Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Samuel 3:4

And the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;

4. Adonijah ] Who made an ill return for his father’s indulgence (1Ki 1:6) by setting up a rival claim to the throne in opposition to Solomon, in which he was supported by Joab and Abiathar (1Ki 1:5 ff.). He was pardoned at the time, but shortly afterwards put to death for preferring a request which, viewed in the light of Oriental customs, was tantamount to repeated treason.

Thus three of the six sons born to David in Hebron attained an unenviable notoriety; the remaining three, who are not mentioned again in the history, are happy in their obscurity.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Adonijah – The same who, when David was dying, aspired to the crown, and was put to death by Solomon.

Shephatiah – God is judge. This is the same name as Jehoshaphat, only with the two elements composing it placed in inverted order. Nothing more is known of him or of his brother Ithream.

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

And the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith,…. The same that usurped the throne before his father’s death, to anticipate Solomon, and died by his order, 1Ki 1:5;

and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital; of whom we read nowhere else.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

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

Ver. 4. And the fourth, Adonijah. ] This also was one of David’s tres vomicae, tria carcinomata, imposthumated ulcers, as Augustus called his three untoward daughters.

And the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital. ] By six wives he had but six sons. God was not pleased with his polygamy. Erasmus a telleth of one Combe, a woman of Eubaea, who brought her husband a hundred children: and of another, an English woman, who, being blind, and married to a poor cripple, was blessed with twelve lusty sons, no way deformed or defective. b

a Eras. Chil.

b De Instit. Matr.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)