What does Matthew 1:12 mean?

Matthew continues to follow Jesus' genealogy down through the ages of Israel's convoluted history. He began in the time of the patriarchs with Abraham and followed the line through the time of Moses and into the early years in the Promised Land. He picked it up in the era of the kings, beginning with David and tracing the line from father to son all of the way through to the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of God's people Israel in captivity to Babylon.

The final king in the line of Jesus, Jechoniah—also known as Jehoiachin—was taken to Babylon. He became the father of Shealtiel, who became the father of Zerubbabel. Zerubbabel was given permission by Babylon to lead the first group back to Israel, where he became the governor of Judah (Haggai 1:14).