Salathiel and Zorobabel Matthew 1:12

Matthew was a Jew, writing specifically to the Jews about a Jew whose name was Jesus. Matthew employs many Old Testament references throughout his book as to prove that Jesus is indeed the Messiah for whom the Jewish people awaited. Matthew began his book with the words, “The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham”, and he included, “Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judas and his brethren, Phares and Zara of Thamar, Esrom, Aram, Aminadab, Naasson, Salmon, Booz of Rachab, Obed of Ruth and Jesse, David the king, and Solomon

of her that had been the wife of Urias, Roboam, Abia, Asa, Josaphat, Joram, Ozias, Joatham, Achaz, Ezekias, Manasses, Amon and Josias, Jechonias and his brethren”. In chapter one and verse twelve of his book, Matthew shares the lineage of Jesus through “Salathiel and Zorobabel” where we read:

And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel;

The verse reads, “And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias beget Salathiel;” Matthew began with the words, “and after” which means “thereafter and afterward” “they were brought” or “the people of Israel were carried off and removed” “to Babylon” which refers to “toward a very large and famous city which was the residence of the Babylonian kings and situated on both banks of the Euphrates”, “Jechonias” or “Jehoiachin” which means “whom Jehovah establishes” “beget Salathiel” or “fathered and engendered Salathiel which means I have asked of God”. Matthew continued Jesus' ancestral line with “Salathiel”.

The verse goes on to say, “and Salathiel beget Zorobabel;” Matthew continued with the words, “and Salathiel” which means “I have asked of God” “beget Zorobabel” or “fathered and engendered Zorobabel or Zerubbabel which means “born at Babel, that is, Babylon”. Zerubbabel was born to “Salathiel” during the time the people of Israel were in Babylon, and he was the “head of the tribe of Judah at the time of the return from Babylonish captivity in the first year of Cyrus”.

When we meditate upon Matthew's words in this verse, we see how Jesus' genealogy continued after the people of Israel were in Babylon. There, “Zerubbabel” was born, and he became the leader to bring the people of Israel back to their homeland. (See Ezra 3 and 5, Nehemiah 12 and Haggai 1) Jesus' ancestral line continued through the captivity of Israel in Babylon, and because God had the “salvation” of mankind through His Son Jesus in mind, nothing could prevent the preservation of His genealogy. May all who read these words consider the magnitude and length that God has ventured to bring “everlasting life” to sinful man through His Son Jesus.

Next time Matthew continues Jesus' lineage with “Abiud, Eliakim and Azor”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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