PEREZ. Son of Judah and Tamar, and twin-brother of Zarah ( Genesis 38:29; in Esther 5:5 Esther 5:5 Phares; patronymic Perezites , Numbers 26:20 ). His importance consists in his being the ancestor of David through Boaz and Ruth, and then of Jesus Christ. His descendants were in all probability the most numerous among the families of Judah; hence the blessing of the elders on Boaz; ‘Let thy house be like the house of Perez’ ( Ruth 4:12 ). According to Genesis 46:12 , Perez had two sons, Hezron and Hamul. From Hezron, according to 1 Chronicles 2:1-55 , came Jerahmeel and Ram and Caleb, and through Ram was traced the line of the royal house of David.

W. F. Cobb.