Matthew 1:8 - Exposition

And Joram begat Ozias ( Uzziah , Revised Version). Between Joram and Uzziah the pedigree omits three names—Ahaziah immediately succeeded Joram ( 2 Kings 8:24 ), and was followed by his son Joash ( 2 Kings 12:1 ), and he by his son Amaziah ( 2 Kings 14:1 ). These were probably left out, that the number of generations might be reduced to fourteen. It is not likely that St. Matthew omitted them, but that they were absent from the form which he used. If we seek for a reason why these precise names are omitted, we may probably find it in the fact of their being descended from Jezebel; while the language of the second commandment would suggest that to the fourth generation the children' of that race would suffer for the sins of their parents. To the Jewish compiler of this genealogy no argument more forcible for the removal of these names could have been suggested. It will be seen that the word "begat" in these verses does not signify always the direct succession of son to father.