My Walk Through the Book of Matthew by Annette Godtland

The Genealogy of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:1-17)

I have to admit that reading through this list in Jesus' genealogy is rather boring. I don't know these names, most are hard to pronounce, and I don't know their stories. Why go through Jesus' genealogy? Several years ago, I did some research into my genealogy. I certainly wasn't able to go back nearly as many generations as is listed here for Jesus, but I was at least able to go back several generations. It was interesting. I knew I had a German heritage, but it gets even more interesting as I hear the stories of the lives of my ancestors.

Why is it important to understand your genealogy? For one thing, knowing some of your genealogy, helps to give some understanding of how you develped into the person you are today. The trials and rewards of your ancestors do influence where you are today and what is important to you.

This is the genealogy of Jesus through Joseph, Mary's husband. Part of me says I can dismiss this genealogy because there is no blood relation of Jesus through Joseph. But there is much more to our inheritance than just the blood lineage. Through our heritage, we develop customs, traditions, and beliefs that mold our character. What each generation goes through influences what the next generation does. Even with no blood connection, Jesus having been raised by Joseph would have been brought up in Joseph's heritage.

It took me awhile but I finally found the stories of most of these people in Jesus' genealogy in the Old Testament. There are many more stories of these people and of others but here is a very brief recount of some of the things that happened in the families that lead up to the birth of Jesus:

Abraham... Genesis 12God promised Abram, later named Abraham, that He would make of his family a great nation and his family would be blessed. Genesis 16His wife Sarai, later named Sarah, was reaching an older age and still bore no children so she sent her maidservant Hagar in to Abram. Hagar conceived and bore a son, Ishmael. Genesis 17God said he would bless Ishmael, but the blessings He intended for Abraham's descendants would be granted to Abraham's son with Sarah. Genesis 21Isaac was born to Abraham and Sarah. ...Abraham begot Isaac.

Isaac... Genesis 22God tested Abraham by asking him to sacrifice his Son. Abraham would have sacrificed his son, but God interceded. Genesis 24Isaac married Rebekah. Isaac and Rebekah had two sons, Esau and Jacob. ... Isaac begot Jacob.

Jacob... Genesis 25Jacob, who was later named Israel, tricked his brother Esau into giving him his birthright. Genesis 27Jacob tricked Abraham into giving him the blessing that he had intended for Esau. Genesis 29Jacob wished to marry Rachel, but Rachel's father tricked him into marrying Leah first. Jacob was married to both Leah and Rachel. Genesis 32Jacob wrestled with God on a river bank, then Jacob and Esau were reunited. Jacob made amends by saying he and his family would be Esau's servants. Jacob had 12 sons who were later to form the 12 tribes of Israel. ...Jacob begot Judah (his fourth son with Leah).

Judah... Genesis 37Judah and his brothers were jealous of Joseph, a younger favored son of Jacob so they conspired to kill Joseph. But Judah claimed there was no profit in killing Joseph, so he suggested they sell him to the Ishmaelites instead. The brothers told their father Joseph was killed when in reality Jospeph became a powerful man in Egypt who would save his family in the upcoming seven years of famine. Genesis 38Judah promised his daughter-in-law, Tamar, to his last son after his other two sons had died. Unfortunately he never intended to have her marry his youngest son. However Tamar tricked Judah into lying with her by posing as a prostitute. She gave birth to twin sons, Perez and Zerah, from that union. ...Judah begot Perez.

Perez... Genesis 37As Tamar was giving birth to her sons, Zerah reached a hand out so the midwife marked it with a scarlet thread and Zerah would be considered the first born son. But then he drew his hand back in and Perez was born first. Genesis 46Perez begot Hezron and Hamul. ...Perez begot Hezron.

Hezron, Ram, Ammindab... Genesis 46Judah and his sons and his grandchildren and all the sons of Jacob went to Egypt as provided by Joseph. Exodus 1Joseph and all his brothers had already died but the children of Israel multiplied and became mighty. The new king of Egypt didn't know of Joseph and made slaves of the children of Israel. 1 Chronicles 2Hezron had three sons, Jerahmeel, Ram, and Chelubai.

1 Chronicles 2Ram begot Amminadab.

1 Chronicles 2Amminadab begot Nahshon. Exodus 6 Before he and Moses took the children of Israel out of Egypt, Aaron married Elisheba, daughter of Amminadab, sister to Nahshon. Numbers 26By the end of the last plague in Egypt, the descendants of Judah numbered at 76,500. ...Hezron begot Ram, Ram begot Amminadab, Amminadab begot Nahshon.

Nahshon... Numbers 1This account was of the first day of the second month the second year after they left Egypt. Numbers 2Moses set up the tabernacle and the encampment of the Isrealites around the tabernacle. An army was formed for each tribe of Israel. God chose the leader for each army. Nahshon was to be the leader of the children of Judah. His army was numbered at 74,600. Numbers 9They followed the cloud which lifted up when they should journey and settle when they should settle. Numbers 10Nahshon lead his standard when they journeyed. Numbers 13God was to send them into the land of Canaan, but the selected spies from each family (including Caleb the son of Jephunneh from the tribe Judah, and Hoshea, later named Joshua, the son of Nun from the tribe of Ephraim), but they returned saying the people there were too strong. Only Caleb and Joshua said God would give them the strength to overcome the people, so the children of Israel decided against trying to go into Canaan. So God said they would wander for 40 years till this generation died. Only Caleb and Joshua would be able to enter the land promised them. Numbers 26for the second census, the family of Judah numbered 76,500 and the children of Israel numbered 601,730. Numbers 34When entering Canaan, Calab was to be leader of the tribe of Judah. ...Nahshon begot Salmon.

Salmon... I was unable to find any reference to Salmon other than 1 Chronicles 2Salmon begot Boaz. And the only Rahab I can find mentioned in the Old Testament is Joshua 2where Rahab, a prostitue in Jericho hides Joshua's spies and Joshua 6her family is saved during the destruction of Jericho. I wonder if this is the same Rahab who the Book of Matthew says has Boaz by Salmon. ...Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab.

Boaz... Ruth 1The story of Boaz starts with his relative, Naomi, who with her husband and two sons moved from Bethlehem, Judah to Moab. Naomi's sons marry Moabites, but Naomi's husband and sons die so she returned to Bethlehem. Ruth loved her mother-in-law, Naomi, and decided to leave her country and go with Naomi even though Naomi would have no other sons for her to marry. Ruth chose to adopt Naomi's people and her God and to care for Naomi. Ruth 2Boaz was a man of great wealth in Bethlehem, Judah. Ruth 4He purchased Naomi's lands and married Ruth, thus keeping in the family the inheritance that would have come to Ruth through Naomi. Boaz and Ruth had a son, Obed. ...Boaz begot Obed by Ruth.

Obed... I was unable to find any reference to Obed other than 1 Chronicles 2Obed begot Jesse. ...Obed begot Jesse.

Jesse... 1 Chronicles 2Jesse had 7 sons, David was the youngest son. Samuel 16God said he had provided himself a king among the sons of Jesse. Jesse and his family lived in Bethlehem. ...Jesse begot David the king.

David... 1 Samuel 8The people of Israel said they wanted a king to judge them like other nations. 1 Samuel 9Samuel appointed Saul as the first king over Israel. Throughout his reign, Saul turned from God till 1 Samuel 16God directed him to choose David as the next king. 1 Samuel 17David soothed Saul's troubled spirit. 1 Samuel 17When Saul's army was having difficulty battling the Philistines, David, a shepherd boy, defeated the giant Philistine with a stone. Saul resented and feared David. 1 Samuel 18David married Saul's daughter, thus becoming son-in-law to the king. Throughout the rest of the book of 1 SamuelSaul persecuted David, trying to capture and destroy him. Meanwhile Saul's son, Jonathan, helped and protected David and the people of Israel loved David. A couple times David had the opportunity to kill Saul, but spared his life, leaving God to judge Saul. 2 Samuel 5David was anointed king over all of Israel after Saul's son, Ishbosheth, was murdered. 2 Samuel 7God established a covenant with David that He would appoint a place for His people and they would move no more, that He would establish a kingdom for David's descendants who would build a house for God, that if the seed of David commits iniquity God would chasten him with the rods of men, but His mercy would not depart from him as He took it from Saul, and that David's kingdom and throne would be established forever. 1 Kings 15 It was said that David did all thing right in the eyes of the Lord and had not turned aside from anything He commanded him all the days of his life except in the matter of Uriah. 2 Samuel 11David admired Bathsheba, Uriah's wife, when he saw her bathing and took her. When he found that Bathsheba was pregnant from that union, he arranged to have Uriah killed in battle. David married her, but 2 Samuel 12their son died. God blessed them with a second child, Solomon, whom God loved. ...David the king begot Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah.

Solomon... 1 Kings 1David proclaimed Solomon as king. 1 Kings 3Solomon asked God for wisdom so he could judge wisely, so God granted him wisdom. And because he didn't ask for anything else for himself, God also granted him riches, honor, and a long life. 1 Kings 4Men of all nations came to hear the wisdom of Solomon. 1 Kings 5-8Solomon built a great temple for God. 1 Kings 9God told Solomon that as long as the people follow God's commandments, the kingdom will thrive. But if they turn from God, they will be removed from the land and the temple. 1 Kings 11Solomon loved many foreign women and God warned him to not marry them as they would turn him to their gods. When Solomon was old, he ignored God's warning and married them anyway and was lead to other gods by his many wives. Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord. So God said he would take way his kingdom through the hand of his son. But for the sake of David, he would leave one tribe to his son, Jerusalem which He had chosen. When he died, Rehoboam, his son, reigned in his place. ...Solomon begot Rehoboam.

Rehoboam... 1 Kings 12Rehoboam became king. Jeroboam, who had been a servant of Solomon, lead an assembly of Israel to Rehoboam and claimed that Solomon made their burden heavy. They asked what Rehoboam would do about it. Rehoboam asked the elders and the young men he grew up with. The elders advised that if Rehoboam would be servant to them to lighten their burden, they would be servants to him. He rejected this advice. The young men he grew up with said to increase their burden. Rehoboam took the young men's advice. The people revolted and Rehoboam only maintained his kingship over Judah, fulfilling the prophesy as told to Solomon. Jeroboam became king of Israel, the rest of the tribes of Israel. Jeroboam didn't want the people of Israel to turn back to God for he feared they would then turn back to Rehoboam and kill him. So he introduced other gods for the people of Israel to worship. There were many other kings of Israel following Jeroboam who did many things, but this account is of the genealogy of Jesus, so I will trace the kings of Judah from here. 2 Chronicles 11Rehoboam took many wives and had many children. His favorite wife was Maachah, granddaughter of Absalon, son of David. Rehoboam chose his eldest son from that wife, Abijah, to be the next king. 1 Kings 14The people of Judah did evil in the sight of the Lord and the king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem and took away all the riches that Solomon had gained. 1 Kings 15There were wars between Rehoboam and Jeroboam, king of Israel all his life. ...Rehoboam begot Abijah.

Abijah... 1 Kings 12Abijah followed in the sins of this father Rehoboam rather than in the heart of Rehoboam's father David. 2 Chronicles 13There was a battle between Abijah and Jeroboam, king of Israel, where God helped to strike Jeroboam's army down because Abijah relied on God. Abijah had man wives and many sons. When he died, his son, Asa reigned in his place. ...Abijah begot Asa.

Asa... 2 Chronicles 14Asa did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. He banished the perverted people and removed the idols. He commanded Judah to seek the Lord God and to observe the law and commandment. 2 Chronicles 15Because he had relied on the Lord, he had no wars. But 2 Chronicles 16he made a treaty with the king of Syria to help protect him. A prophet explained to Asa that because he was now relying on the king of Syria rather than on God, he would have wars again. Even in Asa's final illness, he relied on doctors instead of God. 2 Chronicles 17Jehoshaphat, his son, reigned in his place. ...Asa begot Jehoshaphat.

Jehoshaphat... 2 Chronicles 17Jehoshaphat sought God and walked in His ways. He brought teachers to Judah to teach the Law of the Lord. 2 Chronicles 18He allied himself with Ahab, king of Israel by marriage. God favored Jehoshephat in battles whereas Ahab was killed. 2 Chronicles 20Jhosaphat rallied the people of Jerusalem to sing praises to God when they were being faced with an insurmountable enemy and God fought the battle for them. 2 Chronicles 21Jehoshaphat allied himself with Ahaziah king of Israel who acted wickedly. Because of this alliance, God destroyed the shipping plans that Jehoshaphat was trying to accomplish with this alliance. Jehoram, also spelled Joram, Jehoshaphat's son, reigned in his place. ...Jehoshaphat begot Joram

Joram... 2 Chronicles 21Jehoram killed is brothers, married the daughter of Ahab, king of Israel, and did evil in the sight of the Lord. But God did not destroy the house of David because of His covenant with David. God stirred up the spirits of the Phillistines and the Arabians against Jehoram and they carried away all the possessions of Jehoram including all his wives and sons, leaving only his youngest son, Jehoahaz, elsewhere called Ahaziah.

2 Chronicles 22Ahaziah reigned in Jehoram's place. Ahaziah also walked in the way of Ahab, as he was influenced by his mother and did evil in the sight of the Lord. 2 Kings 9God had a prophet anoint Jehu king of Israel to destroy Ahab and Jezebel and their evil influence over Israel. When Jehu killed Ahab he also found Ahaziah and killed him too.

2 Kings 11When Ahaziah's mother heard her son was killed, she destroyed all the royal heirs in Judah, but Ahaziah's sister hid away Ahaziah's son, Joash, also called Jehoash, and saved him. Joash was hidden away in the house of the Lord for six years while Ahaziah's mother reigned in the land. Joash was crowned king when he was 7 years old. Ahaziah's mother was killed, and all the alters and images of Baal were destroyed. 2 Kings 12Joash did right in the sight of the Lord and repaired the temple. When he was killed by an uprising of his servants, his son, Amaziah, reigned in his place.

2 Kings 14Amaziah did what was right in the sight of the Lord. Then he battled Jehoash, king of Israel and was captured. Israel won the battle then entered Jerusalem and took all the articles from the house of the Lord and all the treasures of the king's house. Then the people of Judah made Amaziah's son, Azariah, also known as Uzziah, king of Judah. ...Joram begot Uzziah.

Uzziah... 2 Chrnicles 26Uzziah did right in the sight of the Lord. As long as Uzziah sought God he prospered. His fame spread as he became strong. But in his pride he transgressed against the Lord by entering the temple to burn incense which only the priests were allowed to do. God struck him down with leprosy. When he died, his son Jotham reigned in his place. ...Uzziah begot Jotham.

Jotham... 2 Chronicles 27Jotham did right in the sight of the Lord. He became mighty because he prepared his ways before the Lord his God. After he died, his son Ahaz reigned in his place. ...Jotham begot Ahaz.

Ahaz... 2 Chronicles 28Ahaz did not do what was right in the sight of the Lord. He walked in the ways of the kings of Israel and did many abominations. God brought Judah low because Ahaz had encouraged moral decline in Judah and had been continually unfaithful to the Lord. In his desire to sacrifice to the gods of Damascus, he destroyed the articles and shut up the doors of the house of God. After he died, Hezekiah his son reigned in his place. ...Ahaz begot Hezekiah.

Hezekiah... 2 Chronicles 29Hezekiah did what was right in the sight of the Lord. He restored the temple and opened it back up for worship. 2 Chronicles 30Hezekiah sent runners throughout Judah and Israel to include everyone in a Passover celebration. Many in the far places laughed at them. Still others came. They had celebrated a Passover the like of which had not been celebrated since the time of Solomon. 2 Chronicles 31All who were present at the Passover went out and destroyed all the high places that those kings who even did right in the sight of the Lord previously hadn't destroyed. 2 Kings 20Envoys came from the king of Babylon as a good will visit and Hezekiah showed them all his treasures. The prophet Isaiah said the day will come when all he and his fathers had accumulated, including his sons, will be carried to Babylon. 2 Chronicles 32Hezekiah prospered in all his works. When he died, his son Manasseh reigned in his place. ...Hezekiah begot Manasseh.

Manasseh... 2 Kings 21Manasseh did evil in the sight of the Lord. He rebuilt the high places his father had destroyed and practiced many abominations. 2 Chronicles 33Manasseh seduced Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to do more evil than the nations whom the Lord had destroyed before the children of Israel. 2 Kings 21The prophets spoke the word of God saying He would wipe Jerusalem clean, delivering them into the hands of their enemies. 2 Chronicles 33The Assyrians captured Manasseh but Manessah repented and prayed to God. God heard his prayers and returned him to Jerusalem where Manasseh repaired his destruction of the temple and commanded the people to serve the Lord God. When he died, his son Amon reigned in his place. ...Manasseh begot Amon

Amon... 2 Chronicles 33Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord as Manasseh had done, but he did not repent or humble himself. His servants conspired and killed him. But the people of the land killed those who had conspired against King Amon and then made his son Josiah king in his place. ...Amon begot Josiah

Josiah... 2 Chronicles 34Josiah did what was right in the sight of the Lord. He sought God and began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of the high places and cleansed Judah and Jerusalem. When they were rebuilding the temple, they found the Book of the Law of the Lord given by Moses. When he heard what was written in the Book of the Law, Joshiah humbled himself and wept. Therefore God said that when he pours his wrath out on this place he would show Joshiah mercy by sending him to his grave in peace, so he wouldn't have to see the calamity that would be brought on the place and its inhabitants. Josiah kept the Passover. 2 Chronicles 36When Josiah died, the people made his son Jehoiakim king.

Jehoiakim did evil in the sight of the Lord. Then Jehoiachin, Jehoiakim's son, also known as Jeconiah, reigned in his place. ...Josiah begot Jeconiah and his brothers about the time they were carried away to Babylon.

Jeconiah... 2 Chronicles 36Jeconiah was only eight years old when he became king and only reigned in Jerusalem for 3 months. Jehoiachin did evil in the sight of the Lord. He was captured and taken to Babylon along with all the costly articles from the house of the Lord. Jehoiakim's brother Zedekiah reigned in his place after him. During Zedekiah's reign, all the inhabitants of Jerusalem were captured and taken to Babylon to become servants. The house of God was burned down, the walls of Jerusalem were broken down, and everything destroyed. 1 Chronicles 3One of the sons of Jeconiah was Shealtiel. ...And after they were brought to Babylon, Jeconiah begot Shealtiel.

Shealtiel... Haggai 1There is a reference to Shealtiel as the governor of Judah. 1 Chronicles 3One of the sons of Shealtiel was Zerubbabel ...Shealtiel begot Zerubbabel.

Zerubbabel... Ezra 1God commanded to Cyrus king of Persia to build him a house at Jerusalem. Cyrus released those who wished to go work on the temple. Haggai 1Zerubbabel was told by his prophet Haggai that it was time to build the house of the Lord. So they built the house for the Lord. Haggai 2God asked them if this new house had the glory of the previous temple. In comparison this new house was as nothing. But God said the glory of the latter temple will be greater than the former. God said He would take Zerubbabel and make him like a signet ring, for He has chosen him. ...Zerubbabel begot Abiud.

Abiud, Eliakim, Azor, Zadok, Achim, Eliud, Eleazar, Matthan, Jacob begot Joseph... There is no mention of any of the rest of these family members anywhere in the Old Testament. ...Abiud begot Eliakim, Eliakim begot Azor, Azor begot Zadok, Zadok begot Achim, Achim begot Eliud, Eliud begot Eleazar, Eleazar begot Matthan, Matthan begot Jacob, Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ.

This genealogy of Jesus has quite a story to it. Imagine the family that raised Jesus as a small boy. They knew of the promises made to their father Abraham. Their ancestors went through the slavery in Egypt, wandered through the wilderness with Moses, lead the people of Israel to and from God through the times of the Kings, were taken captive to Babylon, and were rebuilding a new house of God which would be more glorious than the former temple. They learned from the actions of their forefathers. All this helped mold their faith in God, the importance of following the Law, and their hope for the Messiah that God would send to them.

There are several points to this story that really come as good news to me. First and most important is the evidence that God keeps his promises. No matter how unfaithful we can be at times, God is ever faithful, even when we don't deserve it.

Another thing that stands out in this genealogy is how anyone can be chosen for God's great purposes. The eldest son was not automatically the great inheritor of the family. There are many times that God chose a younger son. Sometimes He chose one who was persecuted by his brothers, other times He chose the brother that did bad things but repented, and still other times He chose the brother that was evil. He made a shepherd boy a king, and He brought down sons of kings. No matter how important or unimportant you may feel, you have what it takes to possibly be a chosen one of God.

Also, look at the background of the family whom Jesus was born into. These people demonstrated almost every form of unfaithfulness and every form of sin, and yet something so good came out of that family. Regardless of what your fathers may have done before you, something great can still come from you. Your circumstances or family history cannot prevent you from doing something great for God.

The genealogy of Jesus is more than just a bunch of "begots". It is the story of God making a promise to His people and God guiding them even against their own stubbornness, to His love. This genealogy that leads up to the birth of Jesus isn't the end of the story, but the beginning of the great story of our salvation.