Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 1:1-17
Matthew 1:1-Esther : . The Genealogy of Jesus ( cf. Luke 3:23-Zechariah :).— The Biblical part of this genealogy ( Matthew 1:2-2 Kings :) is taken from 1 Chronicles 1-3, with some help from Ruth 4:18-Proverbs :, Genesis 38:16 ff., and other OT passages. It contains devices for assisting the memory, e.g. ( a) three groups each of fourteen names, though one name is missing from the third group ( cf. Matthew 1:17); ( b) the three fourteens may be connected with the number (three) and the... read more
Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 1:17
‘So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David to the carrying away to Babylon fourteen generations; and from the carrying away to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations.’ The pattern of ‘fourteen’, deliberately brought about by omitting names, is now emphasised. The idea is probably of ‘seven intensified’, indicating here divine perfection (compare the ‘fourteen’ made up of two seven year periods in Genesis 31:41). The further threefoldness would... read more