And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon:
And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren. Jechoniah was Josiah's grandson, being the son of Jehoiakim, Josiah's second son (1 Chronicles 3:15); but Jehoiakim might well be sunk in such a catalogue, being a mere puppet in the hands of the king of Egypt (2 Chronicles 36:4). The "brethren" of Jechonias here evidently mean his uncles-the chief of whom, Mattaniah or Zedekiah, who came to the throne (2 Kings 24:17), is, in 2 Chronicles 36:10, called "his brother," as well as here.
About the time they were carried away to Babylon, х epi (G1909) tees (G3588) metoikesias (G3350)] - literally, 'of their migration,' for the Jews avoided the word 'captivity' [aichmaloosia] as too bitter a recollection, and our Evangelist studiously respects the national feeling.