"Was Solomon David’s second or fourth son by Bathsheba?" (Alleged Contradiction #E4603)
And Nathan departed unto his house. And the LORD struck the child that Uriah’s wife bare unto David, and it was very sick. And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: and the LORD loved him.
II Samuel 12:15, 24
And these were born unto him in Jerusalem; Shimea, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon, four, of Bathshua the daughter of Ammiel …
I Chronicles 3:5
Response
The four sons listed in I Chronicles are not mentioned in their birth order. This is not unusual in the Bible; for instance, Noah’s sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, are never listed together in the order that they were born. 1 Solomon may have been mentioned last for emphasis since the readers would have already known his birth order. 2
Site Under Construction
This site is still under construction. It needs more references, citations, and debate arguments. If you would like to help, please view the community page.
Sources
Ruckman, P. S. (1980). Problem Texts. Pensacola, Fla.: Pensacola Bible Institute.