by Gary L. Evans
30 — Who was the father of Uzziah?
Joram (Matthew 1:8)
Mat 1:8-9 And Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias, And Ozias begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias;
So Ozias is also called Uzziah.
The genealogy in question is: Asa, Josaphat, Joram, Ozias, Joatham, Achaz, and Ezekias.
Asa:
Smith’s Bible Dictionary states: “A’sa. (physician or cure). Son of Abijah and third king of Judah. (B.C. 956-916). His long reign of 41 years was peaceful in its earlier portion, and he undertook the reformation of all abuses, especially of idolatry. He burnt the symbol of his grandmother Maachah’s religion and deposed her from the dignity of “king’s mother,” and renewed the great altar which the idolatrous priests apparently had desecrated. 2Ch_15:8. Besides this, he fortified cities on his frontiers, and raised an army, amounting, according to 2Ch_14:8 to 580,000 men, a number probably exaggerated by an error of the copyist.“
1Ki 15:24 And Asa slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead.
Jehoshaphat:
Smith’s Bible Dictionary states: “Jehosh’aphat. (whom Jehovah judges). King of Judah, son of Asa, succeeded to the throne B.C. 914, when he was 35 years old, and reigned 25 years. His history is to be found among the events recorded in 1Ki_15:24; 2Ki_8:16 or in a continuous narrative in 2Ch_17:1; 2Ch_21:3. He was contemporary with Ahab, Ahaziah and Jehoram. He was one of the best, most pious and prosperous kings of Judah, the greatest since Solomon.“
1Ki 22:41-42 And Jehoshaphat the son of Asa began to reign over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel. Jehoshaphat was thirty and five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.
1Ki 22:50 And Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Jehoram his son reigned in his stead.
Jehoram:
Smith’s Bible Dictionary states: “Jo’ram. (whom Jehovah has exalted). Son of Jehosphaphat; king of Judah. 2Ki_8:21; 2Ki_8:23-24; 1Ch_3:11; 2Ch_22:5; 2Ch_22:7; Mat_1:8. See Jehoram.”
2Ki 8:24 And Joram slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David: and Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead.
A’haz:
Smith’s Bible Dictionary states: “Ahazi’ah. (sustained by the Lord). Fifth king of Judah, son of Jehoram and Athaliah (daughter of Ahab), and therefore, nephew of the preceding Ahaziah, reigned one year, B.C. 884. He is called Azariah, 2Ch_22:2, probably by a copyist’s error, and Jehoahaz. 2Ch_21:17.“
“He was 22 years old at his accession; 2Ki_8:26; (his age 42, in 2Ch_22:2, is a copyist’s error). Ahaziah was an idolater, and he allied himself with his uncle Jehoram, king of Israel, against Hazael, the new king of Syria. The two kings were, however, defeated at Ramoth, where Jehoram was severely wounded.“
“The revolution, carried out in Israel by Jehu under the guidance of Elisha, broke out while Ahaziah was visiting his uncle at Jezreel. As Jehu approached the town, Jehoram and Ahaziah went out to meet him; the former was shot through the heart by Jehu, and Ahaziah was pursued and mortally wounded. He died when he reached Megiddo.“
2Ki 8:25-26 In the twelfth year of Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel did Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah begin to reign. Two and twenty years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign; and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Athaliah, the daughter of Omri king of Israel.
2Ki 9:27-29 But when Ahaziah the king of Judah saw this, he fled by the way of the garden house. And Jehu followed after him, and said, Smite him also in the chariot. And they did so at the going up to Gur, which is by Ibleam. And he fled to Megiddo, and died there. And his servants carried him in a chariot to Jerusalem, and buried him in his sepulchre with his fathers in the city of David. And in the eleventh year of Joram the son of Ahab began Ahaziah to reign over Judah.
2Ki 11:1-3 And when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal. But Jehosheba, the daughter of king Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king’s sons which were slain; and they hid him, even him and his nurse, in the bedchamber from Athaliah, so that he was not slain. And he was with her hid in the house of the LORD six years. And Athaliah did reign over the land.
2Ki 11:12 And he brought forth the king’s son, and put the crown upon him, and gave him the testimony; and they made him king, and anointed him; and they clapped their hands, and said, God save the king.
Jehoash:
Smith’s Bible Dictionary states: “Jo’ash. (to whom Jehovah hastens, that is, to help), contracted from Jehoash. Son of Ahaziah, king of Judah, (B.C. 884), and the only one of his children, who escaped the murderous hand of Athaliah. After his father’s sister, Jehoshabeath, the wife of Jehoiada, the high priest, had stolen him from among the king’s sons, he was hidden for six years in the chambers of the Temple. In the seventh year of his age, and of his concealment, a successful revolution, conducted by Jehoiada, placed him on the throne of his ancestors, and freed the country from the tyranny, and idolatries of Athaliah.“
“For at least twenty-three years, while Jehoiada lived, his reign was very prosperous; but after the death of Jehoiada, Joash fell into the hands of bad advisers, at whose suggestion, he revived the worship of Baal and Ashtaroth. When he was rebuked for this by Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada, Joash caused him to be stoned to death, in the very court of the Lord’s house. Mat_23:35. That very year, Hazael, king of Syria, came up against Jerusalem, and carried off a vast booty, as the price of his departure.”
“Joash had scarcely escaped this danger, when he fell into another and fatal one. Two of his servants conspired against him, and slew him in his bed, and in the fortress of Millo. Joash’s reign lasted forty years, from 878 to 838 B.C.“
2Ki 11:21 Seven years old was Jehoash when he began to reign.
2Ki 12:1-3 In the seventh year of Jehu Jehoash began to reign; and forty years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Zibiah of Beersheba. And Jehoash did that which was right in the sight of the LORD all his days wherein Jehoiada the priest instructed him. But the high places were not taken away: the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places.
2Ki 12:19-21 And the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? And his servants arose, and made a conspiracy, and slew Joash in the house of Millo, which goeth down to Silla. For Jozachar the son of Shimeath, and Jehozabad the son of Shomer, his servants, smote him, and he died; and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David: and Amaziah his son reigned in his stead.
Amaziah:
Smith’s Bible Dictionary states: Amazi’ah. (the strength of the Lord). Son of Joash, and eighth king of Judah, reigned B.C. 837-809. He succeeded to the throne at the age of 25, on the murder of his father, and punished the murderers. In order to restore his kingdom to the greatness of Jehoshaphat’s days, he made war on the Edomites, defeated them in the Valley of Salt, south of the Dead Sea, and took their capital, Selah or Petra, to which he gave the name of Jokteel, that is, “God-subdued”.
Flushed with his success, he challenged Joash king of Israel to battle, but was completely defeated, and himself was taken prisoner and conveyed by Joash to Jerusalem, which opened its gates to the conqueror. Amaziah lived 15 years after the death of Joash; and in the 29th year of his reign was murdered by conspirators at Lachish, whither he had retired from Jerusalem for safety. 2Ch_25:27.
2Ki 14:1-2 In the second year of Joash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel reigned Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah. He was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem.
2Ki 14:18-21 And the rest of the acts of Amaziah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? Now they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem: and he fled to Lachish; but they sent after him to Lachish, and slew him there. And they brought him on horses: and he was buried at Jerusalem with his fathers in the city of David. And all the people of Judah took Azariah, which was sixteen years old, and made him king instead of his father Amaziah.
Azariah (Uzziah) Tenth king of Judah:
Smith’s Bible Dictionary states: “Ozi’as. (strength from the Lord). Uzziah, king of Judah. Mat_1:8-9.
Azari’ah. (whom the Lord helps). A common name in Hebrew, and especially in the families of the priests of the line of Eleazar, whose name has precisely the same meaning as Azariah. It is nearly identical, and is often confounded, with Ezra as well as with Zerahiah and Seraiah. The principal persons who bore this name were — … Tenth king of Judah, more frequently called Uzziah. 2Ki_14:21; 2Ki_15:1; 2Ki_15:6; 2Ki_15:8; 2Ki_15:17; 2Ki_15:23; 2Ki_15:27; 1Ch_8:12…”
2Ki 15:1-3 In the twenty and seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel began Azariah son of Amaziah king of Judah to reign. Sixteen years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned two and fifty years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Jecholiah of Jerusalem. And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah had done;
2Ki 15:7 So Azariah slept with his fathers; and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David: and Jotham his son reigned in his stead.
Jotham:
Smith’s Bible Dictionary states: “Jo’tham. (Jehovah is upright). The son of King Uzziah or Azariah and Jerushah. After administering the kingdom for some years, during his father’s leprosy, he succeeded to the throne, B.C. 758, when he was 25 years old, and reigned 16 years in Jerusalem. He was contemporary with Pekah, and with the prophet, Isaiah. His history is contained in 2Ki_15:1, and 2Ch_27:1.”
2Ki 15:32-34 In the second year of Pekah the son of Remaliah king of Israel began Jotham the son of Uzziah king of Judah to reign. Five and twenty years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Jerusha, the daughter of Zadok. And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD: he did according to all that his father Uzziah had done.
2Ki 15:38 And Jotham slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Ahaz his son reigned in his stead.
Ahaz:
Smith’s Bible Dictionary states: “A’haz. (possessor). Eleventh king of Judah, son of Jotham, reigned 741-726, about sixteen years. At the time of his accession, Rezin, king of Damascus and Pekah, king of Israel had recently formed a league against Judah, and they proceeded to lay siege to Jerusalem. Upon this, Isaiah hastened to give advice and encouragement to Ahaz, and the allies failed in their attack on Jerusalem. Isaiah 7-9.”
2Ki 16:1-2 In the seventeenth year of Pekah the son of Remaliah Ahaz the son of Jotham king of Judah began to reign. Twenty years old was Ahaz when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem, and did not that which was right in the sight of the LORD his God, like David his father.
2Ki 16:20 And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David: and Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead.
Hezekiah:
Smith’s Bible Dictionary states: “Hezeki’ah. (the might of Jehovah). Twelfth king of Judah, son of the apostate, Ahaz and Abi or Abijah, ascended the throne at the age of 25, B.C. 726. Hezekiah was one of the three most perfect kings of Judah. 2Ki_18:5. Sir_49:4. His first act was to purge, repair and reopen, with splendid sacrifices and perfect ceremonial, the Temple. He also destroyed a brazen serpent, said to have been the one used by Moses, in the miraculous healing of the Israelites, Num_21:9, which had become an object of adoration.”
2Ki 18:1-2 Now it came to pass in the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign. Twenty and five years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name also was Abi, the daughter of Zachariah.
We have shown the history as presented in the books of Kings: “Asa, Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, A’haz, Jehoash, Amaziah, Azariah (Uzziah) Tenth king of Judah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah.” But this does not match the family tree we were looking for: “Asa, Josaphat, Joram, Ozias (Uzziah), Joatham, Achaz, and Ezekias,” specifically “A’haz, Jehoash, and Amaziah” between Jehoram and Uzziah were not expected.
So Amaziah is the father of Azariah who is also called Uzziah.
Now we will see how it is presented in the Chronicles.
Amaziah (2 Chronicles 26:1)
Asa:
2Ch 16:13-14 And Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the one and fortieth year of his reign. And they buried him in his own sepulchres, which he had made for himself in the city of David, and laid him in the bed which was filled with sweet odours and divers kinds of spices prepared by the apothecaries’ art: and they made a very great burning for him.
Josaphat:
2Ch 17:1 And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead, and strengthened himself against Israel.
2Ch 21:1-2 Now Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. And Jehoram his son reigned in his stead. And he had brethren the sons of Jehoshaphat, Azariah, and Jehiel, and Zechariah, and Azariah, and Michael, and Shephatiah: all these were the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel.
Jehoram:
2Ch 21:15-17 And thou shalt have great sickness by disease of thy bowels, until thy bowels fall out by reason of the sickness day by day. Moreover the LORD stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines, and of the Arabians, that were near the Ethiopians: And they came up into Judah, and brake into it, and carried away all the substance that was found in the king’s house, and his sons also, and his wives; so that there was never a son left him, save Jehoahaz, the youngest of his sons.
All of Jehoram’s sons were killed except one, Jehoahaz.
Smith’s Bible Dictionary states: “Jeho’ahaz. (whom the Lord sustains). The name given, 2Ch_21:17, to Ahaziah, the youngest son of Jehoram, king of Judah.“
So Jehoram was the father of Jehoahaz, who is also called Ahaziah.
2Ch 21:20 Thirty and two years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years, and departed without being desired. Howbeit they buried him in the city of David, but not in the sepulchres of the kings.
Ahaziah:
2Ch 22:1-2 And the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah his youngest son king in his stead: for the band of men that came with the Arabians to the camp had slain all the eldest. So Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah reigned. Forty and two years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother’s name also was Athaliah the daughter of Omri.
Smith’s Bible Dictionary states: “Ahazi’ah. (sustained by the Lord). Fifth king of Judah, son of Jehoram and Athaliah (daughter of Ahab), and therefore, nephew of the preceding Ahaziah, reigned one year, B.C. 884. He is called Azariah, 2Ch_22:2, probably by a copyist’s error, and Jehoahaz. 2Ch_21:17.“
“He was 22 years old at his accession; 2Ki_8:26; (his age 42, in 2Ch_22:2, is a copyist’s error). Ahaziah was an idolater, and he allied himself with his uncle Jehoram, king of Israel, against Hazael, the new king of Syria. The two kings were, however, defeated at Ramoth, where Jehoram was severely wounded.”
So Ahaziah is incorrectly called Azariah and also incorrectily said to have been 42 in 2Ch 22:2 by copyist’s error. His correct age was 22.
“The revolution, carried out in Israel by Jehu under the guidance of Elisha, broke out while Ahaziah was visiting his uncle at Jezreel. As Jehu approached the town, Jehoram and Ahaziah went out to meet him; the former was shot through the heart by Jehu, and Ahaziah was pursued and mortally wounded. He died when he reached Megiddo.”
2Ch 22:8-9 And it came to pass, that, when Jehu was executing judgment upon the house of Ahab, and found the princes of Judah, and the sons of the brethren of Ahaziah, that ministered to Ahaziah, he slew them. And he sought Ahaziah: and they caught him, (for he was hid in Samaria,) and brought him to Jehu: and when they had slain him, they buried him: Because, said they, he is the son of Jehoshaphat, who sought the LORD with all his heart. So the house of Ahaziah had no power to keep still the kingdom.
So Ahaziah was killed by Jehu.
2Ch 22:10-12 But when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal of the house of Judah. But Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king’s sons that were slain, and put him and his nurse in a bedchamber. So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of king Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest, (for she was the sister of Ahaziah,) hid him from Athaliah, so that she slew him not. And he was with them hid in the house of God six years: and Athaliah reigned over the land.
So Athaliah, the mother of Ahaziah murdered all of the king’s sons except one who was secretly saved by Jehoshabeath, Ahaziah’s daughter. And so Joash was the only surviving son of Ahaziah.
So Ahaziah was the father of Joash. And all of Ahaziah’s other sons were murdered.
2Ch 23:11 Then they brought out the king’s son, and put upon him the crown, and gave him the testimony, and made him king. And Jehoiada and his sons anointed him, and said, God save the king.
Joash:
2Ch 24:1-2 Joash was seven years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name also was Zibiah of Beersheba. And Joash did that which was right in the sight of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest.
Joash was murdered.
2Ch 24:27 Now concerning his sons, and the greatness of the burdens laid upon him, and the repairing of the house of God, behold, they are written in the story of the book of the kings. And Amaziah his son reigned in his stead.
Amaziah.
2Ch 25:1-2 Amaziah was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem. And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a perfect heart.
2Ch 25:27-28 Now after the time that Amaziah did turn away from following the LORD they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem; and he fled to Lachish: but they sent to Lachish after him, and slew him there. And they brought him upon horses, and buried him with his fathers in the city of Judah.
Uzziah:
2Ch 26:1-3 Then all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in the room of his father Amaziah. He built Eloth, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with his fathers. Sixteen years old was Uzziah when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name also was Jecoliah of Jerusalem.
2Ch 26:19-21 Then Uzziah was wroth, and had a censer in his hand to burn incense: and while he was wroth with the priests, the leprosy even rose up in his forehead before the priests in the house of the LORD, from beside the incense altar. And Azariah the chief priest, and all the priests, looked upon him, and, behold, he was leprous in his forehead, and they thrust him out from thence; yea, himself hasted also to go out, because the LORD had smitten him. And Uzziah the king was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a several house, being a leper; for he was cut off from the house of the LORD: and Jotham his son was over the king’s house, judging the people of the land.
2Ch 26:23 So Uzziah slept with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the field of the burial which belonged to the kings; for they said, He is a leper: and Jotham his son reigned in his stead.
Jotham:
2Ch 27:1-2 Jotham was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name also was Jerushah, the daughter of Zadok. And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Uzziah did: howbeit he entered not into the temple of the LORD. And the people did yet corruptly.
2Ch 27:9 And Jotham slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David: and Ahaz his son reigned in his stead.
Ahaz:
2Ch 28:1 Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: but he did not that which was right in the sight of the LORD, like David his father:
2Ch 28:5 Wherefore the LORD his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria; and they smote him, and carried away a great multitude of them captives, and brought them to Damascus. And he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who smote him with a great slaughter.
Hezekiah:
2Ch 29:1-2 Hezekiah began to reign when he was five and twenty years old, and he reigned nine and twenty years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah. And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father had done.
We have found this family tree in Chronicles: Asa, Josaphat, Jehoram, Ahaziah, Joash, Amaziah, Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. which is the same family tree we found in the Kings.
But we cannot explain why Matthew is different: Asa, Josaphat, Joram, (three names ommitted), Ozias (Uzziah), Joatham, Achaz, and Ezekias.
Dr. Bullinger explains why:
“Matthew 1:8
Josaphat = Jehoshaphat (2Ch 17-18).
Joram = Jehoram (2Ki_8:16. 2Ch_21:1).
Three names are omitted here. All are not necessary in a royal genealogy. In Mat_1:1 three names are sufficient. The three names ommitted are:
1 — Ahaziah (2Ki_8:27. 2Ch_22:1-9).
2 — Joash or Jehoash (2Ki_11:2-21; 2ki_12:1-20. 2Ch_24:1-25).
3 — Amaziah (2Ki_14:8-20. 2Ch_25:1, 2Ch_25:8).
Ozias = Uzziah (2Ch_26:1), or Azariah (2Ki_14:21).“
So Dr. Bullinger has resolved this issue. Not all names are required when presenting a royal genealogy. For example:
Mat 1:1 The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
So Amaziah is the father of Uzziah.
31 — Who was the father of Jechoniah?
Josiah (Matthew 1:11)
Mat 1:11 And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon:
Jechonias is also called Jehoiachin who was the son of Jehoiakim. So this reading is missing one name.
The TSK Cross Reference states: “Josias: “Some read, Josias begat Jakim, and Jakim begat Jechonias.”
Jakim is also called Jehoiakim.
So the complete reading of Matthew 1:11 would be: “Josias begat Jehoiakim, and Jehoiakim begat Jehoiachin.”
Dr. Bullinger explains that all names are not necessary in a royal genealogy. For example: In Mat_1:1 just three names are sufficient.
So the correct answer is Jehoikim.
Jehoiakim (1 Chronicles 3:16)
1Ch 3:15-17 And the sons of Josiah were, the firstborn Johanan, the second Jehoiakim, the third Zedekiah, the fourth Shallum. And the sons of Jehoiakim: Jeconiah his son, Zedekiah his son. And the sons of Jeconiah; Assir, Salathiel his son,
So Jehoiakim was the father of Jehoiachin.
As an aside, note that the occurrence of Zedekiah as the son of Jeconiah (Jehoiachin) in verse 16 is a mistranslation. Note that verse 15 states that Zedekiah was the BROTHER of Jehoiakim, the father of Jehoiachin. Thus Zedekiah was the UNCLE of Jehoiachin and not his son.
The TSK Cross Reference states: “Zedekiah: As the sons of Jeconiah are enumerated in the succeeding verse, and as Zedekiah is no where else mentioned as the son of Jeconiah, but as the son of Josiah, it is highly probable that son here means successor. 1Ch_3:15; 2Ki_24:17, being his uncle.”
So verse 16 should read: “And the successors of Jehoiakim: Jeconiah his son, and Zedekiah.”