Who are the sons of David mentioned in the Bible?

Answer

First Chronicles 3:1–9 details the sons of David. The record is as follows:

“These were the sons of David born to him in Hebron:

The firstborn was Amnon, the son of Ahinoam of Jezreel;

the second, Daniel, the son of Abigail of Carmel;

the third, Absalom, the son of Maakah, daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur;

the fourth, Adonijah, the son of Haggith;

the fifth, Shephatiah, the son of Abital;

and the sixth, Ithream, by his wife Eglah.

These six were born to David in Hebron, where he reigned for seven years and six months.

David reigned in Jerusalem for thirty-three years, and these were the children born to him there:

Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon. These four were born to Bathsheba, daughter of Ammiel. Additionally, there were Ibhar, Elishua, Eliphelet, Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet—nine in total. All these were the sons of David, apart from his sons by his concubines. Tamar was their sister.”

Breaking down this list, we first have David’s six sons born in Hebron: 1) Amnon, 2) Daniel, 3) Absalom, 4) Adonijah, 5) Shephatiah, and 6) Ithream.

Next, we have the thirteen sons born to David in Jerusalem: 7) Shimea, 8) Shobab, 9) Nathan, 10) Solomon, 11) Ibhar, 12) Elishama, 13) Eliphelet, 14) Nogah, 15) Nepheg, 16) Japhia, 17) Elishama, 18) Eliada, and 19) Eliphelet.

In addition to the nineteen sons David had by his wives, there were several unnamed sons David fathered through his concubines. He also had a daughter named Tamar. Another son named Jerimoth is mentioned in 2 Chronicles 11:18, although it is unclear whether he is one of the sons mentioned above (using another name) or one of David’s sons by a concubine.

David also

David had a son with Bathsheba before she bore Solomon. This son died seven days after his birth (2 Samuel 12:16-23), and it is possible that he is not included in this list. If so, the sons of David with his wives would total at least 20. To that total, we would add all the unnamed sons of his concubines.

At least three of David’s sons died during his lifetime. Besides the death of Bathsheba’s first son, there were the deaths of his sons Amnon and Absalom. Another son, Adonijah, was executed shortly after David’s death for attempting to usurp the throne «And King Solomon sent by the hand of Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he fell upon him that he died. », (1 Kings 2:25).

David’s son Solomon succeeded him as king and later built the temple of the Lord that David had dreamed of constructing. Ultimately, Jesus Christ was born as a descendant of David «The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. », (Matthew 1:1), fulfilling prophecy and honoring King David in the highest possible way.