Expert: Brenda Martin - 8/12/2009

Question
Hi

You qouted from "McClintock and Strong’s Cyclopædia and said:
"In constructing their genealogical tables, it is well known that the Jews reckoned wholly by males".
Question:
Is there any proove that Jews reckoned wholly by males In constructing their genealogical tables?

Thank You


Answer
IS THERE ANY PROOF THAT JEWS RECKONED WHOLLY BY MALES IN CONSTRUCTING THEIR GENEALOGICAL TABLES?

Nearly 4,000 years ago, their forefather Abram emigrated from the thriving metropolis of Ur of the Chaldeans in Sumeria to the land of Canaan, of which God had stated: “I will assign this land to your offspring.” (Genesis 11:31–12:7) He is spoken of as “Abram the Hebrew” at Genesis 14:13, although his name was later changed to Abraham. (Genesis 17:4-6)

From him the Jews draw a line of descent that begins with his son Isaac and his grandson Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel. (Genesis 32:27-29) Israel had 12 sons, who became the founders of 12 tribes. One of those was Judah, from which name the word “Jew” was eventually derived.—2 Kings 16:6.

It appears that in Israel, besides the registers kept by families themselves, national records were kept of genealogies.

The historian Josephus gives testimony to the existence of Jewish official genealogical registers when he says: “My family is no ignoble one, tracing its descent far back to priestly ancestors. . . . Not only, however, were my ancestors priests, but they belonged to the first of the twenty-four courses—a peculiar distinction—and to the most eminent of its constituent clans.” .”—The Life, 1, 2, 6 (1).

Among many proofs of Jesus’ Messiahship are the genealogical records of the Jews, kept in their own city registers, testifiying that he was of the right line of descent—from King David of the tribe of Judah. (Luke 2:1-6)

All the best
Brenda