by Angela Hunt
Did Absalom have children? Yes (2 Samuel 14:27, 18:18; 2 Kings 15:2). Did four of them die in the plague? I don’t know how they died, but only Maacah is ever mentioned in Scripture again. Some scholars believe that 2 Samuel 14:27 actually means that Maacah is Tamar’s daughter and Absalom’s granddaughter (who later married Solomon’s son Rehoboam). I chose the literal rendering, though I believe either alternative is plausible.
Did Bathsheba really have five sons, four of whom survived? Yes (1 Chronicles 3:5).
I found it interesting that the Gospel of Matthew traces Jesus’ lineage through Solomon, while Luke traces it through Nathan, Bathsheba’s youngest son. The two genealogies do not agree, and here’s an explanation as to why they differ:
A. The lists of ancestors found in Matthew 1:1–17 and Luke 3:23–38 do not agree. There are two major theories for the discrepancies:
1. Matthew wrote primarily to a Jewish audience and recorded Joseph’s lineage to satisfy Jewish legal practices, while Luke wrote to Gentiles and recorded Mary’s lineage. Both trace Jesus back to David, yet Luke goes further, all the way back to Adam (probably because he was writing for Gentiles).
2. Matthew recorded the lineage of the kings of Judah succeeding David (or after the Exile, those who would have succeeded), while Luke recorded the actual ancestors.
B. This lineage would serve the purpose of proving Jesus’ tribal identity and showing the fulfillment of prophecy (cf. Genesis 49:8–12 and 2 Samuel 7). Fulfilled prophecy (cf. Matthew 1:22; 2:15, 17, 23; 4:14; 8:17; 12:17; 13:35; 21:4; 27:9; 35) is strong evidence for a supernatural Bible and for God’s control of history and time.
C. Matthew 1:17 gives the key to understanding why some ancestors are not listed. The author was using a numerically structured, three-tiered “fourteen generation” approach to Jesus’ lineage.1
If you’d like to read the supporting Scriptures for this novel, you’ll find most of them in 2 Samuel and 1 Kings.
I hope Bathsheba’s story, like Esther’s, has encouraged you to pick up a Bible and read the historical accounts of how they lived and how God used them. I love to hear from readers, so if you have any questions or comments, feel free to drop me a note at [email protected].
1. Robert James Utley, vol. 9, The First Christian Primer: Matthew, Study Guide Commentary Series, 6 (Marshall, TX: Bible Lessons International, 2000).
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Angela Hunt has published more than one hundred books, with sales nearing five million copies worldwide. She’s the New York Times bestselling author of The Tale of Three Trees, The Note, and The Nativity Story. Angela’s novels have won or been nominated for several prestigious industry awards, such as the RITA Award, the Christy Award, the ECPA Christian Book Award, and the HOLT Medallion Award. Romantic Times Book Club presented her with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006. In 2008, she completed her doctorate in Biblical Studies and is currently completing her Th.D. Angela and her husband live in Florida, along with their mastiffs. For a complete list of the author’s books, visit angelahuntbooks.com.
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