The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 1:8
And Joram begat Ozias ( Uzziah , Revised Version). Between Joram and Uzziah the pedigree omits three names—Ahaziah immediately succeeded Joram ( 2 Kings 8:24 ), and was followed by his son Joash ( 2 Kings 12:1 ), and he by his son Amaziah ( 2 Kings 14:1 ). These were probably left out, that the number of generations might be reduced to fourteen. It is not likely that St. Matthew omitted them, but that they were absent from the form which he used. If we seek for a reason why... read more
The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 1:1-17
The pedigree. "The book of the genealogy," etc. This is not the general title of the First Gospel, but rather the particular title of these sixteen or seventeen verses. The scroll, or writing of divorcement, which the Talmudists say consisted exactly of" twelve lines," is called a biblion , or "book" ( Matthew 19:7 ). So the "book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ" may be understood to describe the single skin on which the words immediately before us were originally written. Vitringa... read more