thing the Jews looked after in him: thirdly, the Holy Ghost doth hereby, as it were be∣forehand, answer the impious distinction, so frequent among the Rabbines, of Messias ben Joseph, and Messias ben David.
Ver. 2. [Judas and his brethren] His Brethren are added from Gen. 49. 8. to comfort the dispersed Tribes that were not yet returned out of Captivity as Judah was, in their equal interest in Christ as well as he, as Hos. 1. 11.
Ver. 3. [Phares and Zara] He nameth Zara, because he would bring in their Mother Tamar. Ismael and Esau, the one a brother to Isaac, the other a twin to Jacob, are not named, because they were both wicked, but the brethren of Juda, and the twin to Pha∣res are named, because they are both good. At the birth of Jacob and Esau it is said 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 twins, with the letter 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 wanting, because Esau one of them was evill: But at the birth of Phares and Zara it is said 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 with that letter supplyed, because both of them were good, R. Sol. in Gen. 25. and 38.
[Of Thamar] Four women are named in this genealogy, women once of notorious in∣famy, Tamar incestuous, Rahab an harlot, Ruth an Heathen, and Bathsheba an Adulteress: To shew that Christ came to heal all sores, when he recured such sinners, and that he de∣spised not our shame, when he shamed not to descend of such Parents.
Ver. 5. [Rahab] It can little be doubted but that he meaneth her, mentioned Josh. 2. Now the Jews, [belike to deface the truth of Mathew, who from ancient Records, aver∣reth her for the wife of Salmon] have broached this tenet, that she was married unto Joshua, vid. Kimki in loc.
Ver. 8. [Joram begat Ozias.] Here three descents are omitted, namely, Ahaziah, Jo∣ash, and Amaziah] as compare 2 Chron. 3. 2 Kings 8. But it is most divinely done, from the threatning of the second Commandement, Thou shalt not commit Idolatry, for I visit the sins of the Fathers upon the children to the third and Fourth Generation. Joram committed Idolatry like the house of Ahab, for the daughter of Ahab was his wife, 2 King. 8. 18. Therefore it is just with God to visit that sin upon his children: in sign of which he blot∣teth them out of this line to the fourth generation: So is it the manner of Scripture, very often to leave out mens names out of certain stories and Records, to shew a distaste at some evil in them. So all Cains posterity is blotted out of the Book of the Chronicles, as it was out of the world by the Flood. So Simeon is omitted in Moses blessing, Deut. 33. for his cruelty at Shechem, and to Joseph. So Dan, at the sealing of the Lords people, Rev. 7. be∣cause of Idolatry begun in his Tribe, Judg. 18. and so Joab, from among Davids worthies, 2 Sam. 23. because of his bloodiness to Amasa and Abner. Such another close intimation of Gods displeasure at this wickedness of Joram; is to be seen, 2 Chron. 22. 1, 2. where the reign of his Son Ahaziah is not dated according to the custom and manner of the other Kings of Judah, but by the stile of the continuance of the house of Omri, into which Fa∣mily his Father had married, and was become so prophane as to worship their Idols. The Son of the two and forty years was Ahaziah when he began to reign. That is, of the last of the two and forty, of the house of Omri, in which it fell, and Ahaziah with it.
Ver. 11. [Josias begat Jechonias] So readeth the Syrian, Arabrick, and the most and best Greek Copies: And so the Evangelist himself requireth that it be read, to make four∣teen generations from David to the Captivity into Babel. And so readeth D. Kimchi, on 1 Chron. 3. 15. Josias indeed begat Joachim, and Joachim begat Jechonias, but he that was neither fit to be lamented, nor to be buried like one of the Kings of Judah, Jerem. 22. 18, 19. was much more unfit to come into the Line of the Kings of Judah, that lead∣eth to Christ.
Ver. 12. [Jechonias begat Salathiel.] Jechonias was Father to Salathiel, as Baasha was to Ahab, 1 King. 20. 34. not by generation, but by predecession. For Jechonias in very deed was childless, Jer. 22. 30. and the natural Father of Salathiel was Neri, Luke 3. 27. yet he is said to beget him, because he declared and owned him for his next heir and Successor; As God is said to beget Christ on the day of his Resurrection, Psal. 2. 7. Act. 13. 33. that is, declared him thereby to be his Son, Rom. 1. 4.
The Scripture affecteth to speak short in relating of Stories, that are well known before: as to spare more, you may find an example far harsher than this, in 1 Chron. 1. 36. where Timna the Concubine of Eliphaz is named as Eliphaz his Son.
And in 1 Chron. 3. 16. Zedechia the Uncle of Jechoniah is called his Son, because he succeeded him in the Roialty.
The Jews in their Talmud, give this rule for a fundamental point: That there is no King to be for Irael, but of the house of David, and of the seed of Solomon only: And he that separa∣teth against this Family, denyeth the Name of the blessed God, and the words of his Prophets that are spoken in truth. Sanhedr. Perek. 10. & R. Samuel in Ner. Mitsvah. fol. 153.
With which opinion, although Matthew seem to comply at the first appearance, in that he deriveth our Saviour from Solomon, because of the Hebrews for whom he wrote, which looked for him from thence, yet the carnal sense of it, which aimeth only at the earthly