First is listed David's six sons born of six different wives in Hebron, his first royal residence where he reigned for seven-and-a-half years. 2 Samuel 5:5 states that “at Hebron [David] reigned over Judah for seven years and six months and at Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah for thirty-three years.” The Chronicler, however, removes the difference between ruling over Judah only and ruling over all Israel and Judah in Jerusalem. He does not seem interested in David's rule over part of the land but rather, as accords with his overall purpose, all Israel.
1
The genealogy of David's sons highlights birth reports by giving the name of the mother (1 Chronicles 3:1), concluding totals (1 Chronicles 3:4), and name lists (1 Chronicles 3:5).2 The Chronicler reproduces 2 Samuel almost without change in 1 Chronicles 3:1–4. Daniel, his son by Abigail, is named Chileab in 2 Samuel 3:3. Some would ascribe this change to textual corruption. Significantly, he does not withhold references to the non-Israelite background of some of David’s wives (for example, Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur,
1 Chronicles 3:2).3
1 These are the sons of David who were born to him in Hebron: the firstborn, Amnon, by Ahinoam the Jezreelite; the second, Daniel, by Abigail the Carmelite,