For unto us a Child is born
Posted: December 20, 2011 Filed under: articles by Paul Williams, Christianity, Dawah 1 Comment »-
Who is this really describing?
It’s Christmas time and Trinitarian Christians are proclaiming the birth of God as the baby Jesus 2000 years ago. Their favorite Biblical prophecy concerning this event is Isaiah 9:5-6. How amazing that Isaiah speaks so clearly about Jesus! – and how baffling that Jews and Muslims remain so stubborn in their rejection of a divine Messiah!
But wait a minute – let us revisit this famous passage which will be read out in churches all over the world this week.
The Jewish Study Bible translates the passage thus:
For a child has been born to us,
A son has been given us.
And authority has settled on his shoulders.
He has been named
“The Mighty God is planing grace;
The Eternal Father, a peaceable ruler” -
In token of abundant authority
And of peace without limit
Upon David’s throne and kingdom,
That it may be firmly established
In justice and in equity
Now and evermore. The zeal of the LORD of Hosts
Shall bring this to pass.
(Isaiah 9:5-6)
The scholarly commentary informs us:
“The Mighty God…ruler”:
‘This long sentence is the throne name of the royal child. Semitic names often consist of sentences that describe God; thus the name Isaiah in Hebrew means ”The LORD saves; Hezekiah, “The LORD strengthens”; in Akkadian, the name of the Babylonian king Merodach-baladan (Isa.39.1) means “the god Marduk has provided an heir.” These names do not describe that person who holds them but the god whom the parents worship.
Similarly, the name given to the child in this verse does not describe that child or attribute divinity to him, contrary to classical Christian readings of this messianic verse.’
So it seems that this passage is not a prediction about God becoming a man after all. In its historical context the verses probably refer to Ahaz’s son Hezekiah. This seems to be the consensus of modern scholars.
The Jewish Study Bible is published by Oxford University Press. This magisterial text is a must for those involved in Dawah.
Happy holidays!
1) Word El-Gibbor occurs 3 times in Bible, and always refer to God not human/angel. The closest is when this word being reversed and occur as angel’s name Gabriel(Gbbr-EL) which rooted from same word and means Mighty One (of) God. Of course it would be silly to argue El-Gibbor (Mighty God) is the same as Mighty One of God.
If one wants to be consistent with pattern in OT, never occurs that Titles such El-Gibbor,El-Elyon ,El-Shaddai or Jehovah-Jireh which were already being defined as God’s Name then also being attributed to names of human nor angel.
2) The most profound thing is never once a human nor angel being named “Eternal” in the Bible, even in Quran attributing such title to human’s name would imply blasphemy.
3)In the Targum Jonathan Ben Uzziel the Ancient Official Jewish Tafseer concerning this verse stated:
“For to us a son is born, to us a son is given; and he shall receive the Law upon him to keep it; and his name is called from of Old, wonderful, Counselor, Eloha, The Mighty, Abiding to Eternity, The Messiah, because peace shall be multiplied on us in his days.”
Quite astonishing from this OFFICIAL ANCIENT RABBINIC TAFSEER to define this Child as “ELOHA” = “GOD” since in Targum there had not been ever a “mortal” being attributed with title “ELOHA”
Another profound thing is in Targum this “son” was also defined as “The Messiah”
4) It also would be interesting if Hezekiah ever be the “promised son” , cause not even Great King David , The Great Prophet Moses nor Great Patriarch Abraham have such multiple Names(Hezekiah,El-Gibbor,Eternal Father, Wonderful Counselor, “The Messiah”). Without undermining the significance of Hezekiah’s merit but giving such multiple titles to him would be an over exaggeration.
5) The scripture has spoken for itself: “In token of abundant authority and of peace without limit upon David’s throne and kingdom,that it may be firmly established in justice and in equity
Now and evermore. ”
When we see with pure perspective & clear mind even an atheist would conclude that above verse describe a government that rules without limit&ending forever more. Surely this verse would relevant if Hezekiah still governing or His Kingdom still exist.
6)In Rabbinic circle itself there are different opinions upon this verse, Targum certainly defines it as messianic verse, although many Jewish modern scholar refer to Hillel commentary upon this matter but Hillel commentary itself were compiled around 3 CE with no certainty if ever this commentary has no tampering concerning Antichristian attitude within Judaism.
Other Rabbinic commentary seems to see this verse as messianic
[b]The Midrash on Deuteronomy also references these verses as referring to the Messiah.[/b]
Rabbi Samuel, the son of Nachman said, ‘When Esau met Jacob he said unto him, “My brother Jacob, let us walk together in this world. Jacob replied: Let my Lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant” (Genesis 33:14) What is the meaning of, “I pray thee, pass over? Jacob said to him; I have yet to supply the Messiah, of whom it is said: “Unto us a child is born” [b]Midrash (Deuteronomy 2;4)[/b]
[b]The great medieval commentator Abraham Ibn Ezra, despite applying the passage to Hezekiah, nonetheless admits that all of these names are titles of the child in question:[/b]
“The correct view in my opinion is that all these are names of the child. pele’ – because the Lord did wonders in his days. yo’ets – such was Hezekiah [as it is written], ‘And the king took counsel’ [see 2 Chron. 30:2]; ’el gibbor – because he was strong, and the kingdom of the house of David was prolonged because of him; [abi] ‘ad – the word has the same meaning as ‘dwelling in eternity’ [in Isa. 57:15]; sar shalom – because there was peace in his days.”
Abraham Ibn Ezra’s views on this verse, he has the following footnote regarding the names of Messiah, quoting from Talmudic and midrashic sources from earlier Rabbi..
“R. Yose the Galilean said: “The name of the Messiah is Peace, for it is said, Everlasting Father, Prince Peace’” (Midrash Pereq Shalom, p. 101); “The Messiah is called by eight names: Yinnon[see Psalm 72:17], Tzemach [e.g. Jer. 23:5]; Pele’ [Wonderful, Isa. 9:6(5)], Yo’etz[Counselor, Isa. 9:6(5)], Mashiach [Messiah], El[God, Isa. 9:6(5), Gibbor[Hero. 9:6(5) and Avi Ad Shalom [Eternal Father of Peace, Isa. 9:6(5); see Deuteronomy Rabbah 1:20
7) I would be helpful that all of these data be available to those who want to make a Dawah, so it would save them from embarassment ..
Peace & Blessing In The Name Of Messiah Jesus Christ