Ithream
Ithream was a son of David, born to him in Hebron by his wife Eglah (2Sa.3.5; 1Ch.3.3).
Biography
Ithream was the sixth son born to David during his reign at Hebron, the offspring of his sixth wife, Eglah. His birth is recorded in both 2 Samuel 3:5 and 1 Chronicles 3:3, where he appears at the end of the list of David's sons born in Hebron before the transfer of the capital to Jerusalem. The brief notation in 2 Samuel 3:5: "the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah, David's wife", is notable for its appositional phrase "David's wife," which some scholars have taken as a distinguishing clarification, possibly indicating Eglah held a special status among David's Hebron wives. Beyond these birth records, Ithream receives no further mention in the biblical narrative, and his subsequent history is not preserved.
Significance
Ithream's presence in David's genealogical record, though brief, carries the significance of all dynastic lineages in the Davidic narrative. The sons born to David at Hebron represent the initial flowering of what would become one of history's most consequential royal dynasties, the line through which, according to the prophets and ultimately the New Testament, the Messiah would come (Isaiah 11:1; Matthew 1:1). While Ithream did not inherit the throne, his existence testifies to the vitality of David's household in the crucial Hebron period. His birth also reflects the political dimensions of ancient Near Eastern kingship, where multiple marriages and their offspring were interwoven with alliances and dynastic strategy.
Verse Appearances (2)
2 Samuel
1 Chronicles
References
- Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]