“Forked Family Tree Part 2”

Sunday, August 11, 2013

(This question is a follow-up to “Forked Family Tree”)

I thought that was probably it because I knew that both Joseph and Mary were of the bloodline of David.  I guess my next question would be: could Joseph being listed at the end of both lineages (and I realize this is probably mostly inference) have to do with the culture/language of the time?  Thanks!

Sincerely,
Tree Tracker

Dear Tree Tracker,

You hit the nail right on the head – Joseph’s name being at the end of both Matthew’s and Luke’s genealogies is a cultural issue.  Every Jewish genealogy (both mom’s and dad’s) is tracked through the males in the family.  Regardless of how today’s cultural might view that tradition, that is how it was done.  Joseph is listed at the end of both because he is the final male in the family tree… before Jesus, that is.

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