Looking closely!

Quandary of the Two Genealogies

Solomon and Nathan were both among the many SONS OF DAVID!.
The two (2) genealogies are in Matthew chapter one and Luke chapter three; the difference being that Matthew is based on David's son Solomon, and Luke uses David's son Nathan. Also, they're in reverse order; Matt going from past to present (Abraham to Jesus), while Luke goes from present to past (the 'supposed' Joseph all the way back to Adam). David had so many sons it wasn't immediately clear which son would be the one to inherit the seed leading to the promised Messiah.

Matthew 1:1 KJV - "The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren; And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram; And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon; And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias..."

This account in Matthew begins like some of the Genesis chapters, but leaves out the nineteen names between Adam and Abraham, and requires us to understand that Jesus was not a bio son of Abraham or David, but instead came through that family line; i.e. a great-great-etc. grandson. The pedigree of Jesus comes through both Abraham and David, as well as most of the names in Matthew chapter one.

The 'Father-to-Son' trail leads from Adam to Jesus! (almost..)

Luke 3:23 KJV - "And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli, Which was the son of Matthat, which was the son of Levi, which was the son of Melchi, which was the son of Janna, which was the son of Joseph, Which was the son of Mattathias, which was the son of Amos, which was the son of Naum, which was the son of Esli, which was the son of Nagge, Which was the son of Maath, which was the son of Mattathias, which was the son of Semei, which was the son of Joseph..."

Note the extra Joseph's, because this is the 'Line of Joseph', Mary's husband, who was NOT in the line of Christ. (Note: Neither was that first Joseph--the one in Egypt.) The only Joseph in Matthew must be her Father (not husband) for the count to agree, and Mary must be figuratively a "daughter of Zelophehad", Numbers 26:33, without brothers.

The Joseph whose father was Jacob is from the Genealogy in Matthew, and the Joseph whose father was Heli is from the Genealogy in Luke. Scholars have debated these for centuries, but now a link to the Old Testament provides a clue and a cryptogram for solving this problem. Luke's genealogy is that of Mary's husband (by way of David's son Nathan), and Matthew's genealogy is that of Jesus (through David's son Solomon, and thru Mary).

Both genealogies connect father-to-son, except in the case of Mary, who apparently had no brothers, it was father-to-daughter.

Luke3 Genealogy – 74 names when the Cainan of Arphaxad omitted

Adam, Seth, Enos, Cainan, Maleleel, Jared, Enoch, Mathusala, Lamech, Noe     (1st ten)
Sem, Arphaxad, Cainan, Sala, Heber, Phalec, Ragau, Saruch, Nachor, Thara, Abraham, (eleven)
Isaac, Jacob, Juda, Phares, Esrom, Aram, Aminadab, Naasson, Salmon, Booz (3rd ten)
Obed, Jesse, David, Nathan, Mattatha, Menan, Melea, Eliakim, Jonan, Joseph (4th ten)
Judah, Simeon, Levi, Matthat, Jorim, Eliezer, Jose, Er, Elmodam, Cosam (5th ten)
Addi, Melchi, Neri, Salathiel, Zorobabel, Rhesa, Joanna, Juda, Joseph, Semei, (6th ten)
Mattathias, Maath, Nagge, Esli, Naum, Amos, Mattathias, Joseph, Janus, Melchi (7th ten)
Levi, Matthat, Heli, Joseph (Mary’s husband)



Follow the Red Thread!

Genesis chapter five is our introduction to the winding and confusing trail of names leading to the birth of Christ. Cain and Abel and Seth and "other sons and daughters", Gen5:4, were in the 2nd generation; i.e. the following generation, but it's the Seth-path which leads the way to the 3rd generation of Enos.

The Author of Scripture included a puzzle linking Matthew all the way back to the Book of Genesis ! Don't be side-tracked by continuing down the trail of "king of Judah", but rather stick to the "father-to-son" progression. Beginning in Genesis chapter 5 we commence the trail with Adam's son Seth (not Cain or Abel or one of the later sons) and after ten generations Noah presents a problem by having three sons (no daughters!) and it isn't initially made clear which son would be leading the way to Jesus.

Most everyone knows the story in Genesis of how Abraham was succeeded by the promised son Isaac (not Ishamael), who was succeeded by the curious story of Jacob and his twelve sons including the Godly Joseph of the 'Coat of Many Colors'.
Remarkably, the names of this father-to-son pair, Jacob to Joseph , aren't found elsewhere in scripture until just prior to Mary and Jesus; in Matthew chapter one.


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The Generation Chart

All the generations from Adam to David are thirty-three (33), and all the generations from Solomon to Jesus are 33. Compare the logic and pattern with Matthew 1:17.

Genesis 5,11, 1Chr1:24+3:17       Three Periods of 14 Generations
1. Adam 20. Abraham 34. Solomon 53. Salathiel
2. Seth 21. Isaac 35. Rehoboam 54. Zerubbabel
3. Enos 22. Jacob I 36. Abijam 55. Abiud
4. Cainan 23. Judah(Tamar) 37. Asa 56. Eliakim
5. Mahalaleel 24. Pharez 38. Jehoshaphat 57. Azor
6. Jared 25. Esrom 39. Jehoram 58. Sadoc
7. Enoch II 26. Aram 40. * Ahaziah 59. Achim
8. Methuselah 27. Aminidab 41. * Joash 60. Eliud
9. Lamech II 28. Naason 42. * Amaziah 61. Eleazar
10. NOAH 29. Salmon(Rahab) 43. Uzziah 62. Matthan
11. Shem 30. Boaz (Ruth) 44. Jotham 63. Jacob II
12. Arphaxad 31. Obed 45. Ahaz 64. Joseph
13. Salah/Shelah 32. Jesse 46. Hezekiah 65. Mary
14. Eber 33. DAVID 47. Manasseh 66. JESUS
15. Peleg 48. Amon
16. Reu 49. Josiah
17. Serug 50. * Jehoiakim
18. Nahor 51. Jechonias
19. Terah 52. * Assir


a. Matthew 1:17 tells us about the three periods of 14 generations, but neglected to include the 19 generations preceding Abraham, or the five missing or 'skipped' names in the Solomon column. Good reason for us to "study", 2Tim2:15, if we want to learn the "hidden wisdom".

Keep in mind how the numbers "thirty plus three" apply to both David and Jesus, and how the Great Author may have concealed some matters, Prov25:2.

The NIV Bible doesn't show the final name in Solomon's column, but instead they 'translated' the name Assir as 'captive'. 1Chr3:17 KJV refers.

b.Notice first that there are thirty-three (33) generations leading to David, and then thirty-three (33) leading to Jesus. Then note that all of the sixty-six names (except for Jacob) are unique and different. The generations marked with (*) are recorded in the Old Testament, but aren't found in Matthew: a fact which to this very day continues to baffle many scholars.

c. Remember how Jesus is described in scripture with many metaphors (Lamb, Bread, Vine, Word, etc.), and how the sixty-six books of the Bible (Genesis to Revelation) are popularly considered the complete Word of God. He's the "author and finisher", Heb12:2, so I often refer to Him as the "Holy Ghostwriter". (2Pet1:21). ~ Also, the Word, the Son, and Seed. !!

Jesus knew Mary as his mother, and both his father and grandfather were named Joseph!
Gives new meaning to the modern term of 'grandfathered', maybe?



d. Many Josephs and Simons and Marys in scripture lull us into thinking that copy-cat names aren't anything special, but the Enoch and Lamech in the 7th and 9th generation have special significance. Jude 14 refers to this Enoch as "7th from Adam", rather than as the "son of Jared" which is the usual way of identifying persons in those days before surnames. Jude 14 plants the seed of numbering the generations from Adam to Jesus, and leads us into this astounding enigmatic revelation of 7x9=63. Because, of all sixty-six names in Jesus' pedigree ONLY the name of Jacob is found twice!

Genesis 27:36 "And he said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing.." The name Jacob means 'supplanter' (to take the place of), and not 'deceiver' as some teach. This becomes applicable to the 2nd Jacob, as we'll see.


e. The first Enoch and first Lamech were in the line of Cain which perished in Noah's Flood. They aren't part of the pedigree of Jesus, but should give us pause to wonder why anyone would copy the name of a murderer or son of a murderer.

f. The Joseph in Matt 1:16 must be Mary's father (not husband) for them to be in separate generations. The Greek word 'aner' doesn't always mean 'husband', and his presence in Matthew would belie the truth of Jesus being the Son of God. The genealogy in Luke 3 is that of her carpenter husband, the 'supposed' father of Jesus according to Lk3:23. Note the multiple Josephs in that line.

g. Did you notice the modus operendi? Three groups of 'ten-generations' plus three 'skipped' generations lead the way to David #33.. Adam to Noah are the first ten (Gen5 and 1Chr1), then Shem to Abraham (Gen11 and 1Chr1:24), and finally Pharez to David (Ruth4:18) -- Isaac, Jacob, and Judah are "skipped", but we know them from the Genesis account.

h. Just for extra credit, count the names between the two Jacobs: Exactly forty (40) agrees with me, and don't forget "the foolishness of God is wiser than men", 1Cor1:25. Or, the count would be 42 (3x14) if both Jacobs are included.

j. The first King of Judah (Saul), and the last King (Zedekiah) are NOT in the pedigree of Christ, nor were any of the Kings of Israel. The nineteen (19) Kings of Judah from David to Jeconiah were in the pedigree, and agree with the nineteen-count columns. Remember though to keep the kings separate from the father-to-son progression.


We only know the names of a handful of women (9) in the generation count: Eve#1, Sarah#20, Rebekah#21, Leah#22, Tamar#23, Rahab#29, Ruth#30, Bathsheba#33, Mary#65. However, names of the mothers of the Kings of Judah are given in 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles.


So Mary had a father named Joseph as well as a husband with that name ('Joseph' means 'the Lord will add a son'). It's apropo because God is not only our Father, but also a Husband according to Isa54:5. The mother of Jesus may have been an only child, or perhaps a type of the Zelophehad family of 5 daughters but no sons. Numb26:33, 36:2.

Matt 1;16 KJV "And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ".
The word 'husband' is the Greek word 'aner' - Strong's g435 and informs us that in the KJV Bible, this word is translated "man" 156 times, husband 50 times, sir 6 times, and fellow: once. Is it really stretching the truth so much to believe that this word "aner" was really speaking of Mary's Father instead of her husband? Not being critical of the King James translaters, because I understand their reasoning or maybe dilemma.
Not to pick on Catholics, but they often idolize Mary, rather than understanding how she would have needed to accept Jesus as her saviour the way we all do. It's similar, in my view, to the way those Old Testament Israeli's looked at the brass serpent.
2Kings18:4 "He [King Hezekiah] removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan".

A generation is not a specific number of years, either Biblically or in modern terms, but speaks of the difference in age between the adults and the children. Grand-children would be a third generation. Photo's of "Four Generations" are popular these days; showing Mom or Dad along with their son or daughter and baby, plus Grandpa or Grandma. To this agrees Exodus 1:6 "And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation". Also see here..

Job42:16 After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons' sons, even four generations.

The Great Author of Scripture leads us down this perplexing trail of Father-to-Son generations with stories like that of King Hezekiah who had a notable miracle of fifteen years extended life. Had he not been given these added years, his son Manasseh would not have been born, 2K21:1, and the pedigree route to Jesus broken, ended, or otherwise disrupted.

The 33 and 66 count are found in Lev12 and Gen46; both cases are suggestive of half of a full association. Also, in the Book of Isaiah with its 66 chapters, a distinct change of style is noted at the conclusion of chapt.39, as it does between the Old and New Testaments.

The 6x11 Pedigree Table

1. Adam 12. Arphaxad 23. Judah 34. Solomon 45. Ahaz 56. Eliakim
2. Seth 13. Salah/Shelah 24. Pharez 35. Rehoboam 46. Hezekiah 57. Azor
3. Enos 14. Eber 25. Esrom 36. Abijam 47. Manasseh 58. Sadoc
4. Cainan 15. Peleg 26. Aram 37. Asa 48. Amon 59. Achim
5. Mahalaleel 16. Reu 27. Aminidab 38. Jehoshaphat 49. Josiah 60. Eliud
6. Jared 17. Serug 28. Naason 39. Jehoram 50. *Jehoiakim 61. Eleazar
7. Enoch#2 18. Nahor 29. Salmon 40. *Ahaziah 51. Jeconiah 62. Matthan
8. Methuselah 19. Terah 30. Boaz 41. *Joash *52. *Assir 63. Jacob#2
9. Lamech#2 20. Abraham 31. Obed 42. *Amaziah 53. Salathiel 64. Joseph
10. NOAH 21. Isaac 32. Jesse 43. Uzziah 54. Zorobabel 65. Mary
11. Shem 22. Jacob#1 33. DAVID 44. Jotham 55. Abiud 66. JESUS

*not in Matt1 -- 1Chr3:17 + Ezra3:2 pertain. (note the 40 names between the Jacobs! :)

To Summarize

1. The Generation (Heb. toledoth) count goes from Adam#1 to Enoch#7 to Noah#10, and then there's a fork in the road because Noah has three (3) sons (and NO daughters). There are other forks in the road; like with the many sons of David, but only two (Solomon and Nathan) are contenders for leading the way to Jesus.

2. Not directly involved here, but a fella named Zelophehad in Numbers 26 is reported to have 5 daughters (one named Noah!), but NO sons. So it develops in Nu36 that the girls will be required to marry a guy from their own tribe if they are to receive their inheritance. My contention here is that MARY is one who had no brothers, so she was 'required' to marry into her tribe of Judah (House of David). Coincidently, IMO, she had a father named Joseph.

In modern times, the Girls give up their own name when they marry, and take up the 'new name' of their husband.
3. We read it often: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, but there it stops. That son named Joseph was highlighted with a coat of many colors (and a dozen chapters), but was NOT in the lineage leading to Jesus. Instead it's Judah, the 4th son of Leah who receives that honor. Similarly with the NT Joseph & Mary, it's NOT her husband who is the bio father of Jesus; instead, it's her FATHER. By this account she has a Father and a Husband with the same name! "Thine Maker is thine husband", Isa54:5; so don't we all?

4. So BOTH Mary and her husband belong to the tribe of Judah; legal and proper under the 'Law', as the two genealogies (Mt1 & Lk3) attest, because the trail finally ended with a Joseph who had no sons, but instead a daughter, or maybe two. (Remember the Joseph in Egypt had 2 sons, no daughters).

5. "The Glory of God is to conceal a thing, but the honor of kings is to search out the matter", Prov25:2.



66 Generations and 66 Books in the WORD of God!

We hear it said "the proof of the pudding is in the eating", and surely this is a delicious truth!
"O taste and see that the Lord is good", Ps34:8



As I edited this in May 2012, the news was reporting how the name of Jacob has been number one for boys in the U.S. for the past thirteen years!


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