Zerubbabel begot Abiud, Abiud begot Eliakim, and Eliakim begot Azor. Matthew 1:13

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“And Zerubbabel begot Abiud, and Abiud begot Eliakim, and Eliakim begot Azor” (CG).

The previous verse ended with, “and Shealtiel begot Zerubbabel.” Matthew’s genealogy leading to Israel’s Messiah now continues with, “And Zerubbabel begot Abiud.”

This listing does not match that of 1 Chronicles 3, which says –

“The sons of Pedaiah were Zerubbabel and Shimei. The sons of Zerubbabel were Meshullam, Hananiah, Shelomith their sister, 20 and Hashubah, Ohel, Berechiah, Hasadiah, and Jushab-Hesed—five in all.” 1 Chronicles 3:19, 20

From this list, it is believed by some that Abiud is the same as Hananiah in that genealogy. John Gill thinks he is the same as Mushullam. Either way, the reason for the variance in names is that someone “…might have two names; nor is this unlikely, since it was usual, especially about the time of the Babylonish captivity, for men to have more names than one, as may be observed in Daniel and others, Daniel 1:7 where they went by one, and in Judea by another” Gill.

The list continues with “and Abiud begot Eliakim, and Eliakim begot Azor.”

Neither name is listed in 1 Chronicles. None of the names from this point on are recorded in Old Testament Scripture because of the dating of 2 Chronicles which ends prior to the intertestamental period.

Of this record, Bengel says –

“Hiller explains in his Syntagmata, pp. 361, sqq., where he shows, that the Jews acknowledged the genealogy in the said passage of Chronicles to be that of the Messiah: nor, indeed, was it necessary that any other genealogy should have been carried further down there than that of the Messiah. There can, therefore, be no doubt but that the passage in question was particularly well known to the Jews; and there was, consequently, the less need that St Matthew should repeat it in extenso. In this generation, then, concludes the scripture of the Old Testament. The remainder of the genealogy was supplied by St Matthew from trustworthy documents of a later date, and, no doubt, of a public character.”

Life application: The genealogical records in the Old Testament were meticulously maintained, but they didn’t account for differences in names at the time when two names were used. They simply listed a name and continued on. As such, a lot of research is often needed to know who is being referred to. At times, speculation must be made.

An example of one person with two names is found in the sons of Saul –

Ner begot Kish, Kish begot Saul, and Saul begot Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Esh-Baal.” 1 Chronicles 9:39

The son named Esh-Baal is the same as Ishbosheth recorded in 2 Samuel 2:8. Likewise, the son of Jonathan, Mephibosheth of 2 Samuel 4:4, is called Merib-baal in 1 Chronicles 8:34. These things can be deduced from the surrounding text within the narratives at times, but the point is that people being given two names is not unusual, nor is it something that is always noted.

As noted above, Daniel and the three men noted with him in Daniel 1:7 were given new names when they were exiled to Babylon. If their names were recorded, normally only one would be maintained in a particular genealogy. This makes things both difficult and, at times, completely unsure. However, in the Bible, there is enough information for us to be certain that Jesus is the Messiah. Even with a difficult genealogy to consider, innumerable other clues point both to the timing of His coming and the role He would fulfill.

Let us be confident that we have a sound and reliable record of what God intends for us, even if we do not have all the answers to various genealogical difficulties at this time.

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your word which gives us great insights into what You have done and continue to do in the stream of history to bring us back to Yourself. Above all, thank You for Jesus who is so prominently on display in the pages of the Bible. We have every assurance that we are following You properly when we choose to follow Jesus. Amen.