The Davidic Lineage of Yeshua
- Pat Adamson
In many passages throughout the Tanakh, the expected Messiah is clearly prophesied to come from the house of David. Therefore, anyone claiming to be the Messiah would need to demonstrate heritage through the line of David. Consider the following verses,
"The days are coming," says ADONAI when I will raise a righteous Branch for David. He will reign as king and succeed, he will do what is just and right in the land." Jeremiah 23:5 (CJB)
"When those days come, at that time, I will cause to spring up for David a Branch of Righteousness. He will do what is just and right in the land." Jeremiah 33:15 (CJB)
"My servant David will be king over them, and all of them will have one shepherd; they will live by my rulings and keep and observe my regulations." Ezekiel 37:24 (CJB)
Also see: 2 Samuel 7:12-16; Psalm 89:3-4, 35-37; 132:11; Isaiah 9:6-7; Ezekiel 34:23-34; Hosea 3:5 and John 7:42.
One of the remarks often cited against the Messiahship of Yeshua concerns His birth and lineage. The argument goes, if Yeshua was born of the virgin Mary, then His paternal heritage cannot be traced through Yosef (His earthly father). Without Yosef's seed in the equation, there is a “disconnect” with the biological link and Yeshua is therefore disqualified from the kingly line of David. At first blush, this is a rather compelling argument. Jews for Judaism and other anti-missionary groups use it quite regularly. Even so, there are answers to this argument that are worth knowing for every believer.
Lineage was usually traced through the father, but not always. One important example is found in Numbers 27. Here Zelophechad had no male offspring but plenty of daughters. He has passed away, and in this account, the daughters approach Moshe with their predicament. HaShem’s answer through Moshe is most revealing concerning lineage through the male seed.
“ADONAI answered Moshe, ‘The daughters of [Zelophechad] are right in what they say. You must give them property to be inherited along with that of their father's brothers; have what their father would have inherited pass to them. Moreover, say to the people of Isra'el, 'If a man dies and does not have a son, you are to have his inheritance pass to his daughter.’ ” Numbers 27:6-8 (CJB)
Tribal inheritance can be passed through daughters when necessary. Now, even though some of the early leaders in the Christian church believe Luke 1:27 is referring to Davidic lineage through Mary rather than Yosef, this point doesn’t seem relevant because clearly, in the gospel of Matthew, the writer is tracing Yeshua’s lineage through Yosef.
Yosef is not Yeshua’s biological father – he is His step-dad, so how can Yeshua – or better, the gospel of Matthew claim Davidic lineage if Yosef is not his natural father? The answer is found, not in biological determination, but rather the status of legal lineage. For instance, in ancient times, adoption gave the adopted person clear legal rights, including inheritance. In the Midrash Rabbah on Exodus 46:5, a statement is made regarding Israel pictured as an orphan. It says “He that brings up a child is called a father, and not he that gives birth.”
Under the rules of adoption, Joseph seems to understand Yeshua’s legal connection to his lineage because in Matthew 1:25 Yosef himself is the one who gives Yeshua His Name. The gospel of Luke records,
“Yeshua was about thirty years old when He began His public ministry. It was supposed that He was a son of Yosef . . .” Luke 3:23 (CJB)
The word “supposed” (“nomidzo” Strong’s G3543) describes something that is generally held to be true or customary. Therefore, in community life, Yosef was recognized as the legal father of Yeshua. So, throughout Scripture it is clear that a person may be granted all the rights and privileges of son-ship even without direct physical generation from the father.
From a historical viewpoint, Yosef was the only human father that could lay legal claim to Yeshua. The community in which they lived embraced this fact and on many occasions called Yeshua the “Son of David.” Never, in any of these recorded incidents, do any of His critics protest His claim to Davidic lineage.
Consequently, from a legal status as well as the full testimony of Scripture, Yeshua was the rightful heir of Yosef and unmistakably connected to the family line of King David.
What the anti-missionary groups and Jews for Judaism fail to understand is that Yeshua is the King Messiah of Israel! He came 2000 years ago as “Clark Kent” – a lowly carpenter from Nazareth. Instead of royal garments, He was clothed in humility and suffering. But this same Person will come again, this time as “Superman” – the ruling, reigning King of Israel and Savior of the World! We will continue to learn and grow in our knowledge of “Clark Kent," but we are also anxiously awaiting “Superman” when He comes in all His glory!
