- Question:
- December 11, 1998
- Dear Mr. Chaim,
-
- I greatly appreciate your answer to Micah 5:1, hopefully you can
give me your insight on these questions that lead me to believe Yeshua
is the anointed one.
- Daniel prophesied the construction of the second Temple, while
informing the Israelites their messiah would appear and vanish before
the Temple was destroyed. Therefore, in my opinion, the messiah
appeared before 70 CE, because that's when this Temple was destroyed
by the Roman army leader Titus. Daniel wrote this prophecy after the
first Temple was destroyed, yet before it was rebuilt. Isn't it
therefore indisputable that the messiah absolutely appeared before the
rebuilt Temple was destroyed? So, can you think of any Jewish man who
acknowledged that he was the messiah prior to this Temple being
destroyed? Is the man you're thinking of still being accepted by
millions of people all over the world? Why did or will he disappear
and vanish? Also, how can the messiah usher in an age of peace and
prosperity for Israel, when he disappeared and vanished before the
second Temple was destroyed in 70 C.E? Where did or will he go?
-
- Daniel 9:25-26
- 25. You must know and understand: From the issuance of the word
to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the [time of the] anointed
leader is seven weeks; and for sixty-two weeks it will be rebuilt,
square and moat, but in a time of distress.
- And after those sixty-two weeks, the anointed one will disappear
and vanish. The army of a leader who is to come will destroy the city
and the sanctuary, but its end will come through a flood. Desolation
is decreed until the end of war.
-
- Response:
-
- Firstly, the word "messiah" does not always refer to the
final messiah. Here, according to Saadia Gaon, Rashi, and Mezudas
David, "messiah" is a reference to Coresh, who rebuilt the
second temple. We must be careful to follow not only the written text,
but the traditions and teachings of the Rabbis who are entrusted to
explain areas such as these. The Rabbis unanimously state that the
messiah here is referring to Coresh.
- Question:
- Who is Daniel 7:13-14 referring to?
- "As I looked on, in the night vision, one like a human being
came with the clouds of heaven; he reached the Ancient of Days and was
presented to Him.
- 14. Dominion, glory, and kingship were given to him; all peoples
and nations of every language must serve him. His dominion is an
everlasting dominion that shall not pass away, and his kingship, one
that shall not be destroyed."
-
- Response:
- This is a reference to the final messiah. (Rashi)
-
- Question:
- Who is this son that Solomon is addressing in Proverbs 30:3-4?
"Can a man ascend or descend heaven, gather the wind in his hand,
and establish all the extremities of the earth? " Of course not,
only God can fulfill these actions. Since it is the Holy One who is
being ascribed, why does Solomon subtly ask for his son's name?
Solomon is the wisest man in the Tanach (2 Chronicles 1:11-12), hence
he does not ask foolish questions. Therefore, who is this son that
established all the extremities, or as Solomon asks, "What is his
son's name, if you know it?"
-
- Proverbs 30:3-4
- "I have not learned wisdom,
- Nor do I possess knowledge of the Holy One.
- 4. Who has ascended heaven and come down?
- Who has gathered up the wind in the hollow of his hand?
- Who has wrapped the waters in his garment?
- Who has established all the extremities of the earth?
- What is his name or his son's name, if you know it? "
-
- Response:
- Solomon is talking rhetorically. He is not asking for an answer. It
is as if one were to ask, "who can fly", knowing that no one
can. His point here is to show that no one is comparable to G-d.
Meaning, "who is like unto G-d (who gathers wind, wraps waters,
established the extremities of Earth, etc.) This is proved by his
concluding words that (30:5) "Every word (of G-d) is
refined". He talks about G-d at the end of his monologue, as his
entire discussion is about G-d.
-
- Question:
- The people of Galilee saw a brilliant light, which brought them
tremendous joy. This light was not physical, because sunlight doesn't
magnify a nation, or solely bring it great joy. What then was this
brilliant light that brought tremendous joy to Galilee? Why is Galilee
magnified by God and given such great joy? Why is the son from David's
line placed in the same context as this brilliant light in Galilee?
Could the son be the brilliant light that these people saw in Nazareth
of Galilee? Why is it always a woman in the Passover feast who lights
the candles?
-
-
- Isaiah 8:23 - 9:5
- 23. For if there were to be any break of day for that [land]
which is in straits, only the former [king] would have brought
abasement to the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali-while the
later one would have brought honor to the Way of the Sea, the other
side of the Jordan, and Galilee of the Nations.
- 1. The people that walked in darkness have seen a brilliant
light; on those who dwelt in a land of gloom light has dawned.
- 2. You have magnified that nation, have given it great joy; they
have rejoiced before You as they rejoice at reaping time, as they
exult when dividing the spoil.
- 3. For the yoke that they bore and the stick on their back-The
rod of their taskmaster-You have broken as on the day of Midian.
- 4. Truly, all the boots put on to stamp with and all the garments
donned in infamy have been fed to the flames, devoured by fire.
- 5. 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 planning grace; The Eternal Father, a peaceable
ruler"-
-
- Response:
- The "light" here according to Rashi is the destruction of
Sancherib. When one's oppressors are destroyed, it is like light to
them.
-
- Question:
-
- Is the LORD's anointed the same disappearing messiah of Daniel
9:25-26?
-
- Psalms 2:1-12
- 1. Why do nations assemble, and peoples plot vain things;
- 2. kings of the earth take their stand, and regents intrigue
together against the LORD and His anointed?
- 3. Let us break the cords of their yoke, shake off their ropes from
us!
- 4. He who is enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord mocks at them.
- 5. Then He speaks to them in anger, terrifying them in His rage,
- 6. But I have installed My king on Zion, My holy mountain!
- 7. Let me tell of the decree: the LORD said to me, "You are My
son, I have fathered you this day.
- 8. Ask it of Me, and I will make the nations your domain; your
estate, the limits of the earth.
- 9. You can smash them with an iron mace, shatter them like potter's
ware.
- 10. So now, O kings, be prudent; accept discipline, you rulers of
the earth!
- 11. Serve the LORD in awe; tremble with fright,
- 12. d-pay homage in good faith-d, lest He be angered, and your way
be doomed in the mere flash of His anger. Happy are all who take
refuge in Him.
-
-
- In Psalms 2:12, the JPS translators substituted in good faith for
son and declared in the footnotes of the Tanach that the meaning of
the Hebrew was uncertain. The Aramaic word bar [son] is absolutely in
the Hebrew text for Psalms 2:12 and this same exact text for bar was
accurately translated three times in Proverbs 31:2.
-
- Proverbs 31:2
- 2. No, my son! No, O son of my womb! No, O son of my vows!
-
- Why did they keep the word son in Proverbs 31:2, yet omit it in
Psalms 2:12? The meaning of the text is not uncertain as they
accurately translated it perfectly three times. If they would have
translated the word son, the rest of verse 12 declares that this Son
is God; therefore, who is this son and how can He be God?
-
- Response:
-
- I Psalms 2:12, the term "nashku bar" means yearn in
innocence or in completeness.
- Similar words don't always have similar meanings. To assume they
both mean "son" is taking the word out of context.
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