After detailing the lineages of Ram and Caleb, the historical record shifts focus to complete the ancestral line of King David by listing all the sons born to him [רד"ק, מלבי"ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The registry of his children, however, reveals a fascinating discrepancy regarding his second son, born to Abigail. While he is recorded here as Daniel, earlier historical accounts refer to him as Chileab [רש"י, מצודת ציון, רד"ק, מלבי"ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ].
Commentators explain that this dual identity stems from the controversial timing of David's marriage to Abigail. David married her immediately after the sudden death of her first husband, Nabal the Carmelite, waiting only for her to complete the traditional mourning period and seven days of purity. This swift remarriage indicates that the later legal requirement for a widow to wait three months before marrying again had not yet been established in that era [מלבי"ם]. However, the rapid timeline caused cynics to spread malicious rumors, suspecting that Abigail's child was actually fathered by Nabal.
To eliminate these doubts and protect the family's honor, God intervened by ensuring the boy's facial features were completely identical to David's. Because of this undeniable resemblance, the child earned the nickname Chileab, meaning "entirely like the father" [רש"י, רד"ק, מלבי"ם]. Adding another layer to this dynamic, [מלבי"ם] explains that the public originally wanted to call the child Caleb to associate him with Nabal's ancestral clan. In response, David firmly asserted his paternity by modifying the name to Chileab.
Despite the public use of this nickname, the boy's true and original name was Daniel [רד"ק, מלבי"ם]. David chose this name, which translates to "God has judged me," as an expression of profound gratitude to God for delivering justice and avenging the wrongs committed by Nabal [רש"י, רד"ק].
The complex circumstances surrounding his birth ultimately influenced the future of the monarchy. Even though Daniel was the older brother, it was Adonijah who later attempted to seize the throne. This shift in the line of succession occurred either because the lingering public gossip regarding Daniel's parentage made him an unsuitable candidate, or simply because Daniel had no desire for royal politics, choosing instead to dedicate his entire life to the study of Torah [מלבי"ם].