Matthew 1:3

3. Phares and Zara Genesis 38:27. From Pharez to David the genealogy is furnished in Ruth 4:18-22.

We present a comparative catalogue of the names in Matthew, and the Old Testament:

MATTHEW GEN . 5, 10, 11, and Ruth 4:0 1 CHR . 1, 2, 3. Abraham Abram3 Abraham Isaac Isaac Jacob Israel Judas Judah Phares Pharez Esrom Hezron Hezron Aram Ram Ram Aminadab Amminadab Amminadab Naason Nahshon Nahshon Salmon Salmon Salma Booz Boaz Boaz Obed Obed Obed Jesse Jesse Jesse David, 14 David David, 14 Solomon Solomon Roboam Rehoboam Abia Abia Asa Asa Josaphat Jehosaphat Joram Joram Ahazia Joash Amaziah Ozias David Azariah Joatham Jotham Achaz Ahaz Ezekias Hezekiah Manasses Manasseh Amon Amon Josias Josiah , 14 Jehoiakim Jechonias Jeconiah Salathiel Salathiel & Pedaiah Zorobabel Zerubbabel Hananiah Pelatiah & Rephaiah Arnan Abiud Obadiah Eliakim Shechaniah Shemaiah Neariah Azor Elioenai & Azrikam Johanan & Anani Sadoc Acheim Elioud Eleazar Matthan Jacob Joseph Jesus, 14 See an excellent article by Dr. Strong, in the Methodist Quarterly Review, October, 1852, for an investigation of these genealogies.

By comparing these lists, it will be seen that there are three names, Ahaziah, Joash, and Amaziah, which occur in the Old Testament, (namely, in Chronicles,) which are omitted in Matthew in making out the second of his three fourteens in Matthew 1:17. If these were reckoned, the number would be seventeen. Upon this, we shall remark in our note on that verse.

In the article to which we have referred, Dr. Strong compares the genealogy of Matthew (which we might call the home family tree of Joseph) with those of Luke and Chronicles, in the third fourteen; he finds farther omissions in it; and after elaborately showing the fair agreement of names between the three catalogues of this fourteen, he makes the following statement:

“As the list in the Chronicles ends here, bringing down the lineage some nine generations after Zerubbabel, under whom the Jews returned from the Babylonian captivity, that is, to about B.C. 280, we have only the surprisingly short period of about two centuries and a half preceding Christ’s immediate parentage, during which his whole descent is not vouched for by the sacred archives of the Jewish nation.”