The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Ver. 1. _The Book_] That is, a roll or register, catalogue or calendar, a ciphering and summing up. (Genesis 5:1, זח ספר תולדת αυτη η βιβλος γενεξεως .) _ Of the generations_] That is, of the genealogies, as touching... [ Continue Reading ]
Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren; Ver. 2. _Abraham begat Isaac_] The fruit, not more of his flesh than of his faith, _a_ whence he is said to be "born after the spirit,"Galatians 4:29 . _ Isaac begat Jacob_] After twenty years' expectance, and many... [ Continue Reading ]
And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram; Ver. 3. _And Judah begat Phares and Zarah_] Jerome is deceived, that deriveth the pedigree of the Pharisees from this Phares. They took their name either of Pharash, to expound as interpreters of the law, Roman... [ Continue Reading ]
And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon; Ver. 4. _Aram begat Aminadab, and Aminadab begat Naasson_] Who was hung up in the wilderness, among the rest of their rulers, for folly committed with the mistresses of Moab. Neither escaped the common sort scot-free, fo... [ Continue Reading ]
And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; Ver. 5. _And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab_] This the Evangelist might have by tradition. Salmon's genealogy is set down, 1Ch 2:9-17 Ruth 4:18,22; but whom he married, nothing is reported. _ And Booz begat Obed of Ru... [ Continue Reading ]
And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her _that had been the wife_ of Urias; Ver. 6. _And Jesse begat David the king_] But that was not his chief title: he gloried more in styling himself the servant of the Lord, Psalms 36:1, _tit._ So Theodosius esteemed it a greater... [ Continue Reading ]
And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa; Ver. 7. _And Solomon begat Roboam_] A child of forty years old, a soft spirited man; the Scripture notes him a פהי, easily drawn away by evil counsel. Green wood will, by nature warp. Of him it might be said, as once it was of a c... [ Continue Reading ]
And Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias; Ver. 8. _And Asa begat Josaphat_] A godly king, but late witted, and therefore paid for his learning twice at least in holy history. One thing in the narration of his acts is very remarkable. He placed forces in all the fenced... [ Continue Reading ]
And Ozias begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias; Ver. 9. _And Ozias begat Joatham_] A pious prince, but not very prosperous. Grace is not given to any as a target against outward affliction. _ And Joatham begat Achaz_] A sturdy stigmatic, a branded rebel. The more he was... [ Continue Reading ]
And Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias; Ver. 10. _And Ezekias begat Manasses_] Who degenerates into his grandfather Ahaz, as the kernel of a well-fruited plant doth sometimes into that crab or willow which gave the original to his stock. This man was (till conver... [ Continue Reading ]
And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon: Ver. 11. _And Josias begat Jechonias_] Rob. Stephanus restoreth and rectifieth the text thus: "Josias begat Jakin and his brethren, and Jakin begat Jechonias." For otherwise the middle fourteen (whereby S... [ Continue Reading ]
And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel; Ver. 12. _And after they were brought to Babylon_] This the Evangelist inculcates, and rings often in the ears of his impious countrymen, as a notorious public judgment on a nation so incorrigibly flag... [ Continue Reading ]
And Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor; Ver. 13. _And Zorobabel begat Abiud_] St Luke saith, Rhesa: hence the diversity of number and names. Matthew descends by the posterity of Abiud; Luke, of Rhesa, down to Joseph. _ And Abiud begat Eliakim, and Eliakim begat... [ Continue Reading ]
And Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud; Ver. 14. _And Azor begat Sadoc, and Sadoc begat Achim_] Of these and the rest, as the Scripture sets down nothing more than their bare names, so neither is there any Jewish record, at this day extant, of their acts. So many miserie... [ Continue Reading ]
And Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob; Ver. 15. _And Eliud begat Eleazar, &c._] These might be private persons, some of them, as Joseph and Mary were; it being the care and the endeavour of the Herods, and those before, that held the Jews in subjection, to supp... [ Continue Reading ]
And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. Ver. 16. _And Jacob begat Joseph_] Whose genealogy is here recorded, and not Mary's, it being not the custom of that people then to set forth the genealogies of women. As at this day, the Jews have an over-bas... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 17. _So all the generations, &c., are fourteen generations_]... [ Continue Reading ]
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Ver. 18. _Now the birth of Jesus Christ_] A γενεσει from γεννησιν _transit._ And being to relate a strange thing, and till then neve... [ Continue Reading ]
Then Joseph her husband, being a just _man_, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. Ver. 19. _Then Joseph her husband, being a just man_] And yet withal a merciful, tender man of the Virgin's credit. Hence that conflict and fear within himself lest he sho... [ Continue Reading ]
But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. Ver. 20. _But while he thought on these things_] And was not so wel... [ Continue Reading ]
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Ver. 21. _And she shall bring forth a Son_] Shiloh, the son of her secundines: that Son, that Eve made account she had gotten when she had gotten Cain: for said she, "I have gotten a m... [ Continue Reading ]
Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Ver. 22. _Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled_] An angel's testimony is not to be taken, if it be beside or against the written word. I am of them that keep the sayings of this book,... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Ver. 23. _Behold, a virgin, &c._] העלמה, that Virgin, κατ εξοχην, that famous Virgin foretold, Isaiah 7:14. That he should be the seed of the woman was... [ Continue Reading ]
Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: Ver. 24. _Then Joseph, being raised from sleep, did as the angel, &c._] As well assured that it was of God, whom he was ready pressed to obey without sciscitation. _Iussa sequi, tam velle mi... [ Continue Reading ]
And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS. Ver. 25. _And knew her not till she brought forth_] We think hardly of him that taketh to wife the widow and relict of another, that is left great with child, before she hath laid down her burden; how much... [ Continue Reading ]