【读圣经学英语】法勒斯和谢拉

马太福音-Matthew 1章3~4节

1:3 犹大从他玛氏生法勒斯和谢拉,法勒斯生希斯仑,希斯仑生亚兰,
And Judah begot Pharez and Zarah of Tamar, and Pharez begot Hezron, and Hezron begot Aram, 
1:4 亚兰生亚米拿达,亚米拿达生拿顺,拿顺生撒门,
And Aram begot Aminadab, and Aminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon,

Enlightenment:

 Tamar conceived twins (Gen. 38:27-30). At the time of delivery, one boy, Zarah, tried to come out first, but he did not succeed. He put out his hand, and the midwife marked it with a scarlet thread, indicating that he would be the firstborn. However, Pharez preceded him to be the firstborn. Thus, the first became the last, and the last became the first. The midwife was surprised. This is a good illustration of how to gain the birthright. Pharez inherited the birthright. Man did not choose him, but God sent him. This proves that it is not up to man’s endeavoring; it is up to God’s choice. The mother’s story tells us one side: that we should be anxious for the birthright, trying our best to obtain it; the son’s story tells us the other side: that although we may strive to obtain the birthright, it is actually a matter of God’s choice, not our efforts (see Rom. 9:11).

亮光

他玛怀了双生子。(创三八27~30。)生产的时候,一个男孩谢拉想要先出来,但未成功。他伸出一只手来,收生婆用红线作了记号,指明他会是长子。然而,法勒斯先他而生,成了长子。因此,在前的成了在后的,在后的成了在前的。收生婆很惊讶。这是如何得着长子名分的好例证。法勒斯承受了长子的名分。不是人拣选他,乃是神打发他。这证明不在于人的努力,乃在于神的拣选。母亲的故事告诉我们一面:我们该切慕长子的名分,尽我们所能的得着;儿子的故事告诉我们另一面:我们也许尽力要得着长子的名分,但实际上这是神的拣选,不是我们的努力。(见罗九11。)