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Questions From ReadersThe Watchtower—1966 | April 1
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Pedaiah was the fleshly father of Zerubbabel. This is indicated by 1 Chronicles 3:17-19, which states: “And the sons of Jeconiah [Jehoiachin] as prisoner [in Babylon] were Shealtiel his son and Malchiram and Pedaiah . . . And the sons of Pedaiah were Zerubbabel and Shimei.” However, Zerubbabel is called the son of Shealtiel elsewhere in the Bible, as at Ezra 3:2, 8 and in the genealogies of Jesus Christ at Matthew 1:12 and Luke 3:27. Why is this so?
According to First Chronicles, chapter three, Pedaiah was Zerubbabel’s father, whereas Shealtiel was his uncle, his father’s brother. Yet, for some reason that is not disclosed in the Bible, Zerubbabel was reckoned as the son of Shealtiel. Evidently Zerubbabel was considered to be his legal son and heir. It is, of course, possible that Shealtiel died childless and that his brother, Pedaiah, complied with the law of levirate marriage, marrying his brother’s widow. (Deut. 25:5-10) The first son of such a union would be viewed as Shealtiel’s legal heir. On the other hand, perhaps, because of Pedaiah’s death, Shealtiel came to have custody of Zerubbabel, raising him as his son. However, the Scriptures themselves are silent on the matter.
Regardless of the undisclosed circumstances, the Bible shows that Zerubbabel was literally the son of Pedaiah. (1 Chron. 3:19) But, since the Scriptures also call him the son of Shealtiel, it was fittingly stated on page 160 of the book “Babylon the Great Has Fallen!” God’s Kingdom Rules!: “In fact, Jehoiachin had sons at Babylon, Shealtiel, Malchiram, Pedaiah, Shenazzar, Jekamiah, Hoshama and Nedabiah. Of these sons Shealtiel was reckoned as the father of Zerubbabel, who became governor of Judah under Persia and who rebuilt the temple at restored Jerusalem.”
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AnnouncementsThe Watchtower—1966 | April 1
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Announcements
FIELD MINISTRY
How many people are there in the world who, if there is a choice, are willing to die rather than compromise on what they believe? Not many. But those who have firm faith in God’s promise of a resurrection are thus strengthened to faithfulness. Jehovah’s witnesses have such faith, and during April they will continue to call at the homes of people everywhere endeavoring to aid others to gain faith in God and his Word. As an aid in this work, they will be offering a year’s subscription for this magazine, The Watchtower, along with three Scriptural booklets, for $1.
MEMORIAL OF CHRIST’S DEATH
Where will you be on the evening of April 5? That depends on what the date means to you. To Christians who take seriously the instructions of the Lord Jesus to commemorate his death, that date is most important. This year April 5, after sundown, corresponds to Nisan 14 on the Jewish calendar, and that is the date that Jesus Christ died on behalf of mankind. So at Kingdom Halls of Jehovah’s witnesses around the earth large numbers of persons will be gathered for the Memorial of Christ’s death on that evening. After a Bible discourse, the Memorial emblems, the bread and the wine, will be passed, following the example Jesus himself set on the last night he was with his disciples before his death. You are invited to attend this important meeting. If you do not know where the nearest Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s witnesses is located, write the publishers of this magazine for information.
A FIRM FOUNDATION
How firm is your foundation knowledge of the Bible? Are you familiar with the Bible’s true-life story of mankind? What is the Bible’s purpose? its theme? What are its teachings? How can you know? Read “Things in Which It Is Impossible for God to Lie,” 416 pages of factual, faith-inspiring information. Read it with the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures, a modern-English version of 1,472 pages. Both for only $1.50. Send today.
“WATCHTOWER” STUDIES FOR THE WEEKS
May 1: Completing the Work of Making Disciples. Page 201.
May 8: Finding Happiness in Making Disciples. Page 208.
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