γενεαλογία, signifies a list of a person’s ancestors. The
common Hebrew expression for it is _Sepher-Toledoth_, “the Book of
Generations.” No nation was ever more careful to preserve their
genealogies than the Jews. The sacred writings contain genealogies
extended three thousand five hundred years backward. The genealogy of
our Saviour is deduced by the evangelists from Adam to Joseph and Mary,
through a space of four thousand years and upward. The Jewish priests
were obliged to produce an exact genealogy of their families, before
they were admitted to exercise their function. Wherever placed, the Jews
were particularly careful not to marry below themselves; and to prevent
this, they kept tables of genealogy in their several families, the
originals of which were lodged at Jerusalem, to be occasionally
consulted. These authentic monuments, during all their wars and
persecutions, were taken great care of, and from time to time renewed.
But, since the last destruction of their city, and the dispersion of the
people, their ancient genealogies are lost. But to this the Jews reply,
that either Elias, or some other inspired priest or prophet, shall come,
and restore their genealogical tables before the Messiah’s appearance; a
tradition, which they ground on a passage in Nehemiah vii, 64, 65, to
this effect: the genealogical register of the families of certain
priests being lost, they were not able to make out their lineal descent
from Aaron; and therefore, “as polluted, were put from the priesthood;”
the “Tirshatha said unto them, that they should not eat of the most holy
things, till there stood up a priest with Urim and Thummim.” From hence
the Jews conclude, that such a priest will stand up, and restore and
complete the genealogies of their families: though others suppose these
words to import, that they should never exercise their priesthood any
more; and that, “till there shall stand up a priest with Urim and
Thummim,” amounts to the same as the Roman proverb, _ad Græcas
calendas_, [never,] since the Urim and Thummim were now absolutely and
for ever lost.
common Hebrew expression for it is _Sepher-Toledoth_, “the Book of
Generations.” No nation was ever more careful to preserve their
genealogies than the Jews. The sacred writings contain genealogies
extended three thousand five hundred years backward. The genealogy of
our Saviour is deduced by the evangelists from Adam to Joseph and Mary,
through a space of four thousand years and upward. The Jewish priests
were obliged to produce an exact genealogy of their families, before
they were admitted to exercise their function. Wherever placed, the Jews
were particularly careful not to marry below themselves; and to prevent
this, they kept tables of genealogy in their several families, the
originals of which were lodged at Jerusalem, to be occasionally
consulted. These authentic monuments, during all their wars and
persecutions, were taken great care of, and from time to time renewed.
But, since the last destruction of their city, and the dispersion of the
people, their ancient genealogies are lost. But to this the Jews reply,
that either Elias, or some other inspired priest or prophet, shall come,
and restore their genealogical tables before the Messiah’s appearance; a
tradition, which they ground on a passage in Nehemiah vii, 64, 65, to
this effect: the genealogical register of the families of certain
priests being lost, they were not able to make out their lineal descent
from Aaron; and therefore, “as polluted, were put from the priesthood;”
the “Tirshatha said unto them, that they should not eat of the most holy
things, till there stood up a priest with Urim and Thummim.” From hence
the Jews conclude, that such a priest will stand up, and restore and
complete the genealogies of their families: though others suppose these
words to import, that they should never exercise their priesthood any
more; and that, “till there shall stand up a priest with Urim and
Thummim,” amounts to the same as the Roman proverb, _ad Græcas
calendas_, [never,] since the Urim and Thummim were now absolutely and
for ever lost.