In this post I will be responding to another Protestant objection against the perpetual virginity of the blessed Mother of our God Incarnate.

It is claimed that if Joseph had children from a previous marriage, which would make them older than Christ, then Jesus could not have been Joseph’s legal heir and would therefore be disqualified from reigning over David’s throne. This is based on the fact that it is the king’s firstborn son who is the heir-apparent to the Davidic dynasty.   

This objection is intended to prove that Jesus’ so-called brothers and sisters (Cf. Mark 6:3) could not have been from Joseph’s previous spouse, who had since deceased. Therefore, Christ’s relatives could only be from Mary (or at least cousins of his), and not step-siblings.  

With this canard in view, I now proceed to refute it.

ADONIJAH VS. SOLOMON

The Hebrew Bible itself disproves the assertion that the king’s firstborn son is the one who inherits the throne, such as the case of Solomon.

God had specifically chosen Solomon to reign in David’s place, even though he wasn’t the firstborn son, or David’s eldest child at that time:

“Then David comforted his wife, Bathshe′ba, and went in to her, and lay with her; and she bore a son, and he called his name Solomon. And the Lord loved him,and sent a message by Nathan the prophet; so he called his name Jedidi′ah [“beloved of YHWH”], because of the Lord.” 2 Samuel 12:24-25

“David said to Solomon, ‘My son, I had it in my heart to build a house to the name of the Lord my God.But the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “You have shed much blood and have waged great wars; you shall not build a house to my name, because you have shed so much blood before me upon the earth.Behold, a son shall be born to you; he shall be a man of peace. I will give him peace from all his enemies round about; for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel in his days.He shall build a house for my name. He shall be my son, and I will be his father, and I will establish his royal throne in Israel for ever.”’” 1 Chronicles 22:7-10

Solomon’s brother Adonjiah was older than him since the latter had been born to David at Hebron, whereas the former was born after David left Hebron for Jerusalem:

“And sons were born to David at Hebron: his first-born was Amnon, of Ahin′o-am of Jezreel; and his second, Chil′e-ab, of Ab′igail the widow of Nabal of Carmel; and the third, Ab′salom the son of Ma′acah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;and the fourth, Adoni′jah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephati′ah the son of Abi′tal;and the sixth, Ith′re-am, of Eglah, David’s wife. These were born to David in Hebron.” 2 Samuel 3:2-5

“And David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, after he came from Hebron; and more sons and daughters were born to David.And these are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Sham′mu-a, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,Ibhar, Eli′shu-a, Nepheg, Japhi′a,Elish′ama, Eli′ada, and Eliph′elet.” 2 Samuel 5:13-16

This explains why Adonijah thought he would be crowned king after David’s demise, seeing that he was older than Solomon. And yet he was clearly wrong:

“Now Adoni′jah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, ‘I will be king’; and he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.His father had never at any time displeased him by asking, ‘Why have you done thus and so?’ He was also a very handsome man; and he was born next after Ab′salom.He conferred with Jo′ab the son of Zeru′iah and with Abi′athar the priest; and they followed Adoni′jah and helped him.But Zadok the priest, and Benai′ah the son of Jehoi′ada, and Nathan the prophet, and Shim′e-i, and Re′i, and David’s mighty men were not with Adoni′jah. Adoni′jah sacrificed sheep, oxen, and fatlings by the Serpent’s Stone, which is beside En-ro′gel, and he invited all his brothers, the king’s sons, and all the royal officials of Judah, but he did not invite Nathan the prophet or Benai′ah or the mighty men or Solomon his brother.

“Then Nathan said to Bathshe′ba the mother of Solomon, ‘Have you not heard that Adoni′jah the son of Haggith has become king and David our lord does not know it?Now therefore come, let me give you counsel, that you may save your own life and the life of your son Solomon.Go in at once to King David, and say to him, “Did you not, my lord the king, swear to your maidservant, saying, ‘Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne’? Why then is Adoni′jah king?”Then while you are still speaking with the king, I also will come in after you and confirm your words.’

“So Bathshe′ba went to the king into his chamber (now the king was very old, and Ab′ishag the Shu′nammite was ministering to the king).Bathshe′ba bowed and did obeisance to the king, and the king said, ‘What do you desire?’She said to him, ‘My lord, you swore to your maidservant by the Lord your God, saying, “Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne.”And now, behold, Adoni′jah is king, although you, my lord the king, do not know it. He has sacrificed oxen, fatlings, and sheep in abundance, and has invited all the sons of the king, Abi′athar the priest, and Jo′ab the commander of the army; but Solomon your servant he has not invited.And now, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are upon you, to tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.Otherwise it will come to pass, when my lord the king sleeps with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon will be counted offenders.’

“While she was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet came in. And they told the king, ‘Here is Nathan the prophet.’ And when he came in before the king, he bowed before the king, with his face to the ground.And Nathan said, ‘My lord the king, have you said, “Adoni′jah shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne”?For he has gone down this day, and has sacrificed oxen, fatlings, and sheep in abundance, and has invited all the king’s sons, Jo′ab the commander of the army, and Abi′athar the priest; and behold, they are eating and drinking before him, and saying, “Long live King Adoni′jah!”But me, your servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benai′ah the son of Jehoi′ada, and your servant Solomon, he has not invited.Has this thing been brought about by my lord the king and you have not told your servants who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?’

“Then King David answered, ‘Call Bathshe′ba to me.’ So she came into the king’s presence, and stood before the king.And the king swore, saying, ‘As the Lord lives, who has redeemed my soul out of every adversity,as I swore to you by the Lord, the God of Israel, saying, “Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne in my stead”; even so will I do this day.’Then Bathshe′ba bowed with her face to the ground, and did obeisance to the king, and said, ‘May my lord King David live for ever!’

“King David said, ‘Call to me Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benai′ah the son of Jehoi′ada.’ So they came before the king.And the king said to them, ‘Take with you the servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my son to ride on my own mule, and bring him down to Gihon; and let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet there anoint him king over Israel; then blow the trumpet, and say, “Long live King Solomon!”You shall then come up after him, and he shall come and sit upon my throne; for he shall be king in my stead; and I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and over Judah.’And Benai′ah the son of Jehoi′ada answered the king, ‘Amen! May the Lord, the God of my lord the king, say so. As the Lord has been with my lord the king, even so may he be with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord King David.’

“So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benai′ah the son of Jehoi′ada, and the Cher′ethites and the Pel′ethites, went down and caused Solomon to ride on King David’s mule, and brought him to Gihon.There Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the tent, and anointed Solomon. Then they blew the trumpet; and all the people said, ‘Long live King Solomon!’And all the people went up after him, playing on pipes, and rejoicing with great joy, so that the earth was split by their noise.

“Adoni′jah and all the guests who were with him heard it as they finished feasting. And when Jo′ab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, ‘What does this uproar in the city mean?’While he was still speaking, behold, Jonathan the son of Abi′athar the priest came; and Adoni′jah said, ‘Come in, for you are a worthy man and bring good news.’Jonathan answered Adoni′jah, ‘No, for our lord King David has made Solomon king;and the king has sent with him Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benai′ah the son of Jehoi′ada, and the Cher′ethites and the Pel′ethites; and they have caused him to ride on the king’s mule;and Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king at Gihon; and they have gone up from there rejoicing, so that the city is in an uproar. This is the noise that you have heard.Solomon sits upon the royal throne.Moreover the king’s servants came to congratulate our lord King David, saying, “Your God make the name of Solomon more famous than yours, and make his throne greater than your throne.” And the king bowed himself upon the bed.And the king also said, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who has granted one of my offspring to sit on my throne this day, my own eyes seeing it.”’

“Then all the guests of Adoni′jah trembled, and rose, and each went his own way.And Adoni′jah feared Solomon; and he arose, and went, and caught hold of the horns of the altar.And it was told Solomon, ‘Behold, Adoni′jah fears King Solomon; for lo, he has laid hold of the horns of the altar, saying, “Let King Solomon swear to me first that he will not slay his servant with the sword.”’ And Solomon said, ‘If he prove to be a worthy man, not one of his hairs shall fall to the earth; but if wickedness is found in him, he shall die.’So King Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. And he came and did obeisance to King Solomon; and Solomon said to him, ‘Go to your house.’” 1 Kings 1:5-53

David himself wasn’t the oldest child of his father Jesse when God appointed him to rule as king instead of Saul his predecessor:

“When they came, he looked on Eli′ab and thought, ‘Surely the Lord’s anointed is before him.’But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord sees not as man sees; man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.’Then Jesse called Abin′adab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, ‘Neither has the Lord chosen this one.’ Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, ‘Neither has the Lord chosen this one.’And Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, ‘The Lord has not chosen these.’And Samuel said to Jesse, ‘Are all your sons here?’ And he said, ‘There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep.’ And Samuel said to Jesse, ‘Send and fetch him; for we will not sit down till he comes here.’And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome. And the Lord said, ‘Arise, anoint him; for this is he.’ Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.” 1 Samuel 16:6-13

“David assembled at Jerusalem all the officials of Israel, the officials of the tribes, the officers of the divisions that served the king, the commanders of thousands, the commanders of hundreds, the stewards of all the property and cattle of the king and his sons, together with the palace officials, the mighty men, and all the seasoned warriors.Then King David rose to his feet and said: ‘Hear me, my brethren and my people. I had it in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and for the footstool of our God; and I made preparations for building. But God said to me, “You may not build a house for my name, for you are a warrior and have shed blood.” Yet the Lord God of Israel chose me from all my father’s house to be king over Israel for ever; for he chose Judah as leader, and in the house of Judah my father’s house, and among my father’s sons he took pleasure in me to make me king over all Israel.And of all my sons (for the Lord has given me many sons) he has chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel. He said to me, “It is Solomon your son who shall build my house and my courts, for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father. I will establish his kingdom for ever if he continues resolute in keeping my commandments and my ordinances, as he is today.”’” 1 Chronicles 28:1-7

The foregoing shows that God is free to choose whomever he so wishes, whether the elder or younger child, and is under no constraint to always or only appoint the firstborn son.

In fact, we find God deliberately choosing the younger/youngest sibling over against the elder one/firstborn, as the following examples clearly illustrate.

CAIN VS. ABEL & SETH

“Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, ‘I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord.’And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a tiller of the ground.In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, and Abel brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering,but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.The Lord said to Cain, ‘Why are you angry, and why has your countenance fallen?If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is couching at the door; its desire is for you, but you must master it.’ Cain said to Abel his brother, ‘Let us go out to the field.’ And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel, and killed him.Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, ‘I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?’And the Lord said, ‘What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground.And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.When you till the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength; you shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.’ Cain said to the Lord, ‘My punishment is greater than I can bear.Behold, thou hast driven me this day away from the ground; and from thy face I shall be hidden; and I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will slay me.’ Then the Lord said to him, ‘Not so! If any one slays Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.” And the Lord put a mark on Cain, lest any who came upon him should kill him.Then Cain went away from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in the land of Nod, east of Eden… And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and called his name Seth, for she said, ‘God has appointed for me another child instead of Abel, for Cain slew him.’ To Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time men began to call upon the name of the Lord.” Genesis 4:1-16, 25-26

“By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he received approval as righteous, God bearing witness by accepting his gifts; he died, but through his faith he is still speaking.” Hebrews 11:4

What makes the case of Cain rather peculiar is that he is not listed in Adam’s genealogy. Only Seth is!

“This is the book of the generations of Adam. When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God.Male and female he created them, and he blessed them and named them Man when they were created.When Adam had lived a hundred and thirty years, he became the father of a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth.The days of Adam after he became the father of Seth were eight hundred years; and he had other sons and daughters.Thus all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years; and he died. When Seth had lived a hundred and five years, he became the father of Enosh.Seth lived after the birth of Enosh eight hundred and seven years, and had other sons and daughters.Thus all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years; and he died.” Genesis 5:1-8

“Adam, Seth, Enosh;Kenan, Mahal′alel, Jared; Enoch, Methu′selah, Lamech;Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.” 1 Chronicles 1:1-4

“Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli… the son of Me′le-a, the son of Menna, the son of Mat′tatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David, the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Bo′az, the son of Sala, the son of Nahshon, the son of Ammin′adab, the son of Admin, the son of Arni, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah…  the son of Ca-i′nan, the son of Arphax′ad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, the son of Methu′selah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Maha′lale-el, the son of Ca-i′nan, the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.” Luke 3:23, 31-33, 36-38

ISHMAEL VS. ISAAC

““And God said to Abraham, ‘As for Sar′ai your wife, you shall not call her name Sar′ai, but Sarah shall be her name. I will bless her, and moreover I will give you a son by her; I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall come from her.’Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said to himself, ‘Shall a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?’And Abraham said to God, ‘O that Ish′mael might live in thy sight!’God said, ‘No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasing covenant for his descendants after him.As for Ish′mael, I have heard you; behold, I will bless him and make him fruitful and multiply him exceedingly; he shall be the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation.But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this season next year.’ When he had finished talking with him, God went up from Abraham.” Genesis 17:15-22

“But it is not as though the word of God had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, and not all are children of Abraham because they are his descendants; but ‘Through Isaac shall your descendants be named.’ This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are reckoned as descendants. For this is what the promise said, ‘About this time I will return and Sarah shall have a son.’” Romans 9:6-9

ESAU VS. JACOB

“These are the descendants of Isaac, Abraham’s son: Abraham was the father of Isaac,and Isaac was forty years old when he took to wife Rebekah, the daughter of Bethu′el the Aramean of Paddan-aram, the sister of Laban the Aramean.And Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, because she was barren; and the Lord granted his prayer, and Rebekah his wife conceived.The children struggled together within her; and she said, ‘If it is thus, why do I live?’ So she went to inquire of the Lord.And the Lord said to her, ‘Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples, born of you, shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the elder shall serve the younger.’ When her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb.The first came forth red, all his body like a hairy mantle; so they called his name Esau.Afterward his brother came forth, and his hand had taken hold of Esau’s heel; so his name was called Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.” Genesis 25:19-26

“And not only so, but also when Rebecca had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac,though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad, in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of his call, she was told, ‘The elder will serve the younger.’As it is written, ‘Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.’” Romans 9:10-13

REUBEN VS. JOSEPH

“The sons of Reuben the first-born of Israel (for he was the first-born; but because he polluted his father’s couch, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph the son of Israel, so that he is not enrolled in the genealogy according to the birthright;though Judah became strong among his brothers and a prince was from him, yet the birthright belonged to Joseph),the sons of Reuben, the first-born of Israel: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.” 1 Chronicles 5:1-3

“Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they only hated him the more.He said to them, “Hear this dream which I have dreamed:behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and lo, my sheaf arose and stood upright; and behold, your sheaves gathered round it, and bowed down to my sheaf.’ His brothers said to him, ‘Are you indeed to reign over us? Or are you indeed to have dominion over us?’ So they hated him yet more for his dreams and for his words.Then he dreamed another dream, and told it to his brothers, and said, ‘Behold, I have dreamed another dream; and behold, the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.’But when he told it to his father and to his brothers, his father rebuked him, and said to him, ‘What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall I and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow ourselves to the ground before you?’And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind.’” Genesis 37:5-11

MANASSEH VS. EPHRAIM

“Then Joseph removed them from his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth.And Joseph took them both, E′phraim in his right hand toward Israel’s left hand, and Manas′seh in his left hand toward Israel’s right hand, and brought them near him.And Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it upon the head of E′phraim, who was the younger, and his left hand upon the head of Manas′seh, crossing his hands, for Manas′seh was the first-born.And he blessed Joseph, and said, ‘The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has led me all my life long to this day, the angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and in them let my name be perpetuated, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.’ When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of E′phraim, it displeased him; and he took his father’s hand, to remove it from E′phraim’s head to Manas′seh’s head.And Joseph said to his father, ‘Not so, my father; for this one is the first-born; put your right hand upon his head.’But his father refused, and said, ‘I know, my son, I know; he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great; nevertheless his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude of nations.’So he blessed them that day, saying, ‘By you Israel will pronounce blessings, saying, “God make you as E′phraim and as Manas′she”’; and thus he put E′phraim before Manas′seh.Then Israel said to Joseph, ‘Behold, I am about to die, but God will be with you, and will bring you again to the land of your fathers.Moreover I have given to you rather than to your brothers one mountain slope which I took from the hand of the Amorites with my sword and with my bow.’” Genesis 48:12-22

These cases should put to rest this rather desperate Protestant canard that Jesus cannot be the legal heir to Joseph’s estate, and therefore to the Davidic throne, if Christ’s adoptive father already had sons that were older than Jesus.

All scriptural references taken from the Revised Standard Version (RSV).

FURTHER READING

NOTES FOR PERPETUAL VIRGINITY DEBATE

NOTES FOR THE ANTHONY ROGERS’ REBUTTAL

“The Greek ‘heos hou’ in Matthew 1:25 disproves Mary’s Perpetual Virginity”?

Church Fathers on Mary’s Perpetual Virginity

What the Early Church Believed: The Perpetual Virginity of Mary

THE REFORMERS ON MARY’S PERPETUAL VIRGINITY

FRANCIS TURRETIN ON THE PERPETUAL VIRGINITY OF MARY

JAMES WHITE’S WAR AGAINST MARY FULL OF GRACE

• Uncategorized