Chapter 8: Hebraic Importance of Paternal and Maternal Lineage

PART 5 of my draft on Who is Jesus.

In ancient Israel, one’s father (Heb. av אָב) determined tribe, inheritance rights, and status before God and society (Num 1:18; 26:5). The mother (Heb. em אֵם) confirmed biological descent and could affect citizenship (e.g. Ezra 2:59-63). Knowing both parents ensured:

1. Tribal Identity

   “The heads of the fathers’ houses…with their genealogical records, by their ancestral houses, according to their fathers’ households” (Num 1:18 NASB).

2. Legal Inheritance

   The oldest son inherited a double portion (Deut 21:17), so clear father–son lines mattered.

3. Levitical & Priestly Status

   Only sons of Aaron through Zadok could serve as priests (Ezek 44:15-16).

4. Marital Legitimacy

   Levitical law prohibited marriages outside one’s tribe without loss of land (Num 36:6-9).

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Joseph’s Lineage (Husband of Mary)

Matthew’s Gospel records Joseph’s ancestry **through Solomon**, establishing his legal claim to David’s throne:

1. Matthew 1:6–16 (NASB)
   6 Jesse → David → Solomon → … 13 Jechonias → Shealtiel → Zerubbabel → … 16 Jacob → Joseph…

2. Hebrew patrilineal marker: each generation is “A ben B” (e.g. שְׁלֹמֹה בֶּן־דָּוִד, “Solomon the son of David”).

   Relevance: As David’s legal heir, Joseph conferred on Jesus the royal rights of the Davidic line (2 Sam 7:12–16), fulfilling the promise that “your house and your kingdom shall endure before me forever” (Heb 1:5–6 echoing Ps 89:3–4).

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Mary’s Lineage (Mother of Jesus)

Luke traces Mary’s (or perhaps Joseph’s in a second legal line) ancestry through Nathan, another son of David, preserving pure Davidic blood:

1. Luke 3:23–31 (NASB)

   23 …Jesus, as was supposed, the son of Joseph, the son of Heli,
   24-30 …
   31 the son of Nathan, the son of David…

2. Hebrew maternal recognition: though less common, rabbinic teaching affirms that tribal status follows the father, but seed and blood—especially for Messianic claims—must be clear on both sides.

3. Relevance: Mary’s descent from David biologically (via Nathan) ensures that Jesus is both legally (Solomonic line) and biologically (Nathanic line) of David, fulfilling promises of a Messiah “born to us… of the house of David”
   (Isa 9:6–7; Jer 23:5–6).

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Relevance to Hebraic Messianic Promises

1. Double Davidic Descent

   Legal (Joseph) + Biological (Mary) descent secures Jesus’ right to the throne of David and the inheritance of “the remnant of His people”
   (Isa 11:11–12).

2. Fulfillment of Prophecy

   “Of the fruit of your body I will set upon your throne”
   (Psalm 132:11; Heb 1:5–6).

3. “Seed” Promises

   The ben/bat (“son/daughter”) language in Genesis 3:15 and 2 Sam 7 is realized in Jesus as bar בַּר־דָּוִד, “Son of David,” in the Gospels (Matt 9:27; Mark 10:47).

4. Universal Heir

   As rightful heir, Jesus inherits “all authority… in heaven and on earth” (Matt 28:18), echoing the Edenic mandate (Gen 1:26–28) and Davidic covenant.

Details of bloodlines:

Notable Figures in Joseph’s Genealogy (Matthew 1:1-16)

Below is a list of each person named in Joseph’s bloodline (as recorded in Matthew 1:1-16), with a brief note on what they are known for:

1. Abraham
   “Father of the faithful,” God’s covenant-partner, promised to be “a father of many nations” (Gen 12-17).

2. Isaac
   Miraculously born to Abraham and Sarah, the child of promise through whom Abraham’s seed would be named (Gen 21).

3. Jacob
   Renamed “Israel” after wrestling with God, the father of the twelve tribes of Israel (Gen 32:28; 35:10-12).

4. Judah
   Fourth son of Jacob; his line produces the royal Messianic branch (“The scepter shall not depart from Judah,” Gen 49:10).

5. Perez
   Born in breach (Gen 38), ancestor of Boaz; one of the twin sons of Judah and Tamar (Ruth 4:12).

6. Hezron
   Founder of the Hezronite clan in Judah; little else recorded but listed in the tribal genealogies (1 Chr 2:9-17).

7. Ram
   Son of Hezron; part of Judah’s tribal line (1 Chr 2:9).

8. Amminadab
   Father of Nahshon; his daughter Elisheba marries Aaron, linking to the priestly line (Ex 6:23).

9. Nahshon
   Leader of Judah during the Exodus; first to enter the Red Sea according to rabbinic tradition (Num 1:7; 2:3).

10. Salmon
    Husband of Rahab of Jericho; his inclusion signals God’s grace toward Gentiles (Ruth 4:20-21).

11. Boaz
    Kinsman-redeemer of Ruth; model of faithful provision, ancestor of David (Ruth 2-4).

12. Obed
    Son of Boaz and Ruth; grandfather of David (Ruth 4:17).

13. Jesse
    Father of David; resident of Bethlehem, “a man after God’s own heart” (1 Sam 16:1-13).

14. David
    Israel’s greatest king, “a man after God’s own heart,” established Jerusalem and the Davidic covenant (2 Sam 7; Ps 23).

15. Solomon
    David’s son by Bathsheba; known for wisdom, temple building, and wealth (1 Kgs 3-10).

16. Rehoboam
    Solomon’s son; under his reign, the kingdom split into Israel (north) and Judah (south) (1 Kgs 12).

17. Abijah (Abijam)
    Son of Rehoboam; reigned briefly in Judah, continued some of his father’s idolatrous practices (1 Kgs 14).

18. Asa
    Rehoboam’s grandson instituted religious reforms and a time of peace (1 Kgs 15:8-24).

19. Jehoshaphat
    Son of Asa; allied with Israel’s Ahab, but also strengthened Judah’s worship and legal system (1 Kgs 22; 2 Chr 17-20).

20. Joram (Jehoram)
    Son of Jehoshaphat; married Ahab’s daughter Athaliah, followed idolatry (2 Kgs 1:17; 8:16-24).

21. Uzziah (Azariah)
    Prosperous king of Judah for 52 years; stricken with leprosy for unlawfully burning incense (2 Chr 26).

22. Jotham
    Son of Uzziah; continued temple repairs and some reforms (2 Kgs 15:32-38).

23. Ahaz
    Son of Jotham; introduced pagan worship in Judah, faced threats from Israel and Aram (2 Kgs 16).

24. Hezekiah
    Faithful reformer; trusted God during Assyrian siege, commemorated for deliverance (2 Kgs 18-20; Isa 36-39).

25. Manasseh
    Longest-reigning Judahite king; notorious for idolatry, later repented after captivity (2 Kgs 21; 2 Chr 33).

26. Amon
    Son of Manasseh; reigned two years in wickedness and was assassinated (2 Kgs 21:19-26).

27. Josiah
    Son of Amon; discovered the Book of the Law, led sweeping religious reforms (2 Kgs 22-23).

28. Jehoiachin (Jechoniah/Coniah)
    Last king before the Babylonian exile; taken captive to Babylon (2 Kgs 24-25).

29. Shealtiel
    Son of Jehoiachin; led a remnant back from Babylon, ancestor of Zerubbabel (Ezra 3:2; Hag 1:1).

30. Zerubbabel
    Governor of Judah; oversaw the rebuilding of the temple after exile (Ezra 3-6; Hag 2:2-9).

31. Abiud
    Post-exilic ancestor; little else is recorded beyond genealogy in Matthew.

32. Eliakim
    Son of Abiud; named in Matthew’s list, but no further biblical narrative.

33. Azor
    Son of Eliakim; similarly silent outside the genealogy.

34. Zadok
    Son of Azor; distinct from the priest Zadok, no personal history given in scriptures.

35. Achim
    Son of Zadok; only appears in the genealogy recorded in the Gospels.

36. Eliud
    Son of Achim; likewise known solely by name.

37. Eleazar
    Son of Eliud; no other biblical record.

38. Matthan
    Son of Eleazar; listed with no additional detail.

39. Jacob
    Son of Matthan; father of Joseph in Matthew’s genealogy.

40. Joseph
    “Husband of Mary,” legal father of Jesus; of the house of David (Matt 1:16).

Note:

• From Abiud onward (post-exilic era), these names appear only in Matthew’s genealogy, indicating a preserved family line but lacking extra-biblical narratives.

• The prominence of David, Solomon, Hezekiah, Josiah, Zerubbabel, etc., illustrates the unfolding of Israel’s history leading to the birth of the Messiah.

Mary’s Ancestry: Oldest to Youngest

1. David
   Israel’s greatest king, “a man after God’s own heart,” established the Davidic covenant (2 Sam 7; Ps 23).

2. Nathan
   Second son of David (2 Sam 5:14–16); his line is used in Luke’s genealogy.

3. Mattatha
   Appears only in Luke 3 – preserved in the family memory, but no extra-biblical details.

4. Menna
   Known solely from this genealogy (Luke 3:27).

5. Melea
   Recorded here; no further narrative elsewhere.

6. Eliakim
   His name also appears as a royal steward (Jer 22:24), but this Eliakim is purely ancestral.

7. Jonam
   Preserved only in Luke 3:26.

8. Joseph
   Son of Judah in this line (distinct from Jesus’ adoptive father); appears only here.

9. Judah
   Fourth son of Jacob; his tribe produces Israel’s royalty (Gen 49:10).

10. Simeon
    One of Jacob’s twelve sons and tribal founder (Gen 29–30; Num 26).

11. Levi
    (second occurrence) Shares the name of the priestly tribe; otherwise unrecorded here.

12. Matthat
    (second occurrence) Appears only in this genealogy.

13. Jorim
    Named here alone in Luke 3:25.

14. Eliezer
    Shares a name with Moses’ assistant, but here functions genealogically.

15. Joshua
    Not Joshua, son of Nun, but an ancestor named here.

16. Er
    Shares a name with Judah’s eldest son (Gen 38:3), but no further details.

17. Elmadam
    Unattested outside of this list.

18. Cosam
    Preserved only in Luke 3:26.

19. Addi
    Known solely from this genealogy.

20. Melchi
    (second occurrence) No extra-biblical record.

21. Neri
    Appears only here (Luke 3:27).

22. Shealtiel
    Son of Jehoiachin; led some exiles home from Babylon (Ezra 3:2; Hag 1:1).

23. Zerubbabel
    Governor of Judah after the exile; oversaw rebuilding of the temple (Ezra 3–6; Hag 2:2–9).

24. Rhesa
    Name means “head” or “prince”; otherwise unrecorded.

25. Joanan
    Not attested elsewhere.

26. Joda
    Known only from Luke 3:26.

27. Josech
    Appears solely in this genealogy.

28. Semein
    Recorded only here.

29. Mattathias
    (second occurrence) A common post-exilic name; no further details.

30. Maath
    The name likely means “gift”; it appears only here.

31. Naggai
    No other biblical or historical record.

32. Esli
    Preserved solely in Luke’s lineage.

33. Nahum
    Shares the prophet’s name; no additional details.

34. Amos
    Shares the Minor Prophet’s name; otherwise unrecorded here.

35. Mattathias
    (first occurrence) Again, this is preserved only in this genealogy.

36. Joseph
    Mary’s grandfather (son of Heli) is distinguished from Jesus’ adoptive father.

37. Jannai
    Known only from Luke 3:24.

38. Melchi
    (first occurrence) No extra-biblical narrative.

39. Levi
    (first occurrence) The name echoes the priestly tribe; no further story is known.

40. Matthat
    (first occurrence) Appears only in Luke 3:24.

41. Heli
    Father of Mary (through Joseph’s legal adoption); otherwise unrecorded.

Summary:

Knowing both the father’s and mother’s lines is vital in Hebraic thought for confirming tribal status, inheritance, and legitimacy. Joseph’s Solomonic line and Mary’s Nathanic line together demonstrate that Jesus is the planned Messiah, Son of David in every sense, fulfilling every Old Testament promise concerning the Davidic heir.

If you look back at the earlier parts, you will see that the importance of the bloodlines is evidence of the messiah.