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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Mat_1:12-16
12After the deportation to Babylon, Jeconiah became the father of Shealtiel, and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel. 13Zerubbabel was the father of Abihud, Abihud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor. 14Azor was the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud. 15Eliud was the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob. 16Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, by whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah.
Mat_1:12 "and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel" Zerubbabel was the leader of the Jews in the second return from Babylonian exile, the first return being under Sheshbazzar (cf. Ezr_1:8; Ezr_5:14). He was of the line of David (cf. Ezra 2-6). In 1Ch_3:16-19, his father is listed as Pedaiah and his grandfather as Shealtiel. Hebrew familial terms were fluid and could refer to several different categories of relatives. In this case, Shealtiel was an uncle. This confusion could be explained if Shealtiel adopted Zerubbabel after his father Pedaiah died (cf. Ezr_3:8; Ezr_5:2; Neh_12:1; Hag_1:1).
These two names also appear in the Lucan genealogy, but in a much later period.
Mat_1:13-15 The names from Zerubbabel's son Abihud to Jacob are unknown from OT sources.
Mat_1:14 "Zadok" This was not the faithful priest of David's day (cf. 2Sa_20:25; 1Ch_16:39) because Matthew's Zadok is of the tribe of Judah, not Levi.
Mat_1:16 "Joseph the husband of Mary" "Begot," which is so prominent in this listing of the other fathers, is left out! Joseph is named as the legal father and his lineage given because this was what the Jews of the first century legally required and recognized. But he was not the true biological father. Jesus was virgin born of the Spirit of God (cf. Mat_1:23-25; Luk_1:34-35).
▣ "who is called the Messiah" "Christ" (NKJV) was the Greek translation of the Hebrew term Messiah (BDB 603, cf. 1Sa_2:10; 1Sa_2:35; 2Sa_22:51; Psa_2:2; 18:51; Psa_89:38; Psa_89:51; Psa_132:10; Psa_132:17; Dan_9:24-25), meaning "an anointed one." Jesus was YHWH's special Servant (cf. Isa_7:14; Isa_9:1-7; Isa_11:1-5; Isa_52:13 to Isa_53:12), the Coming One, who would establish the new age of righteousness (cf. Isaiah 61, 65-66). See Special Topic at Mat_8:20.