John Trapp on Matthew 1:3

Verse 3. And Iudah begat Phares and Zarah] Hierome is deceived, that deriveth the pedegree of the Pharisees from thisUnde etiam lat. Salvere, Salvus, Salvare, [illegible: 1 word]. Phares. They took their name either of Pharash, to expound, as Interpreters of the Law, Rom. 2. 18. Or of Pharas to separate, with a stand further off, for I am holier then thou. Iosephus saith, That the Pharisees seemed to outstrip all others, both in height of [non-Latin text not transcribed] de bel. [illegible: 1 word]. cap. 4. holinesse, and depth of learning. As for Phares, he was a breachmaker (whence also he had his name, Gen. 38. 29.) He violently took the first-birth-right; and became both a father of the Messias, and a Type. For Christ by his strength broke the power of death, and hell: he broke down also the [illegible: 1 word] wall that was betwixt the Jews and Gentiles: who when they shall be [illegible: 1 word] born, then shall the Jews (typified by Zarah, who thrust forth the hand first, as those that willing to be justified by their works, and thinking to regenerate themselves, had the [illegible: 1 word] threed of the Laws condemnation bound upon their hands, which therefore they drew back and fell from God,) then shall they, I say, come forth again, Rom. 11. 11, 12, 25. 26. Of [illegible: 1 word]] A [illegible: 1 word], but probably, a proselyte. The Jews, say, she was Melchisedechs daughter the High-Priest, and was [illegible: 1 word] to be burned, Lev. 21. 8. But this may well passe for a Jewish fable: Howbeit, that Melchisedech was a Canaanite, but a most righteous King and Priest of the most high God, and was therefore not molested or medled with by Kidar-laomer and his complices, I judge, not unlikely. This [illegible: 1 word], out of desire, partly of revenge, and partly of issue, fell into the sin of [illegible: 1 word]. Rahab was an harlot, Bathsheba an [illegible: 1 word]; yet all these, grandmothers to our Saviour: Who as he needed not to be ennobled by his stock, so neither was disparaged by his Progenitours; but took flesh of these greatest sinners, to shew that we cannot commit more then he can [illegible: 1 word]: and that by his purity he washeth off all our spots; like as the Sun wasteth and wipeth away all the ill vapours of the earth and aire. And Phares begat Esrom,] When he was but 14 years of age,Pareus in [illegible: 1 word]. the year before they went down to Egypt, say some: Others assoil [illegible: 1 word] in [illegible: 1 word]. Com. Anno [illegible: 1 word]. it otherwise. Let him that readeth understand as he can. Christ (the Arch-Prophet) when he comes again, shall teach us all things. Esrom begat Aram] While they sojourned in the Land of Egypt; a miserable home, where was nothing but bondage and tyranny. And yet, in reference to it, Moses (who was likewise born there) calls his son, Gershom, or a stranger there, because born in Midian. The sons of Ephraim, about the birth of Moses, sought to break prison before Gods goal-delivery: but this [illegible: 1 word] a great mischief to themselves, and no small heart-break to their aged father, 1 Chron. 7. 21, 22. Psal. 78. 9. Besides that, it gave occasion, likely, to that cruell edict of Pharaoh; Let us deal wisely (St Stephen saith, sophistically, subtilly) lest they multiply [non-Latin text not transcribed]. and join also to [illegible: 1 word] enemies, and fight against us (as now theyActs 7. 19. have fought against the Gittites, their own enemies, who detained from them the promised Land, till their sins were full) and so get them up out of the Land, as lately they had assayed to do. Therefore they d d set over them taskmasters, to [illegible: 1 word] them with their burdens, and to keep them from spawning so fast, after theExod. [illegible: 1 word]. manner of fishes (as the word imports) which multiply beyond measure. But God turned their wisedom into folly; they took a wrong course. For who knows not that your labouring men have the most and the strongest children? And notwithstanding this [illegible: 1 word] Pharaohs craft and cruelty.