Salathiel (I)

I. SALATHIEL, or Shealtiel, Son of Jeconiah1 Chron. iii. 17., and Father of Zerubbabel. He died at Babylon during the Captivity. The same Salathiel was also Son of Neri, according to Luke iii. 27.St. Luke. He descended from Solomon by Rehoboam, according to St. Matthew; and from the same Solomon by Nathan, according to St. Luke. In Salathiel were united the two Branches of this illustrious Genealogy; so that Salathiel was Son to Jeconiah, according to the Flesh, as it appears from the Chronicles, which tell us, that Jeconiah had two Sons, 1 Chron. iii. 17.Assir and Salathiel, while he was at Babylon. And he might be Son of Neri by Adoption, or having marry’d the Heiress of Neri’s Family; or even as proceeding from the Widow of Neri, being dead without Children. For in any one of these Cases he would pass for the Son of Neri according to the Law. St. Luke does not tell us in what Sense he was Son to Neri.

The Jews pretend, that Salathiel was the Titular Prince of the Jews, during their Captivity, exercising a small Matter of Authority over them, in Subordination to that of the Kings of Chaldea. They pretend also, that he had Successors of the House of David, known by the Title of Princes of the Captivity, who were appointed by the Kings of the Country. They give us an uninterrupted Succession of them for several Ages; and there are even some Jewish Authors that maintain¹, that the Heads of the Captivity are still in Being beyond the Euphrates. All this is in View to answer the Objection we make to them, when we urge the Prophecy of Jacob, that intimates, That a Law-giver should not depart Gen. xlix. 10.from between the Feet of Judah, till the coming of the Messiah. To which they answer, That the Scepter and the Law-giver are still in Being among them, in the Persons of these Princes of the Captivity.

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