Matthew 1

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 1:23

Behold, a virgin shall be with child ,.... These words are rightly applied to the virgin Mary and her son Jesus, for of no other can they be understood; not of Ahaz's wife and his son Hezekiah, who was already born, and must be eleven or twelve years of age when these words were spoken; nor of any other son of Ahaz by her or any other person since no other was Lord of Judea; nor of the wife of Isaiah, and any son of his, who never had any that was king of Judah. The prophecy is introduced... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 1:24

Then Joseph being raised from sleep ,.... That is, being awaked out of sleep, του υπνου "that sleep", into which he either naturally fell, whilst he was meditating on the affair of Mary's being with child; or rather into which he was cast by the Lord, on purpose that he might have a revelation of the will of God to him in a dream; and rising up from his bed or place where he was, immediately and without any delay, did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him ; firmly believing that it... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 1:25

And knew her not ,.... Or "but he knew her not", και answering to the Hebrew ו that is, had carnal knowledge of her, or copulation with her, though his wife. The words are an euphemism, or a modest way of expressing the conjugal act, and is a very ancient one, see Genesis 4:1 and what has been used in nations and languages. And this conduct of his was necessary, till she had brought forth her firstborn ; that it might be manifest not only that she conceived, being a virgin, but... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 1

The genealogy of Christ divided into three classes of fourteen generations each: The first fourteen, from Abraham to David, Matthew 1:2-6 . The second fourteen, from Solomon to Jechonias, Matthew 1:7-10 . The third fourteen, from Jechonias to Christ, Matthew 1:11-16 . The sum of these generations, Matthew 1:17 . Christ is conceived by the Holy Ghost, and born of the Virgin Mary, when she was espoused to Joseph, Matthew 1:18 . Joseph's anxiety and doubts are removed by the ministry of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 1:1

The book of the generation of Jesus Christ - I suppose these words to have been the original title to this Gospel; and that they signify, according to the Hebrew Phraseology, not only the account of the genealogy of Christ, as detailed below, hut the history of his birth, acts, sufferings, death, resurrection, and ascension. The phrase, book of the generation, תולדות ספר sepher toledoth , is frequent in the Jewish writings, and is translated by the Septuagint, βιβλος γενεσεως , as... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 1:2

Abraham begat Isaac - In this genealogy, those persons only, among the ancestors of Christ, which formed the direct line, as specified: hence no mention is made of Ishmael, the son of Abraham, nor of Esau, the son of Isaac; and of all the twelve patriarchs, or sons of Jacob, Judah alone is mentioned. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 1:3

Phares and Zara - The remarkable history of these twins may be seen, Genesis 38: Some of the ancients were of opinion, that the evangelist refers to the mystery of the youngest being preferred to the eldest, as prefiguring the exaltation of the Christian Church over the synagogue. Concerning the women whose names are recorded in this genealogy, see the note at the end of the chapter, ( Matthew 1:25 ; (note)). read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 1:8

Joram begat Ozias - This is the Uzziah, king of Judah, who was struck with the leprosy for his presumption in entering the temple to offer incense before the Lord. See 2 Chronicles 26:16 , etc. Ozias was not the immediate son of Joram: there were three kings between them, Ahaziah, Joash, and Amaziah, which swell the fourteen generations to seventeen: but it is observed that omissions of this kind are not uncommon in the Jewish genealogies. In Ezra 7:3 , Azariah is called the son of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 1:11

Josias begat Jechonias, etc. - There are three considerable difficulties in this verse. Josias was not the father of Jechonias; he was only the grandfather of that prince: 1 Chronicles 3:14-16 . Jechonias had no brethren; at least, none are on record. Josias died 20 years before the Babylonish captivity took place, and therefore Jechonias and his brethren could not have been begotten about the time they were carried away to Babylon. To this may be added a fourth difficulty, viz.... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 1:12

Jechonias begat Salathiel - After Jechonias was brought to Babylon, he was put in prison by Nebuchadnezzar, where he continued till the death of this prince, and the accession of Evilmerodach, who brought him out of prison, in which he had been detained thirty-seven years, and restored him to such favor that his throne (seat) was exalted above all the kings which were with him in Babylon: Jeremiah 52:31 , Jeremiah 52:32 . But though he thus became a royal favorite, he was never restored... read more

Group of Brands