If God said to name the baby “Jedidiah,” why did they call him “Solomon” (12:25)?
Apparently the baby was given two names, even though only one of them came to be commonly used (just as some today go by their middle name). Jedidiah means “loved by the Lord” and is a name similar to the name of David himself (1 Samuel 16:13). The name “Solomon” is a form of the word “shalom,” which means “peace.” Perhaps he was called Jedidiah as a child, but officially adopted the name Solomon upon assuming the throne because God had promised his kingdom would be one of peace (1 Chronicles 22:8–9).
