Josiah Begat Jechonias and His Brethren

When we look at the genealogy of Jesus Christ recorded in Matthew 1, we find the following statement:

Matthew 1:11 “And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon.”

And when we compare this passage with the following passage, we can easily see the difference between them.

1 Chronicles 3:15-16 “15And the sons of Josiah were, the firstborn Johanan, the second Jehoiakim, the third Zedekiah, the fourth Shallum. 16And the sons of Jehoiakim: Jeconiah his son, Zedekiah his son.”

In other words, Jechonias (=Jehoiachin or Coniah; 2 Kings 24:6, Jeremiah 22:24) was the son of Jehoiakim (=Eliakim; 2 Kings 23:34), not the son of Josiah. That is to say, Jechonias was Josiah’s grandson. To arrange it more clearly:

“Josiah” (the 16th king of the southern kingdom of Judah) -> Josiah’s fourth son “Shallum” (=Jehoahaz; the 17th king of the southern kingdom of Judah) -> Josiah’s second son “Jehoiakim” (=Eliakim; the 18th king of the southern kingdom of Judah) -> Jehoiakim’s son “Jechonias” (=Jehoiachin or Coniah; the 19th king of the southern kingdom of Judah) -> Josiah’s third son “Zedekiah” (=Mattaniah; the 20th and last king of the southern kingdom of Judah)

Nevertheless, the statement in Matthew 1:11 that Josiah begat Jechonias should not be regarded by us as an error in the Bible. Rather, it may be understood as mentioning an important figure within the same bloodline. A similar example is also recorded in the book of Daniel.

Daniel 5:2, 11 “2Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein. 11There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers.”

Although this is not recorded directly in the Bible, historical records identify Belshazzar’s father as Nabonidus, not Nebuchadnezzar. Therefore, when Daniel refers to Nebuchadnezzar as Belshazzar’s father, this may be understood in a broader sense, as referring to an ancestor, royal predecessor, or an important figure in the same royal line. Likewise, the statement in Matthew 1:11 may also be understood as mentioning an important figure within the same bloodline.

In addition, if there is any passage concerning names that might appear to be an error, it may be the following passage.

Jeremiah 27:1-3, 12 “1In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah came this word unto Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, 2Thus saith the LORD to me; Make thee bonds and yokes, and put them upon thy neck, 3And send them to the king of Edom, and to the king of Moab, and to the king of the Ammonites, and to the king of Tyrus, and to the king of Zidon, by the hand of the messengers which come to Jerusalem unto Zedekiah king of Judah; 12I spake also to Zedekiah king of Judah according to all these words, saying, Bring your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him and his people, and live.”

When we compare these verses, we can see that only verse 1 records “Jehoiakim,” while verses 3 and 12 both record “Zedekiah.” Therefore, it seems that the “Jehoiakim” recorded in verse 1 should rightly be “Zedekiah.” Regarding this, Bible scholars say that some manuscripts record “Zedekiah.” In any case, the reason we cannot definitively declare this to be an error is that the record was written a very long time ago, and there are certainly parts about which modern readers cannot say with absolute certainty, “This is exactly what happened.” Therefore, when we read the Bible, the central point we must hold to is this: the main character of the Bible is Jesus alone. Only when we read not only the New Testament, but also the Old Testament, thinking of Jesus as we read the word, can we fully understand Christ, who is the mystery of God.

Luke 24:44-48 “44And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. 45Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, 46And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: 47And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48And ye are witnesses of these things.”

John 5:39-40 “39Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. 40And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.”

Colossians 2:1-3 “1For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; 2That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; 3In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”

Amen.