1 Chronicles 3:5) son by Bathsheba? Is there a contradiction?
Response:
In 2 Samuel 12:15, 24, we see that after the first son born to David by Bathsheba had died, she bore another child to him, Solomon. The indication is that he is the second born by Bathsheba to David.
When we come to 1 Chronicles 3:5, four sons of Bathsheba are listed who were born to David in Jerusalem: Shimea, Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon. Is the intent of the writer of Chronicles to tell us that Solomon was the youngest of all the sons born to David by Bathsheba? He does not tell us that this is the case.
Notice in the first part of 1 Chronicles 3, the sons of David born in Hebron are given. We read of the firstborn, the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth. Then between verse 5-9, the rest of David’s children are mentioned. We are not told that they are in chronological order as the earlier children are.
Why is Solomon listed after Shimea, Shobab and Nathan? It may be as simple as listing the son of David by Bathsheba who would take the throne, and whose genealogy is followed below (v 10) last. The text does not say it is chronological. Since 2 Samuel 12 shows Solomon to be older than the others, we know it is not chronological.
There is no contradiction.
Links: YouVersion | GROW magazine
Return to the article archive
