Nathan
Who he was
Nathan was one of the sons of King David and Bathsheba, born in Jerusalem (2 Samuel 5:14; 1Ch.3.5; 14.4). He was a younger brother of Solomon, who would succeed David as king.
Although little is known about Nathan's life, his significance lies in his role as an ancestor of Jesus Christ. In the genealogy of Jesus recorded in the Gospel of Luke, Nathan is listed as a descendant of David and an ancestor of Joseph, the husband of Mary (Luke 3:31).
The prophet Zechariah also mentions a future mourning in Jerusalem, where the family of the house of David and the family of Nathan will mourn separately (Zechariah 12:12). This suggests that the descendants of Nathan played a significant role in the history of Israel and were recognized as a distinct lineage within the house of David.
As a son of David, Nathan would have been part of the royal family during a time when Israel was at its peak of power and influence. His inclusion in the biblical record, both in the historical narratives and in the genealogy of Jesus, highlights the importance of the Davidic lineage in God's plan of redemption.
Family
Every mention
2 Samuel 1 mention
1 Chronicles 2 mentions
Zechariah 1 mention
Luke 1 mention
What the dictionary says
Given.
Sources
- STEPBible TIPNR · Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References · CC BY 4.0 · github.com/STEPBible/STEPBible-Data
- Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary (1869) · Public domain