Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Matthew 1:2

"Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judah and his brethren;" — Matthew 1:2 (ASV)

Of the twelve sons of Jacob, Judah is singled out, as his tribe bears the scepter (Genesis 49:10; cf. Hebrews 7:14). The words “and his brothers” indicate that the Messiah emerges within the matrix of the covenant people (cf. the twelve tribes of Israel). Neither the half-siblings of Isaac nor the descendants of Jacob’s brother, Esau, qualify as the covenant people in the OT.

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).