Phares

PHARES. - One of the twins born to the Canaanite Tamar by her father-in-law Judah, son of Jacob. He was to have been the second-born, but he was the first. The birth of P. and of his brother Zerah recalls that of Esau and Jacob (Gen. 25:24-26): it would be a mistake to believe that this is a variant of the same event; the sacred author evidently intends to present two distinct historical facts. At the birth of P. his mother probably said: "Why have you made a breach (pâres) for yourself?" And he was called P. (Gen. 38:29). This and other details are given by the sacred text because of the importance of the rights of primogeniture, which were granted to him and not to Zerah, since he is always remembered first in the genealogies (ibid. 46:12; Num. 26:20; 1 Chron. 2:4; Matt. 1:3). His descendants were blessed by God (Ruth 4:12). For the genealogy see Ruth 4:18-22 and 1 Chron. 2:5, 9-3:24. In the time of Zerubbabel 468 descendants of P. lived in Jerusalem (Neh. 11:4-6). He is remembered in the genealogies of Jesus (Matt. 1:3; Luke 3:33).

Vincenzo M. Jacono