Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Chronicles 3:1-4

"Now these were the sons of David, that were born unto him in Hebron: the first-born, Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; the second, Daniel, of Abigail the Carmelitess; the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; the fifth, Shephatiah of Abital; the sixth, Ithream by Eglah his wife: six were born unto him in Hebron; and there he reigned seven years and six months. And in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years;" — 1 Chronicles 3:1-4 (ASV)

I.—The sons of David. —This section is parallel to 2 Samuel 3:2–5 (compare to 1 Chronicles 3:1–4) and 2 Samuel 5:14–16 (1 Chronicles 3:5–9); compare also 1 Chronicles 14:3–7.

The six sons born in Hebron. The sons and mothers agree with those of the parallel passage in Samuel, with the one exception of the second son, who is here called Daniel, but in Samuel, Chileab. The Septuagint (2 Samuel 3:3) has Δαλουια, which may represent Hebrew Delaiah (Iah has freed), though in our 1 Chronicles 3:24 that name is spelled Δαλααια, or Δαλαια. In the present passage the Vatican Septuagint has Δαμνιήλ, the Alexandrinus Δαλουνια.

Perhaps Daniel is a corruption of Delaiah, as this name recurs in the line of David. Chileab may have had a second name (compare to Uzziah-Azariah, Mattaniah-Zedekiah), especially as Chileab appears to be a nickname, meaning “dog.” (Compare to the Latin Canidius, Caninius, as a family name.)