And the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;
The fourth son named is Adonijah the son of Haggith, and the fifth is Shephatiah the son of Abital. The listing stands in the account of the political changes that preceded David's rule over all Israel. By giving different mothers for different sons it shows David's multiplicity of wives, with Haggith and Abital numbered among those wives, and the list contributes to the record of nine wives and ten concubines attributed to him.
It belongs to the account of David's sons by multiple wives, whose family life brought jealousy and wickedness. Multiplicity of wives is an awful evil. David's irregularities and sins in marrying many wives brought him political and other troubles, and all the miseries that came upon him are traced largely to this practice. Those miseries included heavy disgrace and sorrow on account of his sons Amnon and Absalom, his fleeing from Jerusalem, and war against Absalom.
The fourth son named is Adonijah the son of Haggith, and the fifth is Shephatiah the son of Abital. The listing stands in the account of the political changes that preceded David's rule over all Israel. By giving different mothers for different sons it shows David's multiplicity of wives, with Haggith and Abital numbered among those wives, and the list contributes to the record of nine wives and ten concubines attributed to him.
It belongs to the account of David's sons by multiple wives, whose family life brought jealousy and wickedness. Multiplicity of wives is an awful evil. David's irregularities and sins in marrying many wives brought him political and other troubles, and all the miseries that came upon him are traced largely to this practice. Those miseries included heavy disgrace and sorrow on account of his sons Amnon and Absalom, his fleeing from Jerusalem, and war against Absalom.