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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comAdam Clarke Commentary - Matthew 1:11 - 1:11
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Josias begat Jechonias, etc. - There are three considerable difficulties in this verse.
1. Josias was not the father of Jechonias; he was only the grandfather of that prince: 1Ch 3:14-16.
2. Jechonias had no brethren; at least, none are on record.
3. Josias died 20 years before the Babylonish captivity took place, and therefore Jechonias and his brethren could not have been begotten about the time they were carried away to Babylon.
To this may be added a fourth difficulty, viz. there are only thirteen in this 2nd class of generations; or forty-one, instead of forty-two, in the whole. But all these difficulties disappear, by adopting a reading found in many MSS. Ιωσιας δε εγεννησε τον Ιωακειμ· Ιωακειμ δε εγεννησε τον Ιεχονιαν. And Josias begat Jehoiakim, or Joakim, and Joakim begat Jechonias. For this reading, see the authorities in Griesbach. Josiah was the immediate father of Jehoiakim (called also Eliakeim and Joakim) and his brethren, who were Johanan, Zedekiah, and Shallum: see 1Ch 3:15. Joakim was the father of Joachin or Jechonias, about the time of the first Babylonish captivity: for we may reckon three Babylonish captivities. The first happened in the fourth year of Joakim, son of Josiah, about A. M. 3398. In this year, Nebuchadnezzar, having taken Jerusalem, led a great number of captives to Babylon. The second captivity happened under Jechoniah, son of Joakim; who, having reigned three months, was taken prisoner in 3405, and was carried to Babylon, with a great number of the Jewish nobility. The third captivity took place under Zedekiah, A. M. 3416. And thus, says Calmet, Mat 1:11 should be read: Josias begat Joakim and his brethren: and Joakim begat Jechonias about the time of the first Babylonish captivity; and Jechonias begat Salathiel, after they were brought to Babylon. Thus, with the necessary addition of Joakim, the three classes, each containing fourteen generations, are complete. And to make this the more evident, I shall set down each of these three generations in a separate column, with the additional Joakim, that the reader may have them all at one view.
1 Abraham 1 Solomon 1 Jechonias
2 Isaac 2 Rehoboam 2 Salathiel
3 Jacob 3 Abia 3 Zorobabel
4 Judah 4 Asa 4 Abiud
5 Pharez 5 Josaphat 5 Eliakim
6 Esrom 6 Joram 6 Azor
7 Aram 7 Ozias 7 Sadoc
8 Aminadab 8 Joatham 8 Achim
9 Naason 9 Achaz 9 Eliud
10 Salmon 10 Ezekias 10 Eleazar
11 Booz 11 Manasses 11 Matthan
12 Obed 12 Amon 12 Jacob
13 Jesse 13 Josias 13 Joseph
14 david 14 joachim 14 jesus
In all forty-two generations.