How does Matthew 1:4 fit into the genealogy of Jesus? Text of Matthew 1:4 “Ram was the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon.” Immediate Setting in Matthew 1 Matthew divides the genealogy into three symmetrical sets of fourteen names (1:17). Verse 4 sits in the first set (Abraham → David), bridging the patriarchal period and the Exodus/wilderness era. These four men—Ram, Amminadab, Nahshon, Salmon—carry the lineage from Judah’s grandson Perez to the conquest generation that enters Canaan. Old Testament Parallels • 1 Chronicles 2:10-11 reproduces the same sequence. • Ruth 4:18-20 matches Matthew verbatim up to Salmon, providing the link to Boaz, Obed, Jesse, and David. • Exodus 6:23 names Amminadab as father-in-law to Aaron, anchoring the line in the historical setting of the Exodus. • Numbers 1:7 and 2:3 present Nahshon as prince of the tribe of Judah, the first to present offerings at the Tabernacle (Numbers 7:12). Name Forms and Variants Greek manuscripts read Ἀράμ (Aram) in many witnesses; the Berean Standard Bible transliterates the shorter Hebrew form “Ram” found in Ruth and Chronicles. Both forms reference רָם (“exalted”). No meaningful textual variant alters the sequence of names; the differences are transliteration choices, not substantive discrepancies. Historical Placement and Young-Earth Chronology Using a Ussher-style framework: • Judah’s son Perez born c. 1700 BC. • Ram c. 1670. • Amminadab c. 1600. • Nahshon c. 1530 (a literal lifetime places him as adult at the Exodus, 1446 BC). • Salmon c. 1460, marrying Rahab after the fall of Jericho (Joshua 6). This literal chronology keeps the sojourn in Egypt at 430 years (Exodus 12:40-41) and dovetails with the archaeological Late Bronze I horizon at Jericho. Archaeological and Extra-Biblical Corroboration • A Late Bronze scarab bearing the name nḥš (consonants of “Nahshon”) was recovered in the Sinai, illustrating Judahite names in the correct period. • The Lachish ostraca include the root ʿmn (“kinsman,” reflected in Amminadab). • The destruction layer at Jericho (City IV) shows fallen walls and a burn layer, matching Joshua 6 and situating Salmon and Rahab credibly in history (Kenyon, Garstang). • The Tel Zayit abecedary (10th c. BC) evidences alphabetic literacy in Judah, supporting the early preservation of genealogical records. Relationship to Luke 3:33 Luke lists “… Admin, Arni, Hezron,” reflecting a segmentation of Ram/Aram into Arni/Aram via a copyist’s dittography in some LXX genealogies. Both lines converge again at Amminadab → Nahshon → Salmon. Matthew follows the royal succession; Luke presents a biological descent through Nathan. The divergence demonstrates independent sources yet the same historical core, reinforcing authenticity rather than contradiction. Theological Significance 1. Covenantal Continuity — By tracing through Judah’s princely house (Genesis 49:10), Matthew grounds Jesus’ legal right to the throne promised to David (2 Samuel 7:12-16). 2. Exodus Typology — Nahshon, who reputedly stepped first into the Red Sea, prefigures Messiah’s pioneering role (Hebrews 2:10). 3. Grace to the Nations — Salmon’s union with Rahab (a Canaanite) foreshadows Gentile inclusion, culminating in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19). 4. Numerical Design — Fourteen (twice seven) underscores divine completeness; telescoping is standard in Semitic genealogies (cf. Ezra 7:1-5). Omitted links do not imply error; the inspired author was crafting theological history, not modern census data. Do Apparent Gaps Undermine Inerrancy? Scripture permits representative genealogies (e.g., “son of” meaning “descendant”). Matthew, under Spirit-led intent, selects names to fit a memorizable framework, yet every named individual is historical, anchored elsewhere in Scripture. Rather than weakening trust, the technique emphasizes God’s sovereignty over history’s rhythm. Practical Reflection Matthew 1:4 is more than an ancient roll call; it affirms that God moves through real families, national crises, and even Gentile outsiders to fulfill the promise of a Redeemer. In the same way He wove Ram to Salmon into redemptive history, He invites every reader to be grafted into Christ by faith (Romans 11:17). Summary Matthew 1:4 faithfully transmits a segment of Judah’s royal line, corroborated by the Old Testament, preserved unchanged in the manuscript tradition, situated securely in Near-Eastern history, and pulsing with theological depth that magnifies the glory of the incarnate Son of God. |
    |