ZEV RADOVAN/BIBLELANDPICTURES.COM
How many brothers did King David have, according to the Bible?
Answer: Six or seven
Both numbers accord with the biblical account. In 1 Samuel 16, when God sends the prophet Samuel to Bethlehem in search of Saul’s successor, David is clearly identified as Jesse’s eighth son, with seven older brothers of which only the first three are named: Eliab, Abinadab, and Shammah. Meanwhile, the later genealogy in 1 Chronicles 2:13–15, likely written down in the fourth century BCE, names David as Jesse’s seventh son, with just six older brothers: Eliab, Abinadab, Shimea (a deviation from the Samuel text), Nethanel, Raddai, and Ozem.
Why the discrepancy? Both texts prominently feature the number seven, which held special significance throughout the ancient world. Beyond this, however, it is impossible to sidestep the contradiction. In the modern world, we tend to prioritize factual consistency in our storytelling, but such a focus was less of a concern in antiquity. Whereas we might view these two passages’ disagreement as a problem to be resolved, it would not have troubled ancient authors and audiences. They were far more concerned with capturing the human experience and creatively exploring humanity’s relationship to the divine.
How many brothers did King David have, according to the Bible? Answer: Six or seven Both numbers accord with the biblical account. In 1 Samuel 16, when God sends the prophet Samuel to Bethlehem in search of Saul’s successor, David is clearly identified as Jesse’s eighth son, with seven older brothers of which only the first three are named: Eliab, Abinadab, and Shammah. Meanwhile, the later genealogy in 1 Chronicles 2:13–15, likely written down in the fourth century BCE, names David as Jesse’s seventh son, with just six older brothers: Eliab, Abinadab, Shimea (a deviation from the Samuel text), Nethanel, […]
