ENDLESS GENEALOGIES AND FOOLISH QUESTIONS
(The Absence of Ahaziah, Azariah, and Joash in Matthew One)
Neither give heed to . . . endless genealogies, which minister QUESTIONS rather than godly edifying which is IN FAITH: SO DO. – 1 Tim. 1:4
. . . AVOID FOOLISH QUESTIONS, and GENEALOGIES . . . for they are UNPROFITABLE and VAIN . . . – Titus 3:9
After this lived Job a hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons’ sons, even four GENERATIONS[since there are no names, can hardly be called genealogies] . . . --Job 42:10
. . . from henceforth ALL GENERATIONS shall call me blessed [since no names are given, hardly can be called genealogies] . . . Luke 1:48
. . . There shall no sign be given to THIS GENERATION [hardly a genealogy]. –Mark 8:12
The Book of the GENERATION[hardly gapless] of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. – Matt. 1:1
And the number of them, after their GENEALOGY by their GENERATIONS . . . was . . . twenty thousand and two hundred [obvious distinction between a genealogy and a generation]. – 1 Chron. 7:9
Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was MADE OF THE SEED OF DAVID ACCORDING TO THE FLESH . . . --Rom. 1:3
So all the GENERATIONS from Abraham to David are FOURTEEN GENERATIONS; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are FOURTEEN GENERATIONS; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are FOURTEEN GENERATIONS. – Matt. 1:17
In regard to the supposed error in Matthew One, regarding the 14 plus 14 plus 14 generations and the so-called missing names, the first mistake is to assume that a “genealogy” and a “generation” are exactly synonymous here and then to argue in a circle to prove it to be in error. The second mistake is to demand that every generation must have a recorded O.T. name (or vice versa). Another mistake is to demand that the generations be immediately successive (without gaps), esteeming Thayer’s interpretation of “successive generations” per the Greek to be above Matthew’s inspired record, contrary to the normal and usual word usage. In other words, the Greek is correct about the meaning of “generation” but not about the recorded names. Another mistake is to overlook the other non listed names from 2 Kings.
Many prophetic students will mistakenly quibble about the time involved in a generation. Using Usher's notes generously and dividing by 14, the “Abraham to David” generation might calculate anywhere from 57 years to 78 years per generation; David to the captivity might calculate to 36 years or less per generation; the captivity to Christ, using Daniel's 69 weeks of years and seventy years for the captivity, might calculate to 37 years in solar years per generation. There are no valid reasons for assigning a generation to a 40-year period or to any other specific amount. The older commentators, for whatever it is worth, viewed the generation as a race or group of people living in a general time period, rather than an exact or specific quantity of years per generation.
Notice that there is one person’s name per each of the 14 generations in the first group of ordinary generations, counting David. Notice also that there is one person’s name per each of the 13 royal generations in the second royal group (14 counting David again). The third group of ordinary people contains 14 persons’ names also, a total of 41 without David counted twice and not 42 as one would expect, if the error finders’ theory were correct. Still, David is named twice, making it 42, but that is little help to error finders. Curiously, the consonants of David in the Greek, DVD, add up to 14 in Greek numerology. (See Addendum for name lists)
Although Matthew’s generations DO show descent, they do not necessarily show immediate or successive descent in that Jesus Christ in his generation was said to be the son of David as well as the son of Abraham, hardly an immediate or successive descent (Matt. 1:1). That which follows are a number of “begats,” for instance, Abraham begat or generated Isaac, and etc., which all loosely allows sons, adoptions, grandsons, and even husbands of the daughters in the bloodline to be sons and to be begotten or generated (as also in Luke’s account) all of which are quite consistent with ancient Hebrew thought and usage.
Now, the mechanics of Kings and Chronicles as to dating and other things is very complicated to the Gentile mind and seem to be more of a problem to them than to the Jew, who is the primary concern here. Such matters are compounded by name changes, adoptions, usurpations, murdered kings, deposed kings, co-regencies, and etc. Notice that the Jehoachin of Chronicles is the Jeconiah of Matthew, and Pedaiah of Chronicles is the Shealtiel of Matthew. If there would have been a problem with Matthew’s generations, we would have heard something about it in the first century from those eager to dispute Jesus Christ’s royal, genealogical credentials. Now, this is already enough to prove that the absence of Ahaziah, Azariah, and Joash in Matthew, while included in Second Chronicles 3, is not an error or a problem.
The exclusion is intentionalfor whatever reason, either by Matthew or the Holy Spirit narrative. Still, some may not have noticed the absence of the only woman on Judah’s throne in between Ahaziah and Joash, the woman called Athaliah (2 Kings 11:1-20), who slew all but one of the royal line (Joash) and usurped the throne. Joash was installed as king at seven years old and Athalia was killed. This proves that these generations are neither necessarily immediately successive nor continuous.
Neither Matthew nor Second Chronicles 3 mentions king Johahaz, who reigned in his father Josiah’s stead (2 Kings 23:30). This Johahaz was deposed by banishment and succeeded by Josiah’s other son, Eliakim, his brother, whose name was changed to Jehaiokim (2 Kings 23:30 - 34), who is mentioned in Second Chronicles but not mentioned in Matthew. Johaichin, his son (2 kings 24:6), succeeded him but is called Jeconiah in both Second Chronicles and Matthew. This brings the total to 17 in the second Chronicles as opposed to the 14 in the second grouping of Matthew [add two more for the unlisted Athalia and Jehoahaz, making 19]. So, even Second Chronicles does not have successive, gap less, or continuous generations. It would be interesting to see someone find all of Matthew’s third grouping in Chronicles or elsewhere letting us know where Matthew obtained these names, if not by inspiration.
Matthew’s recorded names were intended for one reason and one reason alone–to demonstrates the messianic credentials of Jesus Christ—not duplicate something in the Book of Chronicles. He chose to do so in a symmetrical fashion with inspired knowledge as to the dividing line for each of the 3 groups of 14 generations. What is interesting is that David is named twice. The numerical value of the Hebrew consonants for “David” are DVD or 14. Matthew is the Gospel of the King, the legal royal line through Jesus’ stepfather Joseph, whereas Luke is the legal GENETIC line back to Adam (legally through son in law Joseph and biologically through Mary* -- Luke 3). Jesus’ messianic credentials to the throne are legally and biologically secured by both genealogies. (*Note: There was no Greek word for son-in law)
The error finder’s problem is not with any genealogical errors but with QUESTIONS about them rather than exercising GODLY EDIFYING IN FAITH. This is not the last word on this, as I am sure that some astute Bible student can find out other reasons for at least some of the exclusions. Believe the Book. It is the only thing that can throughly furnish the man of God in all doctrine, reproof, and instruction in righteousness.
-- by Herb Evans(See Scripture Addendum below)
Addendum: A Comparison of O.T. and N.T. Lists
Abraham to David per Matthew
(1) Abraham begat (2) Isaac; and Isaac begat (3) Jacob; and Jacob begat (4) Judas and his brethren; And Judas begat (5) Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat (6) Esrom; and Esrom begat (7) Aram; And Aram begat (8) Aminadab; and Aminadab begat (9) Naasson; and Naasson begat (10) Salmon; And Salmon begat (11) Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat (12) Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat (13) Jesse; And Jesse begat (14) David* the king; . . . -- Matt. 1:2-6
David to Babylonian Captivity per Matthew
. . . and (1) DAVID* the king begat (2) Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias; And Solomon begat (3) Roboam; and Roboam begat (4) Abia; and Abia begat (5) Asa; And Asa begat (6) Josaphat; and Josaphat begat (7) Joram; and Joram begat [AHAZIAH, JOASH, AMAZIAH– not listed but found in 1 Chron. 3] (8) Ozias [UZZIAH, also called AZARIAH]; And Ozias begat (9) Joatham; and Joatham begat (10) Achaz; and Achaz begat (11) Ezekias; And Ezekias begat (12) Manasses; and Manasses begat (13) Amon; and Amon begat (14) Josias; – Matt. 1:6-10
Captivity to Christ per Matthew
. . . and Josias begat [JEHOIAKIM - not listed] (1) Jechonias [JEHOIACHIN] and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon: And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias [JEHOIACHIN] begat (2) Salathiel; and Salathiel [called PEDAIAH] begat (3) Zorobabel; And Zorobabel begat (4) Abiud; and Abiud begat (5) Eliakim; and Eliakim begat (6) Azor; And Azor begat (7) Sadoc; and Sadoc begat (8) Achim; and Achim begat (9) Eliud; And Eliud begat (10) Eleazar; and Eleazar begat (11) Matthan; and Matthan begat (12) Jacob; And Jacob begat (13) Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called (14) Christ. – Matt. 1:11-16
So all the generations from Abraham to DAVID* are fourteen generations; and from DAVID* until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations. -- Matt. 1:7-17
David to Captivity per Chronicles
These were all the sons of (1) David . . . And (2) Solomon's son was (3) Rehoboam, (4) Abia his son, (5) Asa his son, ( 6) Jehoshaphat his son, (7) Joram his son, (8) Ahaziah his son, (9) [Athalia on the throne not listed — 2 Kings 11:1-20] (10) Joash his son, (11) Amaziah his son, (12) Azariah his son, (13) Jotham his son, (14) Ahaz his son, (15) Hezekiah his son, (16) Manasseh his son, (17) Amon his son, (18) Josiah his son (19)[Jehoahaz deposed not listed; Eliakim, his brother, made king in his place and had his name changed to Jehoiakim — 2 Kings 23:30-34].
Captivity and After per Chronicles
And the sons of Josiah were, the firstborn Johanan, the second (1) Jehoiakim, the third Zedekiah, the fourth Shallum. And the sons of JEHOIAKIM[formerly Eliakim] (2) Jeconiah [JEHOIACHIN] his son, (3) Zedekiah his son. And the sons of Jeconiah; Assir, Salathiel [called PEDAIAH] his son, Malchiram also, and (4) Pedaiah, and Shenazar, Jecamiah, Hoshama, and Nedabiah. And the sons of PEDAIAH were, (5) ZERUBBABLE, and Shimei: and the sons of Zerubbabel; Meshullam, and Hananiah, and Shelomith their sister: And Hashubah, and Ohel, and Berechiah, and Hasadiah, Jushabhesed, five. And the sons of Hananiah; Pelatiah, and Jesaiah: the sons of Rephaiah, the sons of Arnan, the sons of Obadiah, the sons of Shechaniah. And the sons of Shechaniah; Shemaiah: and the sons of Shemaiah; Hattush, and Igeal, and Bariah, and Neariah, and Shaphat, six. And the sons of Neariah; Elioenai, and Hezekiah, and Azrikam, three. And the sons of Elioenai were, Hodaiah, and Eliashib, and Pelaiah, and Akkub, and Johanan, and Dalaiah, and Anani, seven. -- 1 Chr. 3:1 and 10-24
-- by Herb Evans