PHARES. - One of the twins born to the Canaanite Thamar by her father-in-law Giuda, son of Giacobbe. He was to have been the second-born, but he was the first. The birth of P. and of his brother Zara recalls that of Esaü and Giacobbe (Gen. 25, 24-26): it would be an error to believe that this is a variant of the same event; the sacred author evidently intends to present two distinct historical events.
At the birth of P. the mother probably said: “Why have you made for yourself a breach (pâres)?” 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 Zara, since he is always mentioned first in the genealogies (ibid. 46, 12; Num. 26, 20; I Par. 2, 4; Mt. 1, 3). His descendants were blessed by God (Ruth 4, 12). For the genealogy V. Ruth 4, 18-22 and I Par. 2, 5, 9-3, 24. At the time of Zorobabel, 468 descendants of P. dwelt in Jerusalem (Neh. 11, 4-6). He is mentioned in the genealogies of Jesus (Mt. 1, 3; Lc. 3, 33).
Vincenzo M. Jacono