Virgin Birth

[Thummim]

Riyah and others, ... The word for virgin is not {almah}, which occurs only six times in the tanakh and infers a young "maiden", rather it's the word {b'thulah}. Proverbs 30:19 shows you clearly, that this word doesn't infer virgin. "there be three things which are to wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not: the way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid." What is the way of a man with a maid? Almah is the hebrew word here that is translated maid. How did we end up with a virgin birth? It is a problem with bias that colors the way that words are interpreted. A christian looks through "christian" eyes. In reality, this prophecy has nothing to do with a (virgin birth). The birth of this child follows in the next chapter. It must be set in the context of it's own time to understand it. The prophecy concerns Ahaz. The conclusion of the prophecy comes when Israel is no longer a nation. (Isa.7:8) There are two Isaiah's that write the book of Isaiah. The first is an historian. Chapter 40 begins the second Isaiah. He's the author that we all love so much. His style is expansive and presents hope to an exiled people. Chapter seven tells the story of Ahaz's conflict with Pekah, king of Israel. Israel has a history of making war on Judah. Until now, Israel hasn't prevailed over Judah. But now, Pekah has made a pact with Rezin, king of Syria. This is before the Assyrians have become a major threat to Judah. Ahaz is worried about the new confederacy between Pekah and Rezin. The prophet comes to Ahaz and speaks for YHWH concerning Ahaz's plight. Ahaz askes for no sign from YHWH. He likely has to much on his mind already. But Isaiah gives him one anyway. "Behold, a maiden shall concieve and bear a son. (this sign tells you that GD is with you = and shall call his name Immanuel {GD is with you}"). -->before the child knows the difference between good and evil, the two kings you abhor will be dead. The deaths of these two kings can be read about in IIKi.15:27-30, 31; IIKi.16:8,9. Remember that there is a time limit set on this prophecy. (Isa.7:8) Isaiah's own child in Isa.8:3 is the child that is referred to. The following verses show that we are still on the prophecy concerning Pekeh and Rezin. These chapters are to be taken together. This is a single prophecy surrounding Ahaz. There is nothing messianic here. The authors of the christian faith try to pin their understanding of who (jesus) was, to the tanakh. They get many things wrong. One of my favorites is found in Mat.23:35, When cursing the scribes and pharisees, the author does so by the wrong Zechariah. He should be using the Zechariah of IIChr.24:20, but instead uses the author of the book of Zechariah. (Zech.1:1) My take on the {virgin birth} is that there is no such thing. ....Michael

[Thummim]

Understanding Isaiah.

…. I, in the past have tried to explain the twenty eighth chapter of Isaiah. This time I will be more thorough. Egypt is a bruised reed. (Isa.18:21), it is not strong enough to protect Ephraim from the wrath of YHWH. Pekah has made covenants with Egypt , as also with Syria, and the king of Assyria, through tributes that he pays them. He is feeling confident of his agreements with his neighbors, to protect himself from the surrounding powers. This group of “covenants” is referred to as (Ephraim’s) covenant with the grave {sheol}. Isaiah, the prophet is telling Ephraim “Samaria” , that the armies of Assyria (the overflowing waters) will still be the end of Ephraim as a people (Isaiah 7:8) This termination of Ephraim’s strength as a people, still satisfies the prophecy given to Ahaz by the same prophet. YHWH will do his strange work. He is about to cleanse the land of Samaria. Hosea also gives an account of the transgression of Ephraim. He sees Ephraim as prostituting the faith of YHWH with the gods of Canaan. The outcome is the same. These partners of Ephraim’s are seen as his lovers by Hosea. These verses aid in understanding Isaiah's time.

Hosea chap.7

8 Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned.

9 Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth it not: yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth not.

10 And the pride of Israel testifieth to his face: and they do not return to the LORD their God, nor seek him for all this.

11 Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart: they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria.

12 When they shall go, I will spread my net upon them; I will bring them down as the fowls of the heaven; I will chastise them, as their congregation hath heard.

13 Woe unto them! for they have fled from me: destruction unto them! because they have transgressed against me: though I have redeemed them, yet they have spoken lies against me.

14 And they have not cried unto me with their heart, when they howled upon their beds: they assemble themselves for corn and wine, and they rebel against me.

15 Though I have bound and strengthened their arms, yet do they imagine mischief against me.

16 They return, but not to the most High: they are like a deceitful bow: their princes shall fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue: this shall be their derision in the land of Egypt.

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….The consumption spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, in the twenty eighth chapter, is also covered in the tenth chapter of Isaiah. This chapter gives us relevant information needed to put the twenty eighth chapter of Isaiah into context.

Isaiah chap. 10

5 O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation.

6 I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.

7 Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few.

8 For he saith, Are not my princes altogether kings?

9 Is not Calno as Carchemish? is not Hamath as Arpad? is not Samaria as Damascus?

10 As my hand hath found the kingdoms of the idols, and whose graven images did excel them of Jerusalem and of Samaria;

11 Shall I not, as I have done unto Samaria and her idols, so do to Jerusalem and her idols?

12 Wherefore it shall come to pass, that when the Lord hath performed his whole work upon mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks.

13 For he saith, By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom; for I am prudent: and I have removed the bounds of the people, and have robbed their treasures, and I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man:

14 And my hand hath found as a nest the riches of the people: and as one gathereth eggs that are left, have I gathered all the earth; and there was none that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or peeped.

15 Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith? or shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it? as if the rod should shake itself against them that lift it up, or as if the staff should lift up itself, as if it were no wood.

16 Therefore shall the Lord, the Lord of hosts, send among his fat ones leanness; and under his glory he shall kindle a burning like the burning of a fire.

17 And the light of Israel shall be for a fire, and his Holy One for a flame: and it shall burn and devour his thorns and his briers in one day;

18 And shall consume the glory of his forest, and of his fruitful field, both soul and body: and they shall be as when a standardbearer fainteth.

19 And the rest of the trees of his forest shall be few, that a child may write them.

20 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel, and such as are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more again stay upon him that smote them; but shall stay upon the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth.

21 The remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God.

22 For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of them shall return: the consumption decreed shall overflow with righteousness.

23 For the Lord GOD of hosts shall make (a consumption,) even determined, in the midst of (all the land.)

24 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD of hosts, O my people that dwellest in Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrian: he shall smite thee with a rod, and shall lift up his staff against thee, after the manner of Egypt.

25 For yet a very little while, and the indignation shall cease, and mine anger in their destruction.

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The consumption spoken of in the twenty eighth chapter of Isaiah, verse 22, is that of Ephraim by the Assyrians. Judah is to be spared from the Assyrians when Ephraim goes into captivity. There is other relevant information in the post on “virgin birth”, to which I add this materal, that goes with understanding the first Isaiah’s writings. Chapter forty begins the writings of the second Isaiah, whose style of writing is very different from the first Isaiah. The writings of the first Isaiah, pretty much describe the events that occur in his lifetime.

IIKings Chap. 16


5 Then Rezin king of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel came up to Jerusalem to war: and they besieged Ahaz, but could not overcome him.

6 At that time Rezin king of Syria recovered Elath to Syria, and drave the Jews from Elath: and the Syrians came to Elath, and dwelt there unto this day.

7 So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, saying, I am thy servant and thy son: come up, and save me out of the hand of the king of Syria, and out of the hand of the king of Israel, which rise up against me.

8 And Ahaz took the silver and gold that was found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king's house, and sent it for a present to the king of Assyria.

9 And the king of Assyria hearkened unto him: for the king of Assyria went up against Damascus, and took it, and carried the people of it captive to Kir, and slew Rezin.

10 And king Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, and saw an altar that was at Damascus: and king Ahaz sent to Urijah the priest the fashion of the altar, and the pattern of it, according to all the workmanship thereof.

11 And Urijah the priest built an altar according to all that king Ahaz had sent from Damascus: so Urijah the priest made it against king Ahaz came from Damascus.

12 And when the king was come from Damascus, the king saw the altar: and the king approached to the altar, and offered thereon.

13 And he burnt his burnt offering and his meat offering, and poured his drink offering, and sprinkled the blood of his peace offerings, upon the altar.

14 And he brought also the brasen altar, which was before the LORD, from the forefront of the house, from between the altar and the house of the LORD, and put it on the north side of the altar.

15 And king Ahaz commanded Urijah the priest, saying, Upon the great altar burn the morning burnt offering, and the evening meat offering, and the king's burnt sacrifice, and his meat offering, with the burnt offering of all the people of the land, and their meat offering, and their drink offerings; and sprinkle upon it all the blood of the burnt offering, and all the blood of the sacrifice: and the brasen altar shall be for me to inquire by.

16 Thus did Urijah the priest, according to all that king Ahaz commanded.

17 And king Ahaz cut off the borders of the bases, and removed the laver from off them; and took down the sea from off the brasen oxen that were under it, and put it upon a pavement of stones.

18 And the covert for the sabbath that they had built in the house, and the king's entry without, turned he from the house of the LORD for the king of Assyria.

19 Now the rest of the acts of Ahaz which he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

20 And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David: and Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead.

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These verses aid in the understanding of Isaiah’s seventh chapter. Trying to understand Isaiah, independent of context, allows us to develop wild ideas on the real subject matter. ….Michael