Connect Nahshon’s lineage to Jesus in Matthew 1:4-5 and Numbers 1:7. Setting the Scene: Two Passages, One Family Tree Matthew 1:4-5 and Numbers 1:7 seem far apart—one opens the New Testament, the other details Israel’s first wilderness census. Yet they lock together seamlessly, showing that God’s promises travel through real people in real history. Nahshon in the Wilderness Census (Numbers 1:7) • “from Judah, Nahshon son of Amminadab” (Numbers 1:7) • Nahshon is named chief of the tribe of Judah (Numbers 2:3; 7:12). • His presence at Sinai places the royal line of Judah at the center of Israel’s early national life. Family Ties Before the Wilderness • Amminadab, Nahshon’s father, descends from Ram, son of Hezron, son of Perez, son of Judah (1 Chronicles 2:9-11). • Nahshon’s sister, Elisheba, marries Aaron (Exodus 6:23), binding Judah’s royal line to the priestly line of Levi. Nahshon in Matthew’s Genealogy (Matthew 1:4-5) • “Ram was the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth” (Matthew 1:4-5). • Matthew traces Jesus’ legal ancestry through Joseph, anchoring it firmly in Judah. From Nahshon to King David 1. Nahshon → 2. Salmon (married Rahab, Joshua 6:25; cf. Matthew 1:5) 2. Salmon → 3. Boaz (married Ruth, Ruth 4:13) 3. Boaz → 4. Obed 4. Obed → 5. Jesse 5. Jesse → 6. David (Ruth 4:18-22; 1 Samuel 16:1, 13) From David to Jesus • David → Solomon → … → Jeconiah → Shealtiel → Zerubbabel → … → Matthan → Jacob → Joseph → Jesus (Matthew 1:6-16). • Each link preserves the promise of an eternal throne (2 Samuel 7:12-13; Psalm 89:3-4). Why This Genealogy Matters • Authenticity: Two independent books, written centuries apart, list the same names in the same order, underscoring Scripture’s historical reliability. • Prophetic fulfillment: Isaiah 11:1 speaks of a “shoot from the stump of Jesse.” Matthew shows that shoot arriving in Jesus. • Covenantal continuity: The leader who carried Judah’s standard in the desert becomes an early signpost to the King who will lead all nations (Revelation 5:5). Cementing the Link: A Straight Line to the Messiah Nahshon’s brief introduction in Numbers 1:7 blossoms into a vital branch in Matthew 1:4-5. From the camp of Israel to the cradle in Bethlehem, God weaves a flawless lineage—Ram → Amminadab → Nahshon → Salmon → Boaz → Obed → Jesse → David → Christ. The census roll and the gospel roll call together testify that Jesus is the promised Son of David, the Lion of Judah, and the Savior foretold from the earliest pages of Scripture. |
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