1 Chronicles 22 · a question people ask
22:9 names the son Solomon. Is the promise of 22:10 about Solomon, or Jesus?
Here the son is named: "for his name shall be Solomon" (22:9), and "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" (22:10). Chapter 17 gave the promise without a name (17:11-14). 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 1 Chronicles 17'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 22:10 as it stands: the son is Solomon, who will build the house (22:9-10), and at the end of the book "Solomon sat on the throne of the LORD as king instead of David his father" (1 Chronicles 29:23). On this reading the "forever" of 22:10 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 29:23 · Hebrews 1:5
David's line, kept in Jesus
Those who read it this way take the promise as reaching David's whole line, with Solomon named first: "I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever" (22:10). A psalm retells the promise this way: "I will establish your offspring forever, and build up your throne to all generations" (Psalm 89:4). On this reading the throne is the one Gabriel says Jesus will be given: "The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever" (Luke 1:32-33).
1 Chronicles 22:10 · Psalm 89:4 · Luke 1:32-33
The verses
“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. 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.’”
“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.”’””
“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?””