Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren;
2. Jacob begat Judah and his brethren While Matthew passes by in silence Ishmael, Abraham’s first-born, and Esau, who was Jacob’s elder brother, he properly assigns a place in the genealogy to the Twelve Patriarchs, on all of whom God had bestowed a similar favor of adoption.
This genealogy proves a title, like evidence in court: it establishes that Jesus is the son of David and son of Abraham, from the nation and family out of which the Messiah was to arise. Abraham and David were the great trustees of the promise. Whoever would have interest in Christ as the son of Abraham must be a faithful subject to Him as the son of David, by whom all families of the earth are to be ruled.
AI summary
Commenting on Matthew 1:1-17
Abraham begat Isaac,.... The descent of Christ from Abraham is in the line of Isaac; Abraham begat Ishmael before Isaac, and others after him, but they are not mentioned; because the Messiah was not to spring from any of them, but from Isaac, of whom it is said, "in Isaac shall thy seed be called", Gen 21:12 and who, as he was a progenitor, so...