Matthew's Gospel genealogy may hide ancient biblical scandal

An analysis of the Gospel of Matthew suggests the author may have deliberately omitted certain figures from the genealogy of Jesus to conceal a historical scandal from the ninth century B.C.

Following the death of King Solomon, Israel split into the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah. While King Jehoshaphat of Judah sought peace through a political alliance by marrying his son to the daughter of the King of Israel, the union resulted in significant religious and political conflict. The daughter, Athaliah, is described as ungodly, and her involvement in the lineage led to a period of violence where she reportedly murdered heirs to the throne. Matthew’s genealogy skips several generations, including Ahaziah, Joash, and others, which some interpret as a way to bypass this controversial period.