Verse 3. And Iudah begat Phares and Zarah]
Hierome is deceived, that deriveth the pedegree of the Pharisees from this* 1.1 Phares. They took their name either of Pharash, to expound, as Interpreters of the Law, Rom. 2. 18. Or of Pharas to separate, with a stand further off, for I am holier then thou. Iosephus saith, That the Pharisees seemed to outstrip all others, both in height of* 1.2 holinesse, and depth of learning. As for Phares, he was a breach∣maker (whence also he had his name, Gen. 38. 29.) He violently took the first-birth-right; and became both a father of the Mes∣sias, and a Type. For Christ by his strength broke the power of death, and hell: he broke down also the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 wall that was betwixt the Jews and Gentiles: who when they shall be 〈◊〉〈◊〉 born, then shall the Jews (typified by Zarah, who thrust forth the hand first, as those that willing to be justified by their works, and think∣ing to regenerate themselves, had the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 threed of the Laws condemnation bound upon their hands, which therefore they drew back and fell from God,) then shall they, I say, come forth again, Rom. 11. 11, 12, 25. 26.
A 〈◊〉〈◊〉, but probably, a proselyte. The Jews, say, she was Melchisedechs daughter the High-Priest, and was 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to be burned, Lev. 21. 8. But this may well passe for a Jewish fable: Howbeit, that Melchisedech was a Canaanite, but a most righteous King and Priest of the most high God, and was therefore not molested or medled with by Kidar-laomer and his complices, I judge, not unlikely. This 〈◊〉〈◊〉, out of desire, part∣ly of revenge, and partly of issue, fell into the sin of 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Rahab was an harlot, Bathsheba an 〈◊〉〈◊〉; yet all these, grandmo∣thers to our Saviour: Who as he needed not to be ennobled by his