1 Chronicles 14 · a question people ask

Why don't the lists of David's sons match?

In the text

The Bible gives the sons born in Jerusalem three times, and the lists differ. 2 Samuel names eleven: "Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon" (2 Samuel 5:14), "Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia" (2 Samuel 5:15), "Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet" (2 Samuel 5:16). This chapter names thirteen: "Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon" (14:4), "Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet" (14:5), "Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia" (14:6), "Elishama, Beeliada, and Eliphelet" (14:7). 1 Chronicles 3 also has thirteen, counted "four" (3:5) and "nine" (3:8): "Shimea, Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon" (3:5), "and Ibhar, Elishama, Eliphelet" (3:6), "Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia" (3:7), "Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet, nine" (3:8). Where 2 Samuel and 14:4 have Shammua, 3:5 has Shimea. Where 14:5 has Elishua, as 2 Samuel 5:15 does, 3:6 has Elishama. Where 14:5 has Elpelet, 3:6 has Eliphelet. Where 14:7 has Beeliada, 3:8 and 2 Samuel 5:16 have Eliada. Nogah is in both of Chronicles' lists (3:7, 14:6) and not in 2 Samuel's, and neither is the name at the seventh place (Elpelet in 14:5, Eliphelet in 3:6): 2 Samuel goes from Elishua straight to Nepheg (2 Samuel 5:15). Those two places are the difference between eleven and thirteen. None of the three says why, and this answer doesn't explain it.

The verses

“These are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.”
2 Samuel 5:14-16 · World English Bible
“These are the names of the children whom he had in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet, Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, Elishama, Beeliada, and Eliphelet.”
1 Chronicles 14:4-7 · World English Bible
“and these were born to him in Jerusalem: Shimea, Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon, four, by Bathshua the daughter of Ammiel; and Ibhar, Elishama, Eliphelet, Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet, nine.”
1 Chronicles 3:5-8 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of 1 Chronicles 14

1 Chronicles 14: For his people's sake

David's kingdom was lifted high "for his people Israel’s sake" (14:2), and before each battle he asked God (14:10, 14:14) with the very verb the book used for Saul asking counsel "of one who had a familiar spirit" (10:13): the same asking, turned to God.

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions