Complete Works of Saint Jerome, Vol. VII

zias, who was generated, upon whose death, Josabeth, the daughter of King Joram and sister of Ochozias, took Joas, the son of her brother, and saved him from the slaughter being carried out by Athalia. His son Amasias succeeded him in the kingdom, after whom reigned his son Azarias, who is also called Ozias: whom his son Joathan succeeded. You see, therefore, that according to the truth of history, there were three kings in the middle whom the Evangelist here passed over; for Joram did not beget Ozias, but Ochozias, and the others whom we have enumerated. But because the Evangelist's purpose was to place three sets of fourteen generations tessarescedecades fourteen-fold counts in different states of time, and because Joram had joined his lineage to the most impious Jezebel, her memory is removed up to the third generation, so that she would not be placed in the order of the holy nativity.

(Vers. 12-15.) And after the transmigration of Babylon, Jechonias begot Salathiel; and Salathiel begot Zorobabel; and Zorobabel begot Abiud; and Abiud begot Eliacim; and Eliacim begot Azor; and Azor begot Sadoc; and Sadoc begot Achim; and Achim begot Eliud; and Eliud begot Eleazar; and Eleazar begot Matthan; and Matthan begot Jacob.

If we wish to place Jechonias at the end of the first set of fourteen, in the next there will not be fourteen, but thirteen. Let us know, therefore, that the former Jechonias is the same as he who is also Joacim; but the second is the son, not the father: of whom the former is written with a 'c' and 'm', the latter with a 'ch' and 'n', which, due to the fault of scribes and the length of time, has been confused among Greeks and Latins.

(Vers. 16.) And Jacob begot Joseph.

In this place, Julian Augustus objects to us regarding the dissonance of the evangelists: why the evangelist Matthew says Joseph is the son of Jacob, and Luke calls him the son of Heli; not understanding the custom of the Scriptures, that one is a father according to nature, the other according to the law.

For we know this was commanded by Moses, at God's decree, that if a brother or relative died without children, another should take his wife to raise up seed for his brother or relative (Deut. 25). Regarding this, both Africanus, the chronicler, and Eusebius of Caesarea have argued fully in their books on the diaphonias euangelion dissonance of the gospels.

(Ibid.) The husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. When you hear "husband," do not let a suspicion of marriage enter your mind; but remember the custom of the Scriptures, that betrothed men are called husbands, and betrothed women are called wives.

(Vers. 17.) And from the transmigration of Babylon until Christ, fourteen generations. Count from Jechonias until Joseph, and you will find thirteen generations. Therefore, the fourteenth generation will be reckoned in Christ himself.

(Vers. 18.) Now the generation of Christ was in this wise. Let the diligent reader ask and say: Since Joseph is not the father of the Lord Savior, what does the order of genealogy brought down to Joseph have to do with the Lord? To whom we shall respond first: it is not the custom of the Scriptures for the order of women to be woven into genealogies. Furthermore, Joseph and Mary were of the same tribe; hence, he was compelled by the Law to take her as a relative, and because he was registered in Bethlehem at the same time, it is evident they were generated from one stock. When his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph. Why is He conceived not of a simple Virgin, but of one who is espoused? First, so that through the genealogy of Joseph, the origin of Mary might be demonstrated. Second, so that she would not be stoned by the Jews as an adulteress. Third, so that fleeing into Egypt, she might have the comfort of a husband. The martyr Ignatius even added a fourth reason, why He was conceived of an espoused woman: so that His birth, he says, might be hidden from the devil, while he thinks Him generated not of a Virgin, but of a wife. Before they came together, she was found with child, of the Holy Ghost. She was found by no one else except...