Matthew’s Genealogy of Jesus
Abraham – Isaac – Jacob – Judas – Phares– Esrom – Aram – Aminadab – Naasson – Salmon – Booz – Obed – Jesse – David – Solomon –Roboam –Abia – Asa – Josaphat –Joram –Ozias –Joatham –Achaz – Ezekias –Manasses – Amon – Josias – Jechonias– Salathiel – Zorobabel – Abiud – Eliakim –Azor –Sadoc – Achim – Eliud – Eleazar –Matthan – Jacob – Joseph – Jesus Christ. (Matthew 1:1-17 KJV)
Luke’s Genealogy of Jesus
Jesus – Joseph – Heli –Matthat– Levi –Melchi– Janna – Joseph – Mattathias – Amos –Naum–Esli–Nagge–Maath– Mattathias –Semei– Joseph – Juda – Joanna –Rhesa– Zorobabel –Salathiel–Neri–Melchi–Addi–Cosam–Elmodam–Er– Jose – Eliezer –Jorim–Matthat– Levi – Simeon – Juda – Joseph – Jonan – Eliakim –Melea–Menan–Mattatha– Nathan – David – Jesse – Obed – Booz – Salmon –Naasson– Aminadab – Aram –Esrom–Phares– Juda – Jacob – Isaac – Abraham –Thara–Nachor–Saruch–Ragau–Phalec– Heber – Sala –Cainan–Arphaxad– Sem – Noe – Lamech –Mathusala– Enoch – Jared –Maleleel–Cainan– Enos – Seth – Adam – God. (Luke 3:23-38 KJV)
Thomas Scott’s Commentary on Matthew 1:2-17
Various difficulties have been started in respect of this genealogy, but a few general remarks may suffice to show them to be comparatively of small consequence. It is evident that the genealogy of Joseph, and not of Mary, is given in these verses. That of Mary is traced back to Adam by St. Luke, as it will be shown hereafter. Joseph was supposed by the Jews to be the father of Jesus, and he was his father-in-law: it was therefore proper that his descent from David should be ascertained. Probably this genealogy was copied from the public registers of the nation, which were well known: and this may account for some omissions and variations which are found in it on comparing it with the history of the old Testament.
—The other children of Abraham are not mentioned with Isaac, nor is Esau, who was the twin-brother of Jacob, and elder than he; for their descendants were not interested in the covenants of promise. But the children of Judah are mentioned, as their posterity constituted the chosen people of God; and Zara, twin brother of Phares, is inserted, because part of the tribe of Judah descended from him. The names of four women are found in it, being all remarkable characters: Thamar, of whom, by incest with her father-in-law, the greatest part of the tribe of Judah descended Ge 38:1-30: Rachab or Rahab, who seems to have been the same that had been a harlot, and an inhabitant of Jericho, but through faith was preserved from the destruction of that city Jos 2:6; for no other woman of that name is mentioned in scripture: Ruth the Moabitess; and Bathsheba, who had been the wife of Uriah, with whom David had committed adultery. This might intimate that Christ was made in the likeness of sinful flesh, and came to save the Gentiles and the vilest of sinners. Three kings, the immediate descendants of Athaliah by Joram the son of Jehoshaphat; viz. Ahaziah, Joash, and Amaziah, are passed over without notice. Perhaps it was found so in the genealogies: and they who complied them, aiming to reduce the numbers of genealogies from David to the captivity to fourteen, as well as that from Abraham to David, thought these descendants of that wicked woman, by an unhallowed fatal marriage, might most properly be omitted. But some think that Matthew was directed to leave them out for similar reasons.
—In some manuscripts it is found, “Josiah begat Jehoiakim, and Jehoiakim Jeconias:” and it is certain that Jeconias was grandson to Josiah, and the father or grandfather of Salathiel: nor does it appear that he had any brethren, for his uncle Zedekiah succeeded him when he was carried to Babylon.
—From Jeconiah, who was carried captive, to Joseph the husband of Mary, was also fourteen generations: and at that time the illustrious house of David was so reduced, that its rights, in the line of Solomon, centered in a poor carpenter; at least he was that descendant whom the Lord chose to stand in the place of a legal father to the promised Messiah; that so this expected Prophet, Priest, and King, might spring up “as a tender Plant out of a dry ground.”
—The marginal references contain nearly all the information which can be obtained on the subject of this genealogy.
—It is probable that some names are omitted between Salmon and David. Ru 4:18-22 And either the marginal addition of Jakim or Jehoiakim must be admitted, or Jeconias in the twelfth verse must be considered as the son of Jeconias mentioned in the eleventh; for otherwise the fourteen generations are not completed.
—‘Perhaps interpreters might save themselves the trouble of giving a reason of many things contained in the catalogue, by saying St. Matthew here recites it as he found it in the authentic copies of the Jews; who doubtless had preserved some known and approved genealogy of their descent from Abraham, the father of their nation, in whom they so much glorified and form whose loins they expected the promised Messiah.’—Whitby—{Verse 17. So all the generations. Whitby calls attention to the circumstances that while the Evangelist speaks of the fourteen generations from Abraham to David as being “all the generations’ embraced within the period in question, he does not say the same of the fourteen from David to the captivity, there being three others in that period besides those to which he refers. He also notes the fact, that during each of these three intervals the people of God were under a distinct manner of government: during the first, under prophets; the second, under kings; and the third, under priests. The first brought their state to perfection under David, the second to misery in Babylon, the third to glory under Christ. The first begins with the promise to Abraham, and ends with its fulfillment to David; the second begins with the building, and ends with the destruction of the temple; the third begins with the commencement, and ends with the complete accomplishment of the delivery from Babylon.—ED.}