Harmony of the Gospels, Section 4
SECT. III.
S. MATTHEW, CHAP. I.
THeaGen …. 1. BookebIt might be understood, The Booke of the History, as ge… neration is taken, Gen. 2. 4. and 37. 2. and so it might be… the title, not of this Chapt… onelyonly, but o… the whole booke. But since the Evangelists intention is to set downe Christs alliance to the Royall line by his Father Iyseph, the phrase must be understood accordingly: and so the Chaldee useth the very Grecke word to translate foreign, The Family of R…m. Job. 32. 2. See a third sense of … in Jam. 1. 23. & 3. 6. of the generation of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham.
2 Abraham begat Isaac, and Isaac begat Jacob, and Jacob begatcJudas, for … in Hebrew: For the Greeke cannot utter. […] before a vowest in the middle of a word, nor after one in the end▪ therefore in the middle, it leaveth i… our, as in Jofapha…, Joram, and th…s word Jud… and in the end it changeth it in […] as in this, and many other words in this Chapter. Judas, and his brethren.
3 And Judas begat Phares, and Zara of Tamar; and Phares… begat Esrom, and Esrome begat Aram.
4 AnddOr Ram. 1 Chron. 2. 8… Ruth 4. 19. Aram begat Aminadab, and Aminad ab begat Naasson, and Naasson, begatecalled Salma, Ruth 4. 20. Salmon.
5 And Salmon begatfHe is h…ld by the …ewes to be Ipsan, Judg. 12. 8. Boos of Rachab, and Boos begat Obed of Ruth, and Obed begat Jesse.
6 And Jesse begatgDavid, in the Arabick, signifieth a worme: to which he may seeme to allude, Psal. 22. 6. David the King, and David the King begat Solomon, of her that had been the wife of Vrias.
7 And Solomon begat Roboam, and Roboam begathRehob…am, in naming this his Son Abi-jah, which signifieth, God is my father, seemeth to have had his eye upon the promise to David, I will be his father, 2 Sa…. 7. 14. which Because hee imbraced not … lively faith, but challenged onelyonly by a p…esumptuous … patio…, for hee walked not in the wayes of David; therefore doth the re… elsewhere conceale the name of God, in the name of his Son, and calle… him Ab…, My father is a Sea; For so unconstant in good was Re…ob…am, as Jam. 1. 6. being a child at forty yeeres old▪ 2 Chron. 13. 17. Abia, and Abia begatiThe Arabick rea…eth … Asaph. Asa.
8 And Asa begat Josaphat, and Josaphat begat Joram, and Joram begat Ozias.
9 And Ozias begat Joatham, and Joatham begat Achas, and Achas begat Eze…ias.
10 And Ezekias begat Manasses, and Manasses begat Amon, and Am…n begat Josias.
11 And Josias begatkCalled Conias, Jer. 22. 24. For God by taking away the first syllable of his name, sheweth that he will notestablish the throne, or race of Solomon any more upon it: as his Father lehojakim belike is so naming him had presumed. The Jewes delighted to joyn the name Jehovah, to their owne Names, but somewhat sho…med. For in the beginning of the name, it was but Jeho; as Jeho-shaphat, Jeho-ram, &c. And in the end, it was Jahu; as Mica-jahu, Eli-jahu. And sometime in the very same name it was set before, or after indifferently, as Jeho-achaz, 2 Chron. 21. 17. is Ahazjahu, 2 Chron. 22. 1. So Jehojachin, 2 King. 24. 8. is Jecho…-jahu, … Chron. 3. 16. Jechoni… and his brethren, about the time they were carried away into Babylon.
12 And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel, and Salathiel begat Zorobabel.
13 And Zorobabel begat Abi…d, and Abi…d begat Eliakim, and Eliakim begat Azor.
14 And Azor begat Sadoc, and Sadoc begat Achim, and Achim begat Eliud.
15 And Eliud begat Eleazar, and Eleazar begat Matthan, and Matthan begat Jacob.
16 And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
17 So all the generations from Abraham to David, are fourteene generations: and from David untill thelThe Captivity of the Jewes into Babel, was but foreign, a …ining of their Families: [As Aristeas saith of Prel. Lagus his captiving them, foreign.] for they returned ere long to their owne home again; But the ten Tribes captivated by Shalmanezer, are said to be, foreign A foreign in the Lxx, 2 King. 18. 11. in a perpetuall departure from their owne houses; And they, and all the rest of the Nation, are at this day foreign, in a dispersion, without any home of their owne at all, Joh. 7. 35. Jam. 1. 1. 1 Pet. 1. 1. carrying away into Babylon, are fourteene generations: and from the carrying away unto Babylon unto Christ, are fourteene generations.
18 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.
19 Then Joseph her Husband being a just man, and not willing mforeign. It hath been thought (saith Gellius) that there ought to bee three causes in punishing of offences. The first, [foreign] is when punishment is used for castigation, or amendment of him that ha…h offended. The second [called foreign] is, when punishment is used, that the dignity, and honour of him that hath beene wronged, may bee maintained. The third [which is called foreign.] is when punishment is inflicted for examples sake, that others bee the feare of the knowne punishment may be deterred from the like offences. Noct. Att. lib. 6. cap. 14.to make her a publike example, was minded to put her away privily.
20 But while hee thought on these things, the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph thou Son of David, feare not to take unto thee Mary thy Wise; for that which is conceived in her, is of the Holy Ghost.
21 And she shall bring forth a S… and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sinues.
22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled, which was spoken of the Lord by the Prophet, saying,
23 Behold, a Virgin shall bee with child; and shall bring forth a Sonne, and shall call his Name Emmanuel, which being interpre…d, is, God with us.
24 Then Joseph being raised from sleepe, did as the Angel of the Lord …ad hidden him, and tooke unto him his wife.
25 And knew …er not untill she had brought forth her first borne Son, and he called his name Jesus.
Reason of the Order.
AFter Mary hath beene three moneths absent from Joseph [as in the last vers… of the Section preceding] upon her returne hee perceiveth her to bee with child, for which hee intendeth secretly to put her away; as Tamar after three moneths, is descried to bee in the same case, and Judah resolveth, publikely to put her to death, Gen. 38. 24.
This being considered, it is plaine to see how properly the eighteenth verse of this chapter followeth in order of time, after the last verse of the Section next going before.
Now since the Evangelist hath begun with the genealogy, that also must here bee taken in; and that the rather, because he hath placed it in the forefront of his Gospel, for speciall reason. First, that hee might make way for the understanding of those words of the Angel, Joseph thou Son of David, Verse 20. Secondly, that the title which the wisemen give to our Saviour might be cleared, when they call him King of the Jewes, Chap. 2. 2. Thirdly, that his being the true and right Messias might bee approved, by shewing that according to the promises and Prophecies made before concerning him, hee was descended of the seed of Abraham, and the stock… of David. For the two first and maine things that the Jewes would inquire after concerning our Saviour, to try whether he were the true Messias, or no, would be these. First, whether he were of the house of David. Secondly, whether hee were borne in Bethlehem; and so wee find them questioning about him, Joh. 7. 42. In this regard it was necessary, that Matthew an…Jebrew, writing his Gospel for the Hebrewes, should at the very first entrance of it, give them satisfaction in these two particulars: which he doth accordingly, shewing his descent from David in this Chapter, and his birth in Bethlehem, in the next Chapter following.
The last verse of this Section and chapter, Hee knew her not, till shee had brought forth her first-borne Sonne, &c. may seeme to interrupt the right order of the story, and to bring in Christs birth before its time, if wee lay it here. But since the Evangelist will say no more of it, but onelyonly this; and because we desire to breake the text into as few peeces as possible, this shall be let to lie where it doth, without any transposition, and wee will imagine the two next Sections to be expositions at large, upon what this verse doth but speak in briefe.
Harmony and Explanation.
PUblike Registers of the Tribe of Judah, and of the other Tribes that adhered to it, were reserved even in the captivity and forward; as may bee collected by the bookes of Ezra and N…h migh: And from Lukes telling that Anna was of the tribe of Aser, and Pauls, that himselfe was of the tribe of Benjamin.
From one of these doth Matthew fetch the latter end of his genealogy, and Luke from another the beginning of his, having then the civill records to avouch for them, if they should bee questioned, which the Jews now wanting, doe unjustly cavill.
[The Sonne of David, the Sonne of Abraham] Jesus Christ is to bee applyed unto both, thus: Jesus Christ the Sonne of David, Jesus Christ the Sonne of Abraham: as see the like phrase Gen. 36. 3. Aholibamah the Daughter of Ana…, the Daughter of Zibeon: that is thus to bee understood, Aholibamah the Daughter of Anab, Aholibamah the Daughter of Zibeon: as that chapter maketh it most cleare. And there is the like, and farre more largely, Luke. 3 23. &c.
Now Abraham and David are named, rather then any other, First, because one of them was father of the Jewish Nation, and the other the first in the Kingdome, of which Nation and Kingdome, all Prophecies had told that Christ should come. Secondly, because th… promise of Christ was made to these two in plaine… termes, then to and other.
David i… first named, first, because the promise to him was freshes in memory, plainer, and more explicite: secondly, because the de…n… of the Messias from David, was the maine thing the Jewes looked after in him? thirdly, the Holy Ghost doth hereby, as it were beforehand, answer the impious distinction, so frequent among the Rabbines, of Messias ben Joseph, and Messias ben David.
Ver. 2. [Judas and his brethren.] His brethren are added from Gen. 49. 8. to comfort the dispersed Tribes that were not yet returned out of Captivity as Judah was, in their equall interest in Christ as well as hee, as Hos. 1. 11.
Ver. 3. [Phares and Zara.] Hee nameth Zara, because hee would bring in their Mother Tam…r. Ismael and Esau, the one a brother to Isaac, the other a twin to Jacob, are not named, because they were both wicked, but the brethren of Juda, and the twin to P…arts are named, because they are both good. At the birth of Jacob and Esau it is said foreign twins, with the letter N wanting, because Esau one of them was evill: But as the birth of Phares and Zarait is said foreign with that letter supplyed, because both of them were good, R. Sollin Gen. 25. and 38▪
[Of Thamar] Foure women are named in this Genealogy, women once of notorious infamy, Tamar incestuous, Rahab an ha… lot, Ruth an Heathen, and Bathsheba an Adulteresse: To shew that Christ came to heale all sores, when hee recured such sinners, and that hee despised not our shame, when hee shamed not to descend of such Parents.
Ver. 5. [Rahab] It can little bee doubted but that hee meaneth her, mentioned Josh. 2. Now the Jewes, [belike to deface the truth of Matthew, who from ancient Records, averreth her for the wife of Salmon] have broached this tenet, that shee was marryed …nto Joshua, vid. Kimchi in loc.
Ver. 8. [Joram begat Ozid…] Here*The seed of the wicked shall bee cut off, Psal. 37. 28. See the letter foreign, which is the last letter of foreign the seed, & of foreign the wicked, cut out of that Acrosticall, & alphabeticall Psalme, at that very place. three descents are omitted, namely, [Ahaziah, I…ash, and Ambziah] as compare 2 Chron. 3. 2 King. 8. But it is most divinely done, from the threatning of the second Commandement, Thou shalt not commit Idolatry, for I visit the sins of the Fathers upon the children to the third and fourth Generation. Joram committed Idolatry like the house of Ahab, for the daughter of Ahab was his wife, 2 King. 8. 18. Therefore it is just with God to visit that sin upon his children: in signe of which hee blotteth them out of this line to the fourth generation: So is it the manner of Scripture, very often to leave out mens names out of certaine stories and Records, to shew a distaste at some evill in them. So all Cains posterity is blotted out of the Book of the Chronicles, as it was out of the world by the Flood. So Simeon is omitted in Moses blessing, Deut. 33. for his cruelty at Shechem, and to Joseph. So Dan, at the sealing of the Lords people, Rev. 7. because of Idolatry begun in his Tribe, Judg. 18. and so Joab, from among Davids Worthies, 2 Sam. 23. because of his bloodinesse to Amasa and Abner. Such another close intimation of Gods displeasure at this wickednesse of Joram; is to bee seene, 2 Chron. 22. 1, 2. where the reigne of his Son Ahaziah is not dated according to the custome and manner of the other Kings of Judah, but by the stile of the continuance of the house of Omri, into which Family his Father had marryed, and was become so profane as to worship their Idols. The Sonne of the two and forty yeers was Ahaziah when hee began to reigne. That is, of the last of the two and forty, of the house of Omri, in which it fell, and Ahaziah with it.
Ver. 11. [Josias begate Jechonias.] So readeth the Syrian, Arabicke, and the most and best Greek Copies: And so the Evang…list himselfe requireth that it bee read, to make just foureteene generations from David to the Captivity into Babel. And so readeth D. Kimchi, on 1 Chron. 3. 15. Josias indeed begat Joachim, and Joachim begat Jechonias; but hee that was neither fit to bee lamented, nor to bee buried like one of the Kings of Judah, Jerem. 22. 18, 19. was much more unfit to come into the Line of the Kings of Judah, that leadeth to Christ.
Ver. 12. [Jechonias begat Salathiel.] Jechonias was Father to Salat…, as Baasha was to Ahab, 1 King. 20. 34. not by generation, but by predecession. For Jechonias in very deed was childlesse, Jer. 22. 30. and the naturall Father of Salathiel was Neri, Luk. 3. 27. yet hee is said to beget him, because hee declared and owned him for his next heire and Successor; As God is said to beget Christ on the day of his Resurrection, Psal. 2. 7. Act. 13. 33. that is, declared him thereby to bee his Son, Rom. 1. 4.
The Scripture affecteth to speake short in relating of Stories, that are well knowne before: as to spare more, you may find an example farre harsher than this, in 1 Chron. 1. 36. where Tinna the Concubine of Eliphaz is named as Eliphaz his Son.
And in 1 Chron. 3. 16. Zedekiah the Uncle of Jechoniah is called his Son, because hee succeeded him in the Roialty.
The Jewes in their Talmud, give this rule for a fundamentall point: That there is no King to bee for Israel, but of the house of David, and of the seed of Solomon onelyonly: And hee that separateth against this Family, denyeth the Name of the blessed God, and the words of his Prophets that are spoken in truth. Sanhedr. Perek. 10. & R. Samuel in Ner. Mitsvah. fol. 153.
With which opinion, although Matthew seeme to comply at the first appearance, in that hee deriveth our Saviour from Solomon, because of the Hebrews for whom hee wrote, which looked for him from thence, yet the carnall sense of it, which aimeth onelyonly at the earthly Kingdome of the Messias, and at the exact descent from Solomon, hee closely confuteth to the eyes of the intelligent Reader by these two things. First, in that hee bringeth the Line along to Jechonias, in whom the seed of Solomon and the regall dignity also with it failed. Secondly, in that hee deriveth the interest of Christ in that dignity, if it were any, onelyonly by Joseph, which according to the flesh, had no relation at all to him, save the marriage of his Mother.
The Jewes to disgrace the Gospel of S. Luke, doe hold that Jechonias was the naturall Father of Salathiel, and that upon his repentance in Babel God gave him children, as Assir and Salathiel. D. Kimchi on 1 Chron. 3. But God had sworne, Jer. 22. 28. and hee will not repent, Psal. 110. 4. that hee should die childlesse to the Throne, and his repentance could no more repeale this Oath of God, then the prayer of Moses did the decree of his not entring into the Land.
[A…d Salathiel begate Zorobabel.] Salathiel begat Pedaiah, and Pedaiah begat Zorobabel, 1 Chron. 3. 18, 19. But because, when the masculine Line of Solomons house failed in Jechonias, the dignity turning over to the Line of Nathin, first setled upon Salathiel, but first shewed it selfe eminent in Zorobabel, therefore constantly, when mention is made of Zorobabel, hee is not called the Sonne of Pedaiah a man of no action but obscure, but the Sonne of Salathiel, in whom the honour of that Family beganne. For Jechonias was as a signes plucked off, Jer. 22. 24. and Zorobabel was set on againe in his stead, Hag. 2. 23.
Ver. 13. [And Zorobabel begat Abind] Among the children of Zorobabel mentioned 1 Chron. 3. 19, 20. there is no memoriall either of Abiud, his Son named here, or of R…b…s… his Son named by St. Luke. But as in Scripture it is ordinary for one man to have severall names, so is it to bee understood of these. The eldest Son then of Zorobabel, to whom the honour lately falne upon that house was to descend, was called Mesullam. Either in memoriall of Solomon, the glory of whose house was transferred to him [and so hee also calleth a daughter of his Shelomith, the name by which the wife of Solomon is called, Cant. 6. 13. as being but the feminine of Shelomoh.] Or from the significancy of the word which importeth requited. For whereas Jechonias was also called Shallum, that is, finished, because the race and line of Solomon did end in him, when a recompence of the failing of that, is made by the succession of Salathiel in its stead, well might Zorobabel in whom it first shewed, call his Son Meshullam or requited. Or from their peaceable building and inhabiting Jerusalem, after their return from Babel. This Son Meshullam was called also Abiud, in remembrance of this his Fathers glory: And his second brother Hananiah, was also called Rhesa, that is, The chiefe, or principall, because of Christs descending from him. These things wee have now but by conjecture, but that wee may take the bolder, because the Text in the place alledged in the Chronicles, hath set these two Sonnes of Zorobabel apart and distinct from the rest of their Brethren, as if for some speciall thing more remarkable then they. But there is no doubt but the Evangelists in naming them by these names, had warranty from knowne and common Records to justifie them in it.
Ver. 17. [Foureteen generations] In every one of these severall foureteens, they were under a severall and distinct manner of Government, and the end of each foureteen produced some alteration in their state. In the first, they were under Prophets: in the second, under Kings: and in the third, under Hasmonean Priests. The first foureteen brought their state to glory in the Kingdome of David: The second, to misery in the Captivity of Babylon: And the third, to glory againe in the Kingdome of Christ.
The first begins with Abraham that received the promise, and ends in David, that received it againe with greater clearenesse. The second begins with the building of the Temple, and ends in the destruction of it. The third begins with their peeping out of misery in Babel, and ends in the accomplished delivery by Christ.
The second, that terminateth in the peoples captiving into Babel, fixeth not on Jehoiakim, in whom the captivity began; nor in Zedekiah, in whom it was consummate; but in Jechonias, who was in the middle space betweene. And from the same da…e doth Ezekiel count and reckon the captivity through all his booke, as Chap. 8. 1. & 20. 1. & 26. 1. & 29. 1. & 31. 1. & 32. 1. & 40. 1.
The wholesum of the three fourteenes, is the renowned number of two and forty: the number of the knops, and flowers, and branches of the Candlestick; of the journeys and stations of Israel betwixt Egypt and Canaan, Numb. 33. of the children of Bethel, 2 King. 2. 24. And see Rev. 11. 2. & 13. 5.
Vers. 18. [Before they came together, &c.] That is, to dwell together in the same house. Nay, it is very probable, that as yet they dwelt not in the same Town, but Joseph in Caper…, and Mary in Naz…e….
Vers 19. [To make her a publike example] foreign: A word used by the Lxx, Num. 25. 4. Ezek: 28. 17. &c. And by the New Testament, Heb. 6. 6. And ever, saith Erasmus, in an evill sense. … hath strangely translated this clause, Non lo volendo Publicare: and divers of the Papi…s have more strangely expounded it, a … volens trad…cere, not willing to taker her to himselfe, or to his o…ne house: and why? Because hee thought himselfe unworthy of her society: and because the brightnesse of her face was such, that he could not looke upon it: And he thought it more possible for a woman to conceive without a man, then for Mary to sinne.
And thus will they make Joseph to divorce his wife, or at least to use unkindly, for her too great excellencies.
*A'foreign to divorce her: as Mat. 5. 31. & 19. 7. Mark. 10. 4. Luk. 16. 18. Erasm. Voluit cl…culum ab ea diver tere; And so Brucioli, La v…lse occultamente lasciare: making Joseph a patient in the divorce, rather then an agent, or rather divorcing himselfe, then her.[To put her away privily] The Law bound him not to bring her, either to shame by triall before the Priest, Numb. 6. or to punishment by the sentence of the Judges. The adulteresse indeed was to bee put to death, if shee were accused, prosecuted, and convicted; but to accuse and prosecute her, the Law bound not, but upon deprehension in the very act, Joh. 8. 4, 5. Deut. 22. 22. Numb. 25. 8. If a man tooke a wife, and hated her, Deut. 22. 1…. hee might bring her to tryall, and upon conviction to punishment: but it hee love her for all his suspition, and will connive at her fault, and not seeke her death, hee is at liberty to connive and tol…ated by the Law so to doe, and blamelesse if hee did it, as Judg. 19. 2, 3. But if a couple were deprehended in the act of adultery, then must there bee no connivence, Deut. 22. 22. explaining Levit. 20. 10. And the case of the unbetrothed Damosell, Deut. 22. 28. explaining the case of the betrothed.
And thus is that question easily answered, which hath so toiled many Expositors: How Joseph can bee said to be just when in this very matter that is now in hand hee violateth: It is answered by denying that hee violated the Law: For that tolerated him thus to doe.
Vers. 21. [Jesus, for hee shall save] Rabenn haccadesh saith, Because M…ssias shall save men, he shall bee called Joshua. But the Heathens of another Nation, which shall imbrace the beleefe of him, shall call …is name Jesus: And this is intimated, in Gen. 49. Chi jabho shilob: untill Shil…h come. Vid. Galatin. lib. 3. cap. 20.
Vers. 23. [Behold, a Virgin] The Jews seeke to elude this Prophecy of Isaiah by expounding it, either of the Prophets wife, as Isa. 8. 3. or of the Kings wife; and from Prov. 30. 19. they plead that Almah doth not strictly signifie a virgin, but a woman that hath knowne a man.
Answ. 1. There are three words in the Hebrew, that signifie and betoken Virginity, but this most properly: First, foreign signifieth a Virgin, but not alwayes: for it properly denoteth a young woman; yea▪ though shee bee not a virgin, but hath been touched. Secondly, Bethulah is the common word used to denote Virginity; yet as Galatine observeth out of Prov. 30. it seemeth sometime to bee taken otherwise. But thirdly, Almah properly importeth a young Virgin, and not at all one touched: So that Naarah signifieth any young Woman, though she bee not a Virgin: Bethulah, a Virgin though shee bee not young: but Almah importeth youth and virginity both.
Secondly, the Lxx in the place of Isaiah cited, translate the word foreign: which denoteth no otherwise then a Virgin.
Thirdly, it is given for a signe to Ahaz, that Almah should beare a Sonne: now for one that had known a man to doe so, were no signe at all. See Galatine. lib. 7. cap. 15.
[They shall ca…l his Name Emmanuel] Nomen naturae, not impositionis, they shall owne him for God in our nature, and not denominate him Emmanuel for his imposed name: See the like Phrase, Esa. 60. 18. Ezek. 4. 35.
[Which is being interpreted] First, this, and other passages of the same nature in this Evangelist, argue strongly, that Matthew wrote not his Gospel in the Hebrew tongue, as is very commonly held: For, first, then had this word needed no interpretation, and it had been very hard to have interpreted it, but by the same word againe. Secondly, the Jewes in those times that Matthew wrote, understood not the Hebrew tongue in its purity, but had degenerated into the use and speech of the Syrian. Thirdly, Jonathan Ben Vzziel translated the Prophets out of Hebrew into Chaldee, a little before the comming of Christ; and Onkelos did as much by the Law a little after, and both did so, because the Jews could not at that time understand or read the Bible in its owne Hebrew tongue: and how improper then was it for Matthew to write his Gospel in that language? Fourthly, all the world that used the Old Testament at those times, unlesse it were such as had gained the Hebrew tongue by study, used it in the translation of the Lxx, or the Greeke, and it was requisite that the Pen-men of the New Testament should write in that language, and according to their stile [as Paul writing for, and to Romanes, and Matthew and hee to Hebrewes] that their quotations out of the Old Testament might be examined by the Greek Bible. Fifthly, let those that hold the opinion we are confuting, but seriously consider that Christ calleth himselfe by the name of two Greeke letters, and why; Rev. 1. 8.
Verse 25. [He knew her not till she had brought forth] This properly falleth in order at Luke 2. 7. and there shall it bee taken up againe.