Wednesday, January 10, 2018

Jehoiachin’s Curse


Write this man down as childless, a man who shall not prosper in his days; for none of his descendants shall prosper, sitting on the throne of David, and ruling anymore in Judah. Jeremiah 22.30

How is the Davidic covenant of an unending dynasty to be fulfilled in Jesus Christ if David's descendent Jehoiachin was cursed concerning the continuation of his dynasty in Judah?
 

Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever. 2 Samuel 7:16

In this promise given to David (the Davidic Covenant), God unconditionally guarantees that David's house and his throne will last forever, obviously speaking of the Messiah to come thousands of years later to usher in rule forever, but we run into a problem with the second to last king of Judah named Jehoiachin with whom God was furious because of his sins.

[As] I live, says the Lord, though Coniah [Jehoiachin] the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, were the signet on My right hand, yet I would pluck you off; . . . O earth, earth, earth, Hear the word of the Lord! 30 This is what the LORD says: Record this man as if childless, a man who will not prosper in his lifetime, for none of his offspring will prosper, none will sit on the throne of David or rule anymore in Judah.

Jeremiah 22.24,29-30

How do we square the irrevocable promises given to David with the promise given to Jehoiachin that almost assuredly broke the Davidic promises?


There are 2 solutions to this curse and it's implications for Christ as the fulfillment of the Davidic Covenant, since Jehoiachin is listed in the geneology of Christ: Josiah begot Jeconiah and his brothers about the time they were carried away to Babylon. Matthew 1:11.

One solution is that the curse was lifted.

In that day, says the Lord of hosts, I will take you, Zerubbabel My servant, the son of Shealtiel, says the Lord, and will make you like a signet [ring]; for I have chosen you, says the Lord of hosts. Haggai 2. 23
Zerubbabel was the grandson of Jehoiachin: And after they were brought to Babylon, Jeconiah begot Shealtiel, and Shealtiel begot Zerubbabel. Mat 1.12

A revised Quote: The phraseology of the "signet ring" here implies that the curse was lifted. Moreover, this argument is in full agreement with Jewish tradition, ... R. Johanan said: Exile atones for everything... Whereas after he [the king] was exiled, it is written, And the sons of Jechoniah, — the same is Assir — Shealtiel his son etc. (1 Chron. 3.17) [He was called] Assir, (Imprisoned) because his mother conceived him in prison. Shealtiel, because God did not plant him in the way that others are planted. We know by tradition that a woman cannot conceive in a standing position. [yet she did conceive standing. Another interpretation: Shealtiel, because God obtained [of the Heavenly court] absolution from His oath. Zerubbabel [was so called] because he was sown in Babylon. But [his real name was] Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah.

The other solution is with reference to the two genealogies in the Gospel accounts.

A revised quote: Matthew traces the legal line from Abraham (as any Jew would) through David, then through Solomon (the royal line) to Joseph, the legal father of Jesus.

Luke traces the blood line from Adam through to David, and his genealogy from Abraham through David is identical to Matthew's, but then after David, Luke departs from the path taken by Matthew and traces the family tree through another son of David (the second surviving son of Bathsheba), Nathan, down through Heli, the father of Mary, the mother of Jesus.

There was an exception to the law which permitted inheritance through the daughter if no sons were available and she married within her tribe.
The daughters of Zelophehad had petitioned Moses for a special exception, which was granted when they entered the land under Joshua.

Heli, Mary's father, apparently had no sons, and Mary married within the tribe of Judah. Jesus was born of the virgin Mary, of the house and lineage of David and carrying legal title to the line, but without the blood curse of Jeconiah.



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