Matthew 1:11

 

and Josiah the father of Jeconiah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon.
Matthew 1:11 Berean Standard Bible (BSB)
 
And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon:
Matthew 1:1 King James Bible (KJV)
 
and Josiah the father of Jeconiah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon.
Matthew 1:11 New English Translation (NET)
 
and Josiah
Josiah was a king of Judah known for his religious reforms and efforts to restore the worship of Yahweh. His reign is detailed in 2 Kings 22-23 and 2 Chronicles 34-35. Josiah's name in Hebrew, יֹאשִׁיָּהוּ (Yoshiyahu), means "Yahweh supports" or "Yahweh heals." His commitment to God is evident in his actions to rid Judah of idolatry and restore the temple. Josiah's reign is often seen as a bright spot in the history of Judah, a time when the nation returned to the covenant with God, albeit briefly.
 
the father of Jeconiah
Jeconiah, also known as Jehoiachin, was the son of Jehoiakim and the king of Judah who reigned for a short period before being taken into Babylonian captivity. His name in Hebrew, יְכָנְיָה (Yekonyah), means "Yahweh will establish." Despite his brief reign, Jeconiah's significance in the genealogy of Jesus highlights God's sovereignty and faithfulness in preserving the Davidic line, even through exile and judgment. His life serves as a reminder of the consequences of disobedience but also of God's unending grace and purpose.
 
and his brothers
This phrase refers to the siblings of Jeconiah, who were part of the royal family during a tumultuous period in Judah's history. The mention of "his brothers" emphasizes the collective experience of the royal family and the nation during the Babylonian exile. It underscores the shared suffering and the communal aspect of Israel's history, reminding us that God's dealings often involve entire communities and not just individuals.
 
at the time of the exile to Babylon
The Babylonian exile was a pivotal event in Jewish history, marking the end of the Davidic kingdom and the beginning of a period of captivity and dispersion. This phrase situates the genealogy within a historical context of judgment and hope. The exile, while a consequence of Israel's unfaithfulness, also set the stage for a future restoration and the coming of the Messiah. It serves as a powerful reminder of God's redemptive plan, which often works through human history's darkest moments to bring about His purposes. The exile to Babylon is a testament to God's justice and mercy, as He disciplines His people but also promises to restore them.
 
Berean Study Bible
 
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Josias is the Greek form of the name Josiah, a notable king of Judah known for his religious reforms aimed at purging idolatry and reinstating the worship of Yahweh.
 
Jechonias is the Greek form of Jeconiah or Jehoiachin, who was another king of Judah. His reign was very brief, and he was taken into exile in Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon in 597 BC.
 
The time they were carried away to Babylon refers to the Babylonian exile. This event is significant in Jewish history because it marks the end of the Davidic monarchy in Jerusalem and the beginning of the period where many Jews were forcibly removed to Babylon. This exile is often seen as a time of punishment for Israel's sins but also as a period of reflection and purification.
 
This verse serves several purposes within the context of Matthew's Gospel:
 
Historical Context: It situates the genealogy within a pivotal moment in Jewish history, emphasizing the continuity of God's promises despite national calamity.
 
Theological Significance: By linking Jesus to this time of exile, Matthew might be suggesting that Jesus comes as the fulfillment of the prophecies concerning a return from exile, both physical and spiritual.
 
Legitimacy of Jesus' Lineage: Including Jeconiah in Jesus' lineage, despite the curse on Jeconiah in Jeremiah 22:30, could be seen as Matthew's way of showing how divine intervention (through the virgin birth) bypasses the curse, thus maintaining the messianic line through Mary.
 
This verse, therefore, not only provides historical continuity but also carries deep theological implications regarding the nature of redemption and the continuity of God's plan through human history.
 
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And Josias begat Jechonias,.... This Jechonias is the same with Jehoiakim, the son of Josias, called so by Pharaohnecho, when he made him king, whose name before was Eliakim, 2Ki_23:34 begat of Zebudah, the daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah, 2Ki_23:36.
 
and his brethren. These were Johanan, Zedekiah, and Shallum. Two of them were kings, one reigned before him, viz. Shallum, who is called Jehoahaz, 2Ki_23:30 compared with Jer_22:11, the other, viz. Zedekiah, called before Mattaniah, reigned after his son Jehoiakim: these being both kings, is the reason why his brethren are mentioned; as well as to distinguish him from Jechonias in the next verse; who does not appear to have had any brethren: these were
 
about the time they were carried away to Babylon, which is not to be connected with the word "begat": for Josiah did not beget Jeconiah and his brethren at that time, for he had been dead some years before; nor with Jechonias, for he never was carried away into Babylon, but died in Judea, and slept with his fathers, 2Ki_24:6 but with the phrase "his brethren": and may be rendered thus, supposing τους understood, "which were at", or "about the carrying away to Babylon", or the Babylonish captivity.
 
John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible
 
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Cross Reference:
 
2 Kings 24:14-15
He carried into exile all Jerusalem—all the commanders and mighty men of valor, all the craftsmen and metalsmiths—ten thousand captives in all. Only the poorest people of the land remained. Nebuchadnezzar carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon, as well as the king’s mother, his wives, his officials, and the leading men of the land. He took them into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon.
 
Jeremiah 22:24-30
“As surely as I live,” declares the LORD, “even if you, Coniah son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, were a signet ring on My right hand, I would pull you off. In fact, I will hand you over to those you dread, who want to take your life—to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and to the Chaldeans. I will hurl you and the mother who gave you birth into another land, where neither of you were born—and there you both will die. ...
 
Daniel 1:1-2
In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. And the Lord delivered into his hand Jehoiakim king of Judah, along with some of the articles from the house of God. He carried these off to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, where he put them in the treasury of his god.