Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Matthew 1:12

"And after the carrying away to Babylon, Jechoniah begat Shealtiel; and Shealtiel begat Zerubbabel;" — Matthew 1:12 (ASV)

The final list of “fourteen” begins with a further mention of the Exile. Jeconiah (Jehoiachin) was the father of Shealtiel. Matthew goes on to present Shealtiel as the father of Zerubbabel (cf. Ezra 3:2; 5:2), whereas 1 Chronicles 3:19 presents Zerubbabel as the son of Pedaiah, a brother of Shealtiel. The best solution to this problem is the proposal of a levirate marriage (cf. Genesis 38:8–9): Shealtiel died childless, and Pedaiah, his brother, married the widow (see also comment on Lk 3:23–31).

Matthew’s chief aims in including the genealogy are hinted at in the first verse—namely, to show that Jesus Messiah is truly in the kingly line of David, heir to the messianic promises, the one who brings divine blessings to all nations. Therefore the genealogy focuses on King David (1:6) on the one hand, yet on the other hand includes Gentile women. Many entries would touch the hearts and stir the memories of biblically literate readers, though the principal thrust of Matthew’s genealogy ties together promise and fulfillment.

The names in the first two-thirds of the genealogy are taken from the LXX (1 Chronicles 1–3, esp. 2:1–15; 3:5–24; cf. Ruth 4:12–22). After Zerubbabel, Matthew relies on extrabiblical sources of which we know nothing. But there is good evidence that records were kept at least till the end of the first century.

More difficult is the question of the relation of Matthew’s genealogy to Luke’s, in particular the part from David on (for a description of the differences between Mt 1:2–17 and Lk 3:23-31, as well as attempts at a solution, see comments on Lk 3:23–38).