Eliam

The name Eliam appears in two distinct settings in David's reign — as the father of Bathsheba, and as one of David's valiant men. Each is matched by an alternate name in the Chronicles parallels.

Father of Bathsheba

When David inquires after the woman he sees from the roof, the answer identifies her by her father and her husband: "And David sent and inquired after the woman. And one said, Isn't this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?" (2Sa 11:3). The Chronicles list of David's Jerusalem-born sons names the same woman by a slightly different patronymic: "and these were born to him in Jerusalem: Shimea, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon, four, of Bath-shua the daughter of Ammiel" (1Ch 3:5). The same daughter stands behind both Eliam and Ammiel.

One of David's Valiant Men

In the catalogue of David's heroes, an Eliam is named with a distinguished pedigree: "Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maacathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite" (2Sa 23:34). The Chronicles parallel list at the corresponding position carries a different name in his slot: "Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite" (1Ch 11:36).