Matthew 1:9

(9) Ozias.—Ozias is, of course, the Uzziah of the Old Testament. Three names are omitted between Joram and this king—viz., Ahaziah, Joash, Amaziah. Apparently the motive for the omission was simply the desire of bringing the names in each period into which the genealogy is divided to the arbitrary standard of fourteen. Possibly, however, as it was thus necessary to omit three names, the choice of these may have been determined by the fact that they belonged to the time of Athaliah’s disastrous influence in the history of the monarchy of Judah. We learn from this fact that the words “A begat B” are not to be taken literally, but are simply an expression of the fact of succession with or without intermediate links.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And Ozias begat Joatham,.... Called Jotham, Kg2 15:7 him Ozias begat of Jerushah, the daughter of Zadok, Kg2 15:33.

And Joatham begat Achaz, or Ahaz, Kg2 15:38 to him the sign was given, and the famous prophecy of the Messiah, Isa 7:14.

And Achaz begat Ezekias, or Hezekiah, Kg2 16:20 him Ahaz begat of Abi, the daughter of Zachariah, Kg2 18:2. He was a very religious king, and had that singular favour from God to have fifteen years added to his days, Isa 38:5.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

9 And Ozias begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias;

Ver. 9. And Ozias begat Joatham] A pious prince, but not very prosperous. Grace is not given to any as a target against outward affliction.

And Joatham begat Achaz] A sturdy stigmatic, a branded rebel. The more he was distressed, the more he trespassed. "This is that Ahaz," 2Ch 28:22. How many (today) are humbled, yet not humble! low, but not lowly! Humiliantur, et humiles non sunt (Bern. in Cantic.). Qui nec fractis cervicibus inclinantur, as Jerome complaineth: quos multo facilius fregeris quam flexeris, as another hath it. These are like the creature called Monoceros, who may he killed, but not caught. Interimi potest, capi non potest (Plin.). Plectimur a Deo, saith Salvian, nec flectimur tamen: corripimur, sed non corrigimar. But if men harden their hearts against correction, God will harden his hand, and hasten their destruction.

Achaz begat Ezekias] Who stands between his father Ahaz and his son Manasseh, as a lily between two thorns, or as a fuller between two colliers; or as that wretched Cardinal of Toledo in his Preface before the Bible, printed at Complutum in Spain, said that he set the Vulgate Latin between the Hebrew and Greek as Christ was set between two thieves. Here observe (by the way) that Judah had some interchange of good princes, Israel none; and that under religious princes the people were ever religious; under wicked princes, wicked. Most people will be of the king’s religion, whatever that may be, as the Melchites were of old (Nicephorus), and the Papists still, if Mr Rogers (our protomartyr in Queen Mary’s days) may be believed. The Papists, saith he, apply themselves to the present state, yea, if the state should change ten times in the year, they would be ever ready at hand to change with it, and so follow the cry, and rather utterly forsake God, and be of no religion, than that they would forego lust or living for God or religion (Acts and Mon.).

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

That Jotham succeeded his father Uzziah, and reigned sixteen years, agreeth with 2Ch 26:23, and that Ahaz his son succeeded him, agreeth with 2Ch 27:9; he also reigned sixteen years, and Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead, 2Ch 28:27. Some here have cavilled at the truth of the history of holy writ, because it appeareth from 2Ki 16:2 that Ahaz died at thirty-six years of age, and that Hezekiah began to reign at twenty-five years of age doth also appear from 2Ch 29:1, whence it appeareth that Hezekiah must be born when his father was but eleven years of age, which they think improbable: but those who will question the truth of what we have so good a proof of as the revelation of holy writ is, are obliged not only to tell us of things in it that are improbable to their apprehensions, but either in nature impossible, or at least inconsistent with some other piece of Divine revelation. Of the latter sort, we hear of nothing objected in this case. Now though with us it be not ordinary for persons at that age to beget children, yet that it is not impossible in nature, nor more than hath happened in the world sometimes, Spanhemius hath largely proved in his Dubia Evangelica. Dub. 5, and that by no less authorities than those of Hierome amongst the ancients, and the learned Scaliger amongst the more modern writers. It is what may be. The Scripture telleth us it was so; that is enough for us, though it be not a thing very ordinary.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Amon

Sometimes this is translated "Amos."

Josiah was an ancestor of Jechoniah

A more specific term for "ancestor" can also be used, particularly if the word "ancestor" would only be used for someone who lived before one's grandparents. AT: "Josiah was a grandfather of Jechoniah"

at the time of the deportation to Babylon

"when they were forced to move to Babylon" or "when the Babylonians conquered them and made them go live in Babylon." If your language needs to specify who went to Babylon, you could say "the Israelites" or "the Israelites who lived in Judah."

Babylon

Here this means the country of Babylon, not just the city of Babylon.

translationWords

Uzziah

ancestor

Jotham

Ahaz

Hezekiah

Manasseh

Josiah

Babylon

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.

9. Ὀζείας] א* B.;*; LXX. has Ὀζειά, Ὀζιά, Ὀζείας, Οζίας. In 1Ch 3:11 Ὀζεία, B. Ὀζιάς, A Luc.; Josephus Ὀζίας.—Ἰωαθάμ] So LXX.; josephus Ἰωάθαμος, Ἰωθάμης, Ἰωνάθης.—Ἄχαζ] LXX., has Ἄχαζ,Ἄχας. In 1Ch 3:13 Ἄχας, A B Ἄχαζ, Luc. Josephus Ἄχαζος.—Ἐζεκίας] So LXX., Josephus.

International Critical Commentary — older volumes (1896–1929), various authors — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.