· Translation: KJV

2 Samuel 3:4and the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;

The setting

Hebron, Israel, ~1000-997 BC. David's household continues growing during his reign over Judah, before conquering Jerusalem...

The emotion here: systematic documentation with prophetic knowledge of family destruction ahead

The original word

Adoniyahu (אֲדֹנִיָּהוּ) — 'My Lord is Yahweh,' ironic given his later rebellion against God's chosen successor

Why it matters

Adonijah was described as very handsome and was never disciplined by David, leading to his entitlement

Read with care

What most readers miss in 2 Samuel 3:4

The author lists these names knowing that Adonijah will later try to steal Solomon's throne

Common misconceptionPeople read this as a neutral family list, but it's actually a 'Most Wanted' poster - nearly every son mentioned here will betray, rebel against, or cause David tremendous grief.

Bible Genome reading

2 Samuel 3:4 — Bible Genome reading

SpeakerNarrator
EraUnited Kingdom
Primary emotionresting
Literary typegenealogy

Emotional genome

Comfort power20%
Quotability20%
Memorability30%
Crisis relevance10%
Standalone30%
Themes:familylineagesuccession

In context

No verse stands alone.

Read the conversation around it.

Open 2 Samuel 3

2 Samuel 3:4 comes from the book of 2 Samuel, written during the United Kingdom period. These words are attributed to Narrator. The dominant emotion in this verse is resting, with a comfort power of 20% and a tone that is conversational. It belongs to the genealogy genre of biblical literature. Key themes include family, lineage, succession. Notable phrases: Adonijah; Shephatiah.

Your reflection

What does 2 Samuel 3:4 mean to you, today?

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