This may sound like trivia but I want to look at and know this verse exists for a specific reason (you don’t have to memorize it but know it’s there and the significance.
“And the women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying “A son has been born to Naomi.” They named him Obed, He was the father of Jesse, the father of David. Now these are the generations of Perez: Perez fathered Hezron, Hezron fathered Ram, Ram fathered Amminadab, Aminadab fathered Nahshon, Nahshon fathered Salmon, Salmon fathered Boaz, Boaz fathered Obed, Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered David.”
These verses don’t at face value mean much but God’s precision hangs in the balance of this section (And if He is Anything He is Precise). If we look at the genealogies in the New Testament of Jesus birth (Matt and Luke) you’ll notice some irregularities. The overall theme appears to point to Jesus Credentials to be from the line of David (like the verse in Ruth 4:17ff). This may be a bit of a rabbit trail but bear with me.
I’m sure like many you’ve heard it preached that Matthew records the genealogy to prove the lineage back to David. This is why we have to be so precise. Matthew actually proves a different point with his genealogy and it’s not to point to David.
First off he includes 4 women with less than exemplary lineages. Bathsheba was an adulteress, Tamar was guilty of incest, Rahab was guilty of prostitution and Ruth was a Moabitess (products of Lot’s incestuous relationship with one of his daughters). This would not normally be the case in listing a genealogy. Why would he include them? Probably because even though Scripture says Jesus came for the lost sheep of the house of Israel (see Matt 10:6, 15:24), the Gentiles would also benefit. Secondly notice the Matthew includes Jeconiah (Matt 1:11-12). Jeconiah would actually disqualify from proving Jesus credentials through Joseph, because based on Jeremiah 22:24-30, the curse of Jeconiah would disqualify any descendant of Jeconiahs from sitting on the throne of David. So why did Matthew include the geneology? Matthew lists the Jeconiah problem but then he solves it with the account of the virgin conception and birth. Notice further down in the verse when it says (16) “and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jeus was born, who is called Christ.” Jesus had no biological connection to Jesus. He was born of Mary whom Luke proves to be a descendant from David. Matthew’s account leads you back through Joseph’s heritage which led back to Solomon, which disqualified Jesus, Luke takes you back through Mary’s lineage which takes you to Nathan (Luke 3:31) one of David’s other sons. So yes Jesus is qualified to be a descendant of David…just not through Joseph. The point is keep digging, to know your New Testament it is incumbent to read the Old :).