1 Chronicles 17 · a question people ask
Is the son in 17:11-14 Solomon, or Jesus?
The chapter doesn't name him. It speaks of "your offspring after you, who will be of your sons" (17:11), who "will build me a house" (17:12). Later the book names Solomon: "for his name shall be Solomon" (1 Chronicles 22:9). Hebrews takes the words 17:13 shares with 2 Samuel 7:14 for the Son: "I will be to him a Father, and he will be to me a Son" (Hebrews 1:5). Christians read how these fit together in two main ways, the same two 2 Samuel 7's honest question sets out. Both agree that Hebrews speaks these words of the Son.
How Christians read it
Where Christians differ, Favor sets out the main views side by side and doesn't pick one.
Solomon first, and then Jesus
Those who read it this way take the offspring of 17:11-12 as Solomon first. The book gives the LORD's word about him: "He shall build a house for my name; and he will be my son, and I will be his father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever" (1 Chronicles 22:10), and "Solomon, your son, shall build my house and my courts; for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father" (1 Chronicles 28:6). At the end, "Solomon sat on the throne of the LORD as king instead of David his father" (1 Chronicles 29:23). On this reading the promise's "forever" (17:12, 17:14) reaches past Solomon to Jesus, of whom Hebrews says, "I will be to him a Father, and he will be to me a Son" (Hebrews 1:5).
1 Chronicles 22:9-10 · 1 Chronicles 28:6 · 1 Chronicles 29:23 · 1 Chronicles 17:12 · 1 Chronicles 17:14 · Hebrews 1:5
David's line, kept in Jesus
Those who read it this way take "your offspring" (17:11) as David's line of sons, not one son only; the Hebrew word, zera, is used both of one child (Genesis 4:25) and of many (Genesis 15:5). A psalm retells the promise this way: "I will establish your offspring forever, and build up your throne to all generations" (Psalm 89:4), and "I will also make his offspring endure forever, and his throne as the days of heaven" (Psalm 89:29). On this reading the throne that "will be established forever" (17:14) is the one Gabriel says Jesus will be given: "The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David" (Luke 1:32).
1 Chronicles 17:11 · Genesis 4:25 · Genesis 15:5 · Psalm 89:4 · Psalm 89:29 · 1 Chronicles 17:14 · Luke 1:32
The verses
“It will happen, when your days are fulfilled that you must go to be with your fathers, that I will set up your offspring after you, who will be of your sons; and I will establish his kingdom. He will build me a house, and I will establish his throne forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. I will not take my loving kindness away from him, as I took it from him who was before you; but I will settle him in my house and in my kingdom forever. His throne will be established forever.”’””
“Behold, a son shall be born to you, who shall be a man of peace. I will give him rest from all his enemies all around; for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness to Israel in his days.”
“I will be his father, and he will be my son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the stripes of the children of men;”
“For to which of the angels did he say at any time, “You are my Son. Today I have become your father?” and again, “I will be to him a Father, and he will be to me a Son?””