1 Chronicles 3:23

Study note

Setting — The Chronicler records genealogical data for King David’s lineage, specifically tracing the descendants of Neariah, who is listed among Shemaiah’s sons in the preceding verse. This enumeration appears within a broader historical register documenting the royal family line.

The words — The Hebrew בֶּן (ben) literally means “son” and establishes the paternal relationship, while שְׁלֹשָׁה (sheloshah) explicitly counts “three” to close the list. These terms anchor the passage in precise genealogical recording rather than narrative expansion.

The thread — This verse continues the linear genealogical chain running from David through his descendants in 1 Chronicles 3, mirroring the structural pattern of the surrounding verses that catalog family groups with exact counts. The text maintains a consistent focus on lineage verification across the chapter’s historical registers.

Why it lands — The passage requires readers to acknowledge the meticulous preservation of family lines for identity and covenant continuity. It demands attention to specific names and counts without offering immediate narrative resolution or theological commentary.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.