How does 1 Chronicles 3:20 connect to the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1? Text of 1 Chronicles 3:20 “and Hashubah, Ohel, Berechiah, Hasadiah, and Jushab-hesed—five.” Position of 1 Chronicles 3:20 in David’s Royal Line • Verses 17-19 trace the line from King Jeconiah (the last king before exile) to his grandson Zerubbabel. • Verse 20 lists five of Zerubbabel’s sons. • The chronicler is documenting the continued existence of David’s house after the Babylonian exile, proving the covenant line remained unbroken (2 Samuel 7:12-16). Matthew 1 and Zerubbabel’s Branch “After the exile to Babylon: Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel, and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor.” • Matthew compresses the list, giving only one descendant—Abiud (also spelled Abihud)—instead of the five names in 1 Chronicles 3:20. • Matthew’s purpose is theological and numerical: three sets of fourteen generations (Matthew 1:17), so he selects representative names while preserving accuracy. How the Two Passages Interlock • Same anchor point: Zerubbabel, a direct descendant of David, appears in both records. • 1 Chronicles 3:20 supplies the historical context—Zerubbabel had multiple sons, any one of whom could carry the legal line forward. • Matthew follows the branch that runs through Abiud, one of Zerubbabel’s descendants. Abiud is not named in 1 Chronicles 3:20, implying he is either: – A later son or grandson omitted by the chronicler, or – Another name (or shortened form) for one of the sons listed, a common Old-Testament practice (cf. Uzziah/Azariah in 2 Kings 15:1-3; 2 Chronicles 26:1-3). • No contradiction exists: Chronicles gives a fuller family picture, while Matthew traces the specific legal line leading to Jesus. Both lines meet in Zerubbabel and flow unbroken to Christ, fulfilling Isaiah 11:1 and Jeremiah 23:5. Key Takeaways • Scripture presents complementary records—Chronicles for breadth, Matthew for the messianic thread. • Zerubbabel’s appearance in both underscores God’s faithfulness to preserve David’s line through exile. • The selective genealogy in Matthew emphasizes Jesus as the legitimate heir to the throne promised in 2 Samuel 7 and reaffirmed in Luke 1:32-33. |
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