1 Chronicles 14 3

1 Chronicles 14:3 kjv

And David took more wives at Jerusalem: and David begat more sons and daughters.

1 Chronicles 14:3 nkjv

Then David took more wives in Jerusalem, and David begot more sons and daughters.

1 Chronicles 14:3 niv

In Jerusalem David took more wives and became the father of more sons and daughters.

1 Chronicles 14:3 esv

And David took more wives in Jerusalem, and David fathered more sons and daughters.

1 Chronicles 14:3 nlt

Then David married more wives in Jerusalem, and they had more sons and daughters.

1 Chronicles 14 verses

1 Chronicles 14 3 Meaning

This verse states that after settling in Jerusalem, David acquired additional wives, and as a result, he fathered more sons and daughters. It marks the continued growth and establishment of David’s royal household and lineage in his new capital city. The chronicler emphasizes the increase in his family as a sign of consolidation of power and divine favor upon his reign, ensuring a robust line of succession for his kingdom.

1 Chronicles 14 3 Context

This verse appears early in the account of David’s reign as king over all Israel from Jerusalem. Chapters 13 and 14 describe the initial period of his established rule, beginning with his coronation in Jerusalem and the bringing of the Ark of the Covenant. Chapter 14 specifically highlights the establishment of David’s kingdom through external recognition (Hiram’s aid in 1 Chr 14:1-2) and internal growth (his family in 1 Chr 14:3), followed by divine victory over the Philistines. The chronicler's aim is to portray David as a righteous king, blessed by Yahweh, and the progenitor of the chosen dynasty. In the broader historical context of the ancient Near East, having many wives and children was customary for monarchs, signifying their wealth, power, and the stability of their succession. While this practice was common, the Mosaic Law (Deut 17:17) explicitly warned Israelite kings against multiplying wives, foreshadowing potential deviation from God's commands and a turning of the heart away from Him. The chronicler focuses here on the aspect of growth and divine blessing without explicitly critiquing the multiplication of wives at this point.

1 Chronicles 14 3 Word analysis

• And David: Links this action directly to the central figure, highlighting his pivotal role in Israel's history as chosen by God.
• took: (Hebrew: נָשָׂא, nasa) In this context, it signifies "acquired" or "married." It indicates a deliberate act of establishing additional marital relationships, contributing to his royal household.
• more wives: (Hebrew: נָשִׁים יֹותֵר, nashim yoter) "Wives" (nashim) refers to women legally married to him, including secondary wives or concubines. "More" (yoter) implies an increase beyond the wives he already had from his time in Hebron. This points to the expansion of his family and royal household. This expansion was a common practice for monarchs in the ancient Near East to consolidate power, form alliances, and ensure a plentiful line of succession.
• in Jerusalem: Specifies the location of these marriages, establishing them in his newly designated capital. This detail emphasizes that these unions are part of the process of his definitive enthronement and consolidation of royal power in the holy city.
• and David begat: (Hebrew: יָלַד, yalad) Means "fathered" or "caused to be born." It emphasizes David's active role in procreation and directly connects the acquisition of wives to the generation of offspring.
• more sons and daughters: Reinforces the theme of multiplication and increase. "More" again highlights an addition to his existing progeny. This proliferation of children was seen as a sign of divine blessing and contributed to the legitimacy and security of David's throne and his dynasty. For a king, many offspring strengthened dynastic claims and provided potential heirs and administrators for the kingdom.

• "And David took more wives in Jerusalem: and David begat more sons and daughters.": This complete phrase emphasizes the expansion and growth of David's family immediately following his establishment as king in Jerusalem. The chronicler presents this increase as part of the divinely sanctioned success and stability of David's reign, focusing on the flourishing of the king's household which reflects the prosperity of the kingdom under divine favor. The rapid multiplication of his lineage directly underpins the unfolding Davidic covenant and the promise of a perpetual dynasty.

1 Chronicles 14 3 Bonus section

The Chronicler's presentation often streamlines David's narrative, emphasizing his faithfulness, divine favor, and contributions to the Temple and priestly order, frequently omitting or glossing over negative aspects such as his specific moral failures (e.g., Bathsheba, the census details). In this verse, the polygamy, while known from earlier books and eventually contributing to future royal struggles (as seen with Solomon), is here depicted purely as a sign of David's increasing status and a means by which God is blessing his house with numerous offspring for the dynastic promise. The perspective of the Chronicler is often priestly and cultic, focusing on the legitimacy and continuity of the Davidic line from which temple worship and Israel's spiritual well-being flowed. Thus, David's prolific family life serves to underscore the abundant grace bestowed upon him by Yahweh.

1 Chronicles 14 3 Commentary

First Chronicles 14:3 concisely states the expansion of King David’s family after he established his capital in Jerusalem. This verse, paralleling 2 Samuel 5:13, is significant for the chronicler's theological emphasis on the secure and blessed nature of the Davidic dynasty. For the chronicler, David’s large family is presented not as a transgression of Mosaic Law, but rather as evidence of God’s blessing upon him, signifying strength, continuity, and a flourishing kingdom. While the Pentateuch cautions against kings multiplying wives (Deut 17:17) to prevent turning the heart away from the Lord, the chronicler here focuses on the positive aspect of royal progeny contributing to dynastic stability and the fulfillment of God’s covenant promise regarding David's seed. The proliferation of David’s offspring ensured a lineage through which God’s eternal covenant with David would be realized, ultimately culminating in the Messiah.