Matthew 1:5 Commentary and Bible Study

At this point Matthew gives us information which is not found elsewhere in Scripture: that Salmon married Rachab (Rahab) the prostitute who was from Jericho, and who rescued the spies and was delivered at the fall of that city during the time of the conquest. Here too is a remarkable event in that a woman who was a Canaanite, a nation dedicated to destruction, was by grace favoured by God. ‘By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace’ (Hebrews 11:31). Not only did she not perish, she gained a place in the lineage of the Lord Jesus. If Rahab gave birth directly to Booz (Boaz) then there were only five generations, inclusive, between her and David. This covers a period between 1405 and 1040 BC – 365 years, which suggests there may be generations skipped in this part of the genealogy, as well as others indicated below.The Book of Ruth details the faith and humility of the second woman named in this verse, and the wonderful way in which Ruth, the Moabitess, came to be married to Boaz, and she too receives honour here. Again she belonged to a nation of which it was said, ‘An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to their tenth generation shall they not enter into the congregation of the LORD for ever’ (Deuteronomy 23:3). And yet by grace she won a place which set her above many who were born Israelites. Through Ruth came Obed who fathered Jesse.