the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon,
      1. His age: He now began to be about thirty years of age. So old Joseph was when he stood before Pharaoh (Genesis 41:46), David when he began to reign (2 Samuel 5:4), and at this age the priests were to enter upon the full execution of their office, Numbers 4:3. Dr. Lightfoot thinks that it is plain, by the manner of expression here, that he was just twenty-nine years old complete, and entering upon his thirtieth year, in the month Tisri; that, after this, he lived three years and a half, and died when he was thirty-two years and a half old. Three years and a half, the time of Christ's ministry, is a period of time very remarkable in scripture. Three years and six months the heavens were shut up in Elijah's time, Luke 4:25; James 5:17. This was the half week in which the Messiah was to confirm the covenant, Daniel 9:27. This period is expressed in the prophetical writings by a time, times, and half a time (Daniel 12:7; Revelation 12:14); and by forty-two months, and a thousand two hundred and threescore days, Revelation 11:2; Revelation 11:3. It is the time fixed for the witnesses' prophesying in sackcloth, in conformity to Christ's preaching in his humiliation just so long.