(5-8) The thirteen sons born in Jerusalem. See 2Samuel 5:14-16, and 1Chronicles 14:4-7, where this list is repeated with some variations (1Chronicles 3:5). The four sons of Bath-sheba, called here Bath-shua, a weakened form, if not a copyist's error. By a similar change the Elishama of 1Chronicles 3:6 appears in Samuel as Elishua.

Shimea ("report") was a son of Jesse (1Chronicles 2:13). Perhaps, therefore, Shammua ("famous") is correct here, as in Samuel.

Ammiel and Eliam are transposed forms of the same name, meaning "El is a tribesman" ('am=gens, el = deus). (Comp. Ahaziah and Jehoahaz, Nethaniah and Jehonathan, and many similar transpositions.) So in Gr. Theodoros and Dorotheos, Philotheos and Theophilos exist side by side.

Verse 5. - In this verse we have the form Bathshua for the familiar name Bathsheba, i.e. בַת־שׁוַּע for בַת־שֶׁבַע, in which latter word שֶׁבַע is a shorter form of שְׁבוּעָה. In the same verse we have עַמִּיאֵל here for ךאלִעִָם in 2 Samuel 11:3. The former name occurs often, e.g. Numbers 13:12; 2 Samuel 9:4, 5; 2 Samuel 17:27; 1 Chronicles 26:5. The component parts of both words are the same, but their order is different - the meaning of the one perhaps "the people of God;" of the other, "the God of the people."

3:1-24 Genealogies. - Of all the families of Israel, none were so illustrious as the family of David: here we have a full account of it. From this family, as concerning the flesh, Christ came. The attentive observer will perceive that the children of the righteous enjoy many advantages.And these were born unto him in Jerusalem,.... Whose names follow, in all nine; there are but seven mentioned in 2 Samuel 5:14 the reason of which see in the notes there; See Gill on 2 Samuel 5:14. See Gill on 2 Samuel 5:15. See Gill on 2 Samuel 5:16. it may be observed that Bathsheba is here called Bathshua, and her father Ammiel, whose name is Eliam in 2 Samuel 11:3, names of much the same signification.