PHARES. — One of the twins born to the Canaanite Thamar by her father-in-law JUDAH, son of JACOB. He was to have been the second-born, but was the first. The birth of PHARES and his brother ZARA recalls that of ESAU and JACOB (Gen. 25:24–26): it would be an error to suppose that this is a variant of the same event; the sacred author clearly intends to present two distinct historical facts.
At PHARES’ birth, his mother probably said: “Why hast thou made a breach (páres)?” And he was called PHARES (Gen. 38:29). These 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 remembered as the first in the genealogies (ibid. 46:12; Num. 26:20; 1 Chron. 2:4; Mt. 1:3). His descendants were blessed by God (Ruth 4:12). For the genealogy V. Ruth 4:18–22 and 1 Chron. 2:5, 9–3:24. In the time of ZOROBABEL 468 descendants of PHARES dwelt in Jerusalem (Neh. 11:4–6). He is included in the genealogies of Jesus (Mt. 1:3; Lk. 3:33).