Matthew Poole and continuators on Matthew 1:2

2. Abraham begat Isaac, and Isaac begat Jacob, and Jacob begat Judas and his Brethren.

The Evangelist reckoneth the Genealogy of our Saviour, by three Periods; reckoning thrice fourteen Descents. The first Period began in Abraham, and ended in David. The second began in Solomon, and ended in Iehojachim. The third began with Iehojachim, and ended in Christ. Luke (as we shall see in its place) fetcheth our Saviours line, from Adam, from Abraham to David, there is no difference betwixt. Mathew and Luke, they both reckoned up the same fourteen Persons, Luk. 3.32, 33, 34. But Luke repeating our Saviours Pedegree by his Mothers side, and Mathew by his supposed Fathers side, Ioseph, after David they must differ, Mary descending from Davids Family by his Son Nathan, Ioseph descending from him by Solomon. All Interpreters agree that there are great Difficulties, about the Genealogy of Christ, (especially in reconciling Mathew and Luke.) And the Enemies of Christianity have in all times, made their advantage of them, to weaken our Faith as to the Gospel, but Christians ought to consider, 1. That the Iews had without doubt perfect Genealogies; and were more especially exact in keeping them as to the Royal Tribe of David, which was Iudah, and the Priestly Tribe of Levi, that they might have a right King, and High Priest, and it cannot be expected that after seventeen hundred years almost, we should make out Genealogies ▪ as they could. 2. That they were very apt to make Strifes, about words, and endless Genealogies. As appears by the Apostles cautioning both Timot[illegible: 1 letter]y and Titus against it, Tim. 1.4. & 6.4. Titus 3.9. 3. That it had been a sufficient exception against Christ if they could have proved he had not lineally descended from David. 4. That tho they c[illegible: 1 letter]villed at Christ for many things, yet, they never made any such Cavil. 5. That we are forbidden S[illegible: 1 letter]ife, and endless Labour about Genealogy. And therefore it is the most unreasonable thing imaginable for us, to make such little Dissatisfactions, Grounds for us to question, or disbelieve the Gospel, because we cannot unty every knot we meet with in a Pedegree, but in this first Period, no such Difficulties occur. Both the Evangelists are agreed, and the Old Testam[illegible: 1 letter]nt agrees both: That Abraham begat Isaac (when he was an hundred years old) we are assured by Moses, Gen. 21.2.5. that Isaac begat Iacob, he also telleth us, Gen. 25.26. So also that Iacob, begat Iudas and his Brethren, Gen. 29.35. Iudah was Iacob's third Son by Leah, and that Son of whom dying Iacob prophesied, That him should his Brethren praise, and to him should his Fathers Children bow down. That the Scepter should not depart from Iudah, nor the Lawgiver from between his Feet, until Shiloh came, and unto him should the gathering of the People be, Gen. 49.8, 9, 10. Tho Saul who was the first King of Israel (given them in wrath) was of the Tribe of Benjamin, 1 Sam. 9.21. yet David was of the Tribe Iudah, in whose Line the Kingdom held unto the Captivity. (and his Brethren) the Brethren of Iudah, are here mentioned, being the Heads of the Iewish Nation: Christ descended from Iudah.