Zerubbabel OT and NT Connection

[Andrew Mason]

This is the connection I see in scripture...

2 Those who came with Zerubbabel were Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvi, Rehum, and Baanah. Ezra 2:2

Those who came with Zerubbabel were Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, and Baanah. - Nehemiah 7:7

Now these are the priests and the Levites who came up with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra... - Nehemiah 12:1

12 And after they were brought to Babylon, Jeconiah begot Shealtiel, and Shealtiel begot Zerubbabel. 13 Zerubbabel begot Abiud, Abiud begot Eliakim, and Eliakim begot Azor. - Matthew 1:12-13

27 the son of Joannas, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri... - Luke 3:27

As far as I can see, this is the same Zerubbabel in in Ezra and Nehemiah that is mentioned in Matthew and Luke. Any reason to doubt this?

Potential gaps I see...

• Jeconiah begets Shealtiel in Matthew, but Shealtiel is the son of Neri in Luke.
• Zerubbabel is the son of Pedaiah (not Shealtiel) in 1 Chron 3:17 below...

17 And the sons of Jeconiah were Assir, Shealtiel his son, 18 and Malchiram, Pedaiah, Shenazzar, Jecamiah, Hoshama, and Nedabiah. 19 The sons of Pedaiah were Zerubbabel and Shimei. The sons of Zerubbabel were Meshullam, Hananiah, Shelomith their sister, 20 and Hashubah, Ohel, Berechiah, Hasadiah, and Jushab-Hesed—five in all. - 1 Chronicles 3:17-20

• One commentary I read said that it is possible that Shealtiel adopted his nephew Zerubbabel.
  
• The other gap is the son of Zerubbabel is Abiud in Matthew, Rhesa in Luke and neither is mentioned in 1 Chronicles 3:19-20.

I'd love your thoughts and insight.

The reason I'm studying this is because Ezra and Nehemiah are not quoted in the New Testament. If this is the same Zerubbabel though, a stronger tie and association can be made with these books and the NT.

 

[Malachi]

Andrew:
It is interesting to note that the name Zerubbabel is an Akkadian name from two words "zeru" and "Babili" which means seed or progeny of Babylon! Thus he has the Babylonian name of Sheshbazzar. Even though he had this name, he was a godly man. And he is the legal son of Shealtiel (possibly by Levirate marriage) but the actual son of Pedaiah. He is somehow connected to both Nathan and Solomon. You will notice that Jeconiah was the actual father of Shealtiel (Mt 1:24), but Shealtiel is called "the son" of Neri (Lk. 3:27), [which could be similar to how Joseph is called "the son" of Heli (Lk 3:23), even though his actual father is Jacob (Mt 1:16)].

Even Josephus mentions Zerubbabel as the son of Salatheil of the tribe of Judah. He (under the name Sheshbazzar) led the first group of Babylonian Jews to Judea by the decree of Cyrus, king of Persia, and his responsibility was to rebuild the temple at Jerusalem.

 

[Andrew Mason]

Malachi Great stuff man!
I'm going to assume that you agree then that this is the same Zerubbabel in Nehemiah and Ezra as in Matthew and Luke?

The marriage theory is a strong one too, hadn't thought of that, thanks!

Again, I think this is an important OT/NT association to establish since there is no direct quote of Nehemiah and Ezra in the NT.

 

[Malachi]

Cyrus recognized him as the "prince of Judah" and made him governor of Judah, and handed the entire responsibility for Judah, Jerusalem and the Temple to him. (You find "Zorabbabel" and Salathiel in Matthew and Luke because that is a transliteration of the Greek names. The KJV translators did not translate back the Hebrew names, but simply transliterated. So they called Joshua "Jesus" in Heb 4:8, which can lead to confusion).

Andrew, as you study Zerubbabel in depth, you will discover that he is just like the mysterious Melchizedek in that his name becomes synonymous with things which pertain directly to Christ. In fact he stands for Christ in several prophecies! You will see this in the prophecies of Haggai and Zechariah, both of whom were sent by God to Zerubbabel (and those attempting to rebuild the Temple). I won't go further but let you discover what needs to be discovered. We can then discuss further.

As to direct quotations from Ezra and Nehemiah, while those may be absent, we do have in the NT several items which come directly from these books, and can therefore be connected with Ezra-Nehemiah [you will also discover that Ezra-Nehemiah is actually one scroll in the Hebrew Tanach ("the book of Ezra")]. Coming back to allusions in the NT, you will find: Tyre, Zidon, Joppa, the Sheep Gate, the pool of Siloah (Siloam), bread from Heaven, lifting up their [holy] hands, by thy Spirit in the prophets, Holy City, counted [me] faithful (possibly others).