And the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;
Study Helps
Interpretation
The length of this war tried the faith and patience of David, and made his settlement at last the more welcome. The contest between grace and corruption in the hearts of believers, may fitly be compared to this warfare.
Read with
This thought runs through 2 Samuel 3:2-5.
Glossary
- Abital Person
- Father of dew; i. e., “fresh”, David’s fifth wife ( 2 Sam. 3:4 ).
- Adonijah Person
- My Lord is Jehovah. (1. ) The fourth son of David ( 2 Sam. 3:4 ). After the death of his elder brothers, Amnon and Absalom, he became heir-apparent to the throne. But Solomon, a younger brother, was preferred to him.
- Haggith Person
- Festive; the dancer, a wife of David and the mother of Adonijah ( 2 Sam. 3:4 ; 1 Kings 1:5 , 11; 2:13; 1 Chr. 3:2 ), who, like Absalom, was famed for his beauty.
- Shephatiah Person
- Judged of the Lord. (1. ) A son of David by Abital ( 2 Sam. 3:4 ). (2. ) A Benjamite who joined David at Ziklag ( 1 Chr. 12:5 ). (3. ) A Simeonite prince in David’s time ( 1 Chr. 27:16 ).