Salmon

Biblical Record

Salmon appears in Scripture only in genealogies. None of his deeds or words are recorded.

• Ruth 4:18-22: The genealogy from Pharez to David includes the words "and Nahshon begat Salmon, And Salmon begat Boaz." The Hebrew text spells the name slightly differently in the two verses: "Salmah" in 4:20 and "Salmon" in 4:21.
• 1 Chronicles 2:11: In the genealogy of the descendants of Judah, he appears under the name "Salma" as the son of Nahshon and the father of Boaz.
• Matthew 1:4-5: The genealogy of Jesus Christ records, "and Naasson begat Salmon; And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab." This is the only passage that names Salmon's wife.
• Luke 3:32: He appears in the genealogy of Jesus as the father of Boaz. Some Greek manuscripts give his name as "Sala."

Salmon's father, Nahshon, was the leader of the tribe of Judah during the wilderness period (Numbers 1:7; 2:3). On the basis of this record, Salmon was a member of the tribe of Judah who lived during the transition from the wilderness period to the settlement of Canaan.

Significance Within Scripture

Salmon is a link in the royal line running from Judah to David. The Book of Ruth closes with a genealogy, showing that the story of Boaz and Ruth leads to the house of David. By recording the marriage of Salmon and Rahab, Matthew highlights that Rahab, a Canaanite woman, and Ruth, a Moabite woman, entered the messianic line in successive generations. The New Testament also cites Rahab as an example of faith and works (Hebrews 11:31; James 2:25).

Interpretation and Debate

• The identity of Rahab: Christian tradition has understood the Rahab of Matthew 1:5 to be Rahab of Jericho in Joshua 2. Some scholars question this identification on the grounds that Matthew's Greek spelling of the name differs from that in Hebrews and James, and that the number of generations listed is small relative to the span of time between the fall of Jericho and David.
• The number of generations in the genealogy: The view that the genealogy omits intervening generations is widely accepted among conservative interpreters. By contrast, scholars who regard Ruth 4:18-22 as a later addition do not treat the number of generations as a basis for calculating chronology.
• Later embellishments: Sermons and children's Bible storybooks often claim that Salmon was one of the two spies who entered Jericho. However, Joshua 2 does not name the spies, and this claim has no basis in the text. Some Jewish tradition, notably the Talmud, is reported to hold that Rahab married Joshua.
• 1 Chronicles 2:51 and 2:54 mention "Salma the father of Bethlehem." Interpreters differ on whether this figure should be identified with the father of Boaz.

In the Korean Church

Salmon is rarely the subject of a sermon in his own right. He is mentioned mainly in sermons on the genealogy in Matthew 1, especially during Advent and around Christmas. Such sermons commonly emphasize the grace that embraces Gentiles and sinners, as seen in the women listed in the genealogy (Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and the wife of Uriah). In Sunday school, he is introduced as the figure who links the stories of Rahab and Ruth to David and Jesus.