The Queen Who is Not Mentioned

I Chronicles 3:1

Amichai Lau-Lavie (he/him)

Jun 02, 2025

Behind every great man stands a great woman, right? Finally, even the Hebrew Bible, patriarchy’s archive, written by men, for men, mostly about men - comes around to face this basic feminist fact. Mostly.

Today, in synagogues around the world, the Scroll of Ruth is read in honor of the holiday of Shavuot. Ruth was a foreigner, a widow, and a woman who chooses loyalty, love, and a new people. She becomes a member of the tribe and her story is told today because it happens during the time of the wheat harvest - Shavuot’s original intention - and also because it’s about dedication to the tribe and its stories - the new meaning of the holiday.

She will become King David’s great-grandmother. Her name isn’t just remembered—it’s canonized. From outsider, enemy lines to matriarch and majestic role model.

Her name is not mentioned among the many women of the tribe of Judah in the Book of Chronicles and in these chapters - and that is an odd exception.

But she is not the only woman linked to the Davidic dynasty that is not mentioned here. Who gets to be listed and why?

As we’ve already seen, and this chapter continues to do - this book lists more women than other books of the bible. In a surprising twist for a male-dominated ancient text, Chronicles—often skipped, often dismissed as just dry genealogy. There are at least 50 mentioned in these chapters.

Some are not named and only referenced —but many are named and titled - ranging from mothers and wives, grandmothers and daughters, concubines and lovers, sisters and singers, tribal leaders and queens.

Why does Chronicles, of all books, remember some of these women and some not?

Scholars suggest this isn’t a coincidence—it’s a conscious act of theological and social rebuilding. Written in the aftermath of the Babylonian exile, Chronicles is more than a list of who begat whom. It’s a spiritual blueprint for a community trying to remember who they are, and who they want to be.

1 Chronicles 2:1 starts the long list: “These are the sons of Israel…”—but in the verses that follow, daughters show up too. Zeruiah, sister of David and mother of generals. Tamar, remembered in Judah’s line. Maacah, a queen mother. Bithiah, an Egyptian princess who joins the Israelite family. Their inclusion breaks the mold.

Chapter 3 begins by listing the wives of King David - and the children they bore him. It’s a little surprising to discover that he had at least 7 wives and countless concubines. This is how the list begins:

וְאֵ֤לֶּה הָיוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י דָוִ֔יד אֲשֶׁ֥ר נוֹלַד־ל֖וֹ בְּחֶבְר֑וֹן הַבְּכ֣וֹר ׀ אַמְנֹ֗ן לַאֲחִינֹ֙עַם֙ הַיִּזְרְעֵאלִ֔ית שֵׁנִי֙ דָּנִיֵּ֔אל לַאֲבִיגַ֖יִל הַֽכַּרְמְלִֽית׃

These are the sons of David who were born to him in Hebron: the first-born Amnon, by Ahinoam the Jezreelite; the second Daniel, by Abigail the Carmelite;

I Chronicles 3:1

And the list goes on. Why are they all here even if only one of them will birth the heir? And maybe that is why an important queen is not named here: Michael, King Saul’s daughter, of whom many stories are told in the earlier parts of the bible - is not named here at all. is that because she bore him no sons?

Some suggest that this list of women who were part of the lineage was created to glorify the Judean tribe and its powerful progeny. Some suggest the Chronicler expands the definition of belonging. The message is subtle, but subversive: it takes all of us to rebuild a people. Not just men and not just Judean.

Some women are named without their husbands. Some are remembered as mothers of heroes. Others are only shadows—“his concubine,” “his sister”—but even shadows are evidence of presence. These women are part of the story, and the Chronicler makes sure we see them. Or most of them anyway.

In a world—and a tradition—where women are too often erased, it’s affirming, to a degree, to consider that this text offers a different lens, honoring hidden her-stories that are waiting to be told, heard, respected and repeated.

Ruth’s story, although not mentioned in this book, and yet as just one sample of these sacred she-stories, is celebrated today, another reminder of the power of our parables to change reality, expand visibility and celebrate the power of love and courage over old boundaries that don’t serve us any more.

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Below the Bible Belt

The Queen Who is Not Mentioned

I Chronicles 3:1

Behind every great man stands a great woman, right? Finally, even the Hebrew Bible, patriarchy’s archive, written by men, for men, mostly about men - comes around to face this basic feminist fact. Mostly.

She will become King David’s great-grandmother. Her name isn’t just remembered—it’s canonized. From outsider, enemy lines to matriarch and majestic role model.

Her name is not mentioned among the many women of the tribe of Judah in the Book of Chronicles and in these chapters - and that is an odd exception.

But she is not the only woman linked to the Davidic dynasty that is not mentioned here. Who gets to be listed and why?

As we’ve already seen, and this chapter continues to do - this book lists more women than other books of the bible. In a surprising twist for a male-dominated ancient text, Chronicles—often skipped, often dismissed as just dry genealogy. There are at least 50 mentioned in these chapters.

Some are not named and only referenced —but many are named and titled - ranging from mothers and wives, grandmothers and daughters, concubines and lovers, sisters and singers, tribal leaders and queens.

Why does Chronicles, of all books, remember some of these women and some not?

Chapter 3 begins by listing the wives of King David - and the children they bore him. It’s a little surprising to discover that he had at least 7 wives and countless concubines. This is how the list begins:

These are the sons of David who were born to him in Hebron: the first-born Amnon, by Ahinoam the Jezreelite; the second Daniel, by Abigail the Carmelite;

I Chronicles 3:1

Some women are named without their husbands. Some are remembered as mothers of heroes. Others are only shadows—“his concubine,” “his sister”—but even shadows are evidence of presence. These women are part of the story, and the Chronicler makes sure we see them. Or most of them anyway.

In a world—and a tradition—where women are too often erased, it’s affirming, to a degree, to consider that this text offers a different lens, honoring hidden her-stories that are waiting to be told, heard, respected and repeated.

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