3:1 These were the sons of David who were born to him in Hebron: The firstborn was Amnon, whose mother was Ahinoam from Jezreel; the second was Daniel, whose mother was Abigail from Carmel; 

Not all of the sons of David were recorded in 1-2 Samuel. Shimea, Shobab, and Nathan were listed in this book for the first time.  Mary, the mother of Jesus, traced her ancestry through Nathan, while Joseph’s genealogy was traced through Solomon. The differences in Matthew and Luke's genealogy is very important, because Jeconiah was cursed to have none of his seed to sit on the Davidic throne. Therefore, since Joseph came from the line of Jeconiah, then Joseph could not be the father of the Messiah. Mary came not from the line of Jeconiah, but through the line of Nathan. Therefore, the Messiah had to be virgin-born. 

David was a great king, a king after God’s own heart, but he was not a very good father. Amnon committed incest with his half-sister.

3:2 the third was Absalom whose mother was Maacah, daughter of King Talmai of Geshur; the fourth was Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith; 

Absalom means “father is peace,”, but he was anything but peaceful. He murdered his oldest brother and attempted to usurp the throne from his father. 

3:3 the fifth was Shephatiah, whose mother was Abital; the sixth was Ithream, whose mother was Eglah.  3:4 These six were born to David in Hebron, where he ruled for seven years and six months. He ruled thirty-three years in Jerusalem. 3:5 These were the sons born to him in Jerusalem: Shimea, Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon—the mother of these four was Bathsheba the daughter of Ammiel. 3:6 The other nine were Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet, 3:7 Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, 3:8 Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet. 3:9 These were all the sons of David, not counting the sons of his concubines. Tamar was their sister. 

David had many sons through his multiple wives. He also had sons through his concubines, but they were not added to this list. The author would give more details about the life of David after the listing of the genealogies. 

3:10 Solomon’s son was Rehoboam, followed by Abijah his son, Asa his son, Jehoshaphat his son, 3:11 Joram his son, Ahaziah his son, Joash his son, 3:12 Amaziah his son, Azariah his son, Jotham his son, 3:13 Ahaz his son, Hezekiah his son, Manasseh his son, 3:14 Amon his son, Josiah his son.

Solomon means “peace.” Solomon possessed the highest level of human viewpoint in history, but he became an idol worshiper. An intelligent mind will not do anyone any good if they have not received the efficacious call of God.

Rehoboam was Solomon’s son during the origins of the Divided Monarchy.  His descendants became the kings of Judah until the Babylonian Captivity.

3:15 The sons of Josiah: Johanan was the firstborn; Jehoiakim was born second; Zedekiah third; and Shallum fourth. 

Josiah was the last good king before the Babylonian Captivity. He led Judah into many reforms which rid the land of paganism.

3:16 The sons of Jehoiakim: his son Jehoiachin and his son Zedekiah. 3:17 The sons of Jehoiachin the exile: Shealtiel his son, 3:18 Malkiram, Pedaiah, Shenazzar, Jekamiah, Hoshama, and Nedabiah. 

King Jehoiachin was taken into captivity, but the Davidic messianic line was preserved in Babylon. Some of the messianic seed was kept in Babylonian prisons. Others were invited to eat at the Babylonian king’s table.

3:19 The sons of Pedaiah: Zerubbabel and Shimei. The sons of Zerubbabel: Meshullam and Hananiah. Shelomith was their sister. 3:20 The five others were Hashubah, Ohel, Berechiah, Hasadiah, and Jushab-Hesed. 3:21 The descendants of Hananiah: Pelatiah, Jeshaiah, the sons of Rephaiah, of Arnan, of Obadiah, and of Shecaniah. 3:22 The descendants of Shecaniah: Shemaiah and his sons: Hattush, Igal, Bariah, Neariah, and Shaphat—six in all. 3:23 The sons of Neariah: Elioenai, Hizkiah, and Azrikam—three in all. 3:24 The sons of Elioenai: Hodaviah, Eliashib, Pelaiah, Akkub, Johanan, Delaiah, and Anani—seven in all. 

Anani was the seventh son of Elioenai. This was the last generation recorded in the Old Testament before the 400 “silent years” between the Testaments. Malachi was the last prophet of the Old Testament. There were no more prophets in Israel, until John the Baptist came on the scene 400 years later.