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Jer.23:5-6a...Descendant of David...Lu. 3:23-31
Jer. 23:5-6b...The
Messiah would be God... Jn.
13:13
Jer.
23:5-6c...The Messiah would be both God and Man... 1 Tim. 3:16
Isaiah 23:5-6 Behold, the days come, saith YHWH, that I will raise unto David a righteous shoot, and he shall reign as king and prosper, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely; and this is his name whereby he shall be called, YHWH is our righteousness.
This could possibly be messianic. This definitely talks of a Davidic king. Did Yeshua fulfil this prophecy? Does this verse say ANYTHING about the claims of the compiler? That the messiah would be Deity? That messiah would be both Deity and man?
Firstly, we know that because royalty passes naturally (not adoptively) from father to son, if Yeshua had a virgin birth (no natural human biological father), then he has no rights to royalty. So he didn't fulfil that.
Now does the verse say that this king shall BE Deity? It says that "his name shall be called YHWH is our righteousness." That is NOT saying he shall BE YHWH our righteousness. As has been discussed before, many names in scripture have meaning (like Abijah, meaning YHWH, my father, or Jehu, he is YHWH), but that doesn't mean that the bearer of the name is YHWH himself. So this verse is not saying that the king shall be YHWH. In fact some translators rightly translate this verse as "and this is the name which YHWH shall call him, Our righteousness." The LXX translates it, "this is the name which the Lord shall call him, Josedek" with Yosedek meaning YHWH is righteousness. The Hebrew verb is in the Qal form, it is active, not passive. I'll give an example of active and passive forms of verbs.
Active: He shall call.
Passive: He shall be called.
Another point about this name is that it is also given to Jerusalem in Jeremiah 33:16. Jerusalem is called YHWH is our righteousness as well. Is no one going to start claiming that Jerusalem is YHWH, or both YHWH and a city? It has more evidence for being YHWH since it is also called YHWH-Shammah (YHWH is there) in the very last verse of Ezekiel. Lets get serious, and understand that when something is called by the name of YHWH, doesn't make it or him YHWH, or else altars (YHWH-nissi, Exo 17:15) and places (YHWH-yireh, Gen 22:14) are gonna start partaking of the divine nature too.
Also, did Yeshua rule as king over Israel, executing justice and judgement? No! Was Judah saved and did Israel dwell safely when he was about? Under Roman powers? Soon to be exiled again? I don't think so. Would you say that prospering is the same thing as being crucified and humiliated? Mmm... let me think.
So in all cases, Yeshua doesn't fit the bill for Jeremiah 23:5, 6.
Jer. 31:22...Born of a virgin... Mt. 1:18-20
Jeremiah 31:21-23 Set thee up waymarks, make thee guide-posts; set thy heart toward the high-way, even the way by which thou wentest; return, O virgin of Israel, return to these thy cities. How long wilt thou turn away coyly, O thou backsliding daughter? For YHWH hath created a new thing in the earth: a woman shall surround a man. Thus saith YHWH of hosts, the God of Israel: yet again shall they use this speech in the land of Judah and in the cities thereof, when I shall turn their captivity: 'YHWH bless thee, O habitation of righteousness, O mountain of holiness.'
Is this a messianic verse? No! It speaks of the return of Israel from captivity. Just look at the context.
The phrase "a woman shall surround a man" is a very enigmatic phrase. So many opinions abound concerning it. The word "woman" does NOT mean a "virgin" at all, simply a female. So that idea is simply being read into the text. The Hebrew word translated "surround" is never used for a womb. So basically, the author is taking the verse out of context and giving a foreign meaning. Even the NT doesn't use this Jeremiah 31:22 as a proof-text and for good reason.
Jer. 31:31...The Messiah would be the new covenant... Mt. 26:28
Jeremiah 31:29-34 In those days they shall say no more: 'The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge.' But every one shall die for his own iniquity; every man that eateth the sour grapes, his teeth shall be set on edge. Behold, the days come, saith YHWH, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah; not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; forasmuch as they broke My covenant, although I was a lord over them, saith YHWH. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith YHWH, I will put My law in their inward parts, and in their heart will I write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people; and they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying: 'Know YHWH'; for they shall all know Me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith YHWH; for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin will I remember no more.
Is this verse messianic? It could possibly talk of the messianic era, but not about any messiah. But lets notice a few things about the context, three things altogether.
Firstly, the verses speak before about the re-emphasis of the fact that everyone is responsible for their own sin. There wouldn't be much point in saying this if YHWH was then going to choose one person to be responsible for everyone's sins and then go die for them. Those verses fly in the face of one man dying for the sins of the world. The point will be known that everyone is responsible for his or her own sins.
Secondly, the actual verse 31 says NOTHING about a messiah being a new covenant. It just says that YHWH will make a covenant with Israel and Judah (and not the gentiles).
Thirdly, this new covenant hasn't happened since verse 34 is unfulfilled. Christianity is still sending her evangelists out saying "Know the Lord!" They are even sending evangelists to Israel, the very people who should have this covenant.
So it may be a prophecy about the messianic age, but it definitely doesn't talk about a messiah, and it definitely doesn't talk about Yeshua.
Jer. 33:14-15...Descendant of David... Lu. 3:23-31
Jeremiah 33:14-16 Behold, the days come, saithYHWH, that I will perform that good word which I have spoken concerning the house of Israel and concerning the house of Judah. In those days, and at that time, will I cause a shoot of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.
Is this a messianic text? Possibly. Is Yeshua a valid descendant of David? No, having no natural, non-adoptive father! Did Yeshua fulfil this prophecy and be king of Israel and Judah? No! Nuf said.
Eze.17:22-24...Descendant of David... Lk. 3:23-31
Ezekiel 17:22-24 Thus saith the Lord YHWH: Moreover I will take, even I, of the lofty top of the cedar, and will set it; I will crop off from the topmost of its young twigs a tender one, and I will plant it upon a high mountain and eminent; in the mountain of the height of Israel will I plant it; and it shall bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a stately cedar; and under it shall dwell all fowl of every wing, in the shadow of the branches thereof shall they dwell. And all the trees of the field shall know that I YHWH have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish; I YHWH have spoken and have done it.'
You really need to read the context of this. The context speaks of the king of Babylon taking the king and his children and the rulers of Israel captive, setting up a new king and making a covenant with him. This king then rebels against that covenant by going (once again) into allegiance with Egypt. YHWH decreed that the king will be killed in the midst of Babylon. Verse 22 onwards is a promise after all that happens. The young tender twig is a new king, so possibly messianic. Please read the context as it paints a wonderful picture using a parable.
But we already know that Yeshua had a virgin birth, had no earthly biological father, thus he is not a rightful descendant of David who can take the kingship.
Eze.34:23-24...Descendant of David... Mt. 1:1
Ezekiel 34:23-24 And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even My servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. And I YHWH will be their Master, and My servant David prince among them; I YHWH have spoken.
This verse is once again possibly messianic. Is Yeshua a descendant of David? With a virgin birth, no!
Also the context talks about the people dwelling safely in their land. Yeshua did nothing to help that situation. I've said it so many times, but 70CE, exile, you figure the rest.
Ezekiel 37:24,25 Descendant of David
Ezekiel 37:21-28 And say unto them: Thus saith the Lord YHWH: Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the nations, whither they are gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land; and I will make them one nation in the land, upon the mountains of Israel, and one king shall be king to them all; and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all; neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions; but I will save them out of all their dwelling-places, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them; so shall they be My people, and I will be their Deity. And My servant David shall be king over them, and they all shall have one shepherd; they shall also walk in Mine ordinances, and observe My statutes, and do them. And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob My servant, wherein your fathers dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, they, and their children, and their children's children, for ever; and David My servant shall be their prince for ever. Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them -- it shall be an everlasting covenant with them; and I will establish them, and multiply them, and will set My sanctuary in the midst of them for ever. My dwelling-place also shall be over them; and I will be their Deity, and they shall be My people. And the nations shall know that I am YHWH that sanctify Israel, when My sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for ever.'
OK, we already know the following fact:
1) Yeshua is NOT a descendant of David and cannot get royalty from that line because he had no natural human biological father who was in the line of David.
2) Yeshua never ruled Israel.
3) Yeshua never built the temple, nor did it remain forever since a couple of years later (40 years later) it was destroyed.
4) Israel didn't become more righteous during Yeshua's "visit" in this life.
5) In his life there was no re-gathering of Israel.
6) They didn't dwell in their land. It was ruled by a more powerful nation, and they were exiled forty years after.
7) Not only did Yeshua not rule, but also neither was he accepted as their ruler. I know he had followers who wanted him to be king, but he had no political power at all.
Knowing all this, we can see that Ezekiel 37 may be messianic, but Yeshua didn't fulfil a whole lot of it.
Dan. 7:13-14a...He would ascend into heaven... Acts 1:9-11
Dan. 7:13-14b...Highly exalted... Eph. 1:20-22
Dan. 7:13-14c...His
dominion would be everlasting... Lu. 1:31-33
Daniel 7:13-14 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, there came with the clouds of heaven one like unto a son of man, and he came even to the Ancient of days, and he was brought near before Him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
Are these verses a messianic prophecy? Probably, yes. But here's where we see a little inconsistency by a lot of Christians who use this verse to back up the claims that Yeshua is the messiah. They will say often "you should let the bible interpret the bible". OK then, lets look at what the very same chapter says what the meaning of these verses is.
If you read the whole chapter from the beginning, you will see that Daniel is having a vision where he sees different beasts. He talks about seeing a beast that is "like a lion". Then he sees another beast that is "like a bear". Then another "like a leopard". Then another beast that is quite different from any animal. Finally, he sees a figure that is "like a son of man". Each has their different characteristics.
Verse 15 and 16 show that Daniel had no idea what all this meant, so he asked the person showing him all this, and they gave this interpretation. Although the four beasts are kings, the final figure, the one that is like a son of man (basically a human being), is never described as a king. This figure represents the collective saints of the Most High, i.e., his people. Read the rest of chapter 7 and see. So if the person interpreting this vision is right, the people of YHWH will inherit the earth and have dominion. Does he say anything about a messiah? No. So who put the idea that the figure that was like a man (i.e., a son of man) was the messiah? The interpreter of the vision never said that. Although some may claim that these acts must be done by a messiah, that is speculation and not enough to make this into a proof text.
And even if it was about a messiah, did Yeshua fulfil it? Did he conquer those kings? Is he ruling the world now? I think the existence of godless governments proves that he is not and that the whole chapter is yet to be fulfilled. The end of verse 27 says, "All dominions shall serve them [the saints of the Most High]". That definitely hasn't happened yet.
So read in a plain way, letting the bible interpret the bible, this verse speaks more of a messianic age than it does a messiah.
Dan. 9:24a...To make an end to sins... Gal. 1:3-5
Dan. 9:24b...He
would be holy... Lu.
1:35
Dan. 9:25...Announced to his people 483 years, to the exact day, after the
decree to rebuild the city of Jerusalem... Jn. 12:12-13
Dan. 9:26a...Killed... Mt. 27:35
Dan. 9:26b...Die for the sins of the world... Heb. 2:9
Dan. 9:26c...Killed before the destruction of the temple... Mt. 27:50-51
Daniel 9:20-27 And while I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before YHWH my God for the holy mountain of my Master; yea, while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, approached close to me about the time of the evening offering. And he made me to understand, and talked with me, and said: 'O Daniel, I am now come forth to make thee skilful of understanding. At the beginning of thy supplications a word went forth, and I am come to declare it; for thou art greatly beloved; therefore look into the word, and understand the vision. Seventy weeks are decreed upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sin, and to forgive iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal vision and prophet, and to anoint the most holy place.Know therefore and discern, that from the going forth of the word to restore and to build Jerusalem unto one anointed, a prince, shall be seven weeks; and for threescore and two weeks, it shall be built again, with broad place and moat, but in troublous times. And after the threescore and two weeks shall an anointed one be cut off, and be no more; and the people of a prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; but his end shall be with a flood; and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. And he shall make a firm covenant with many for one week; and for half of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the offering to cease; and upon the wing of detestable things shall be that which causeth appalment; and that until the extermination wholly determined be poured out upon that which causeth appalment.'
Is this a messianic prophecy? No! But it is understandable when reading some Christian translations of the scriptures why it would be mistaken as one. In the minds of a lot of Christians, there is only one anointed one, and so when this verse uses the word "anointed one" they automatically assume they have a messianic prophecy. Lets take a look at it and see what it really means, and its compatibility with the Christian mindset.
The word "mashiach", normally translated "anointed one", but in these verses some Christian translations translate it as "Messiah" with a capital "M" for obvious reasons, is used when talking about priests and kings. Its very first usage is in Leviticus 4:3 which speaks of the anointed [Heb. Mashiach] priest. Other times it is used to refer to kings, normally kings of Israel like King Saul (1 Sam 24:6) but used also for King Cyrus (Isaiah 45:1). Although there are one or two occurrence in scripture of a prophet being anointed, but he is never called a mashiach. On all other occasions in the Tanakh, the word is never used in reference to a specific future Davidic king. Are these verses in Daniel any different? No, and I'll show you why.
70 sevens (or weeks) were divided concerning Israel, relating to 70 sevens of years or 490 years. Now it doesn't say "In seventy weeks, messiah is gonna come and do all this stuff". It says that seventy weeks are decreed CONCERNING THE PEOPLE AND THE HOLY PLACE.
They were divided into 7 sevens, 62 sevens, and one seven. Note, they were NOT divided into 69 sevens and one seven. During each of these periods, things will happen. Now, according to the verse, from the going-forth of the word to restore Jerusalem until a mashiach, a ruler shall be 7 sevens (49 years). It does NOT say "THE messiah" or "THE anointed one". The Hebrew simply says "an anointed one". During the next 62 sevens (434 years), the city will be built up in troubled times. After the 62 weeks, a mashiach (note again, not THE anointed one, but an anointed one) shall be cut off, and shall have nothing (some translate this as "and shall be no more").
Looking at the structure of that, you should notice something striking. There are TWO mashiachs mentioned, the first, who is a ruler, coming after 49 years, and the second coming after the next 434 years.
In some translations, they say, "after 62 weeks shall the messiah be cut off, BUT NOT FOR HIMSELF". Those last words are a mistranslation. The words in Hebrew are "we-eyn lo". If you have a concordance, or a computer bible that can show you whenever these words are used, you will find that it is NEVER translated "and not for himself", because it doesn't mean that. An example of its meaning can be seen in the first clause (first part) of Numbers 27:9 which says "and if he have no daughter". The Hebrew could be literally translated as "and if there is no daughter to him". It is NEVER used reflexively, as in "for himself". It speaks of having or being nothing. So the phrase is either "he shall be no more" or "he shall have nothing", literally "there is nothing to him". The exact phrase is used in Jeremiah 50:32.
The word "cut off" doesn't necessarily mean death either and can mean separation, excommunication from an office or a people. The phrase "cut off from his people" can mean either death OR severance, where the person is thrown out or released (Josh 9:23). The word normally refers to what happens to wicked people. They are normally cut off, so there are signs that this anointed one, like King Saul, was not good at all, but wicked.
After the anointed one is killed, an army from a ruler shall destroy Jerusalem and the temple, and that prince shall make a covenant with many (or with the great ones) for the remaining week (seven), but in the midst of it, this ruler will cancel sacrifices, and on temple grounds there shall be an abomination, an appalling thing, most likely an idol.
So it is not any of the anointed ones that cause sacrifices to cease, but the ruler who destroyed Jerusalem.
So is this past or future? It would be apparent that it has to be past since more than 490 years have gone since Daniel spoke all this. If read as it is, it would appear that the 70 weeks occur in succession with no gaps in between. So when did this happen? There are two thoughts on this. One says in the time of Antiochus Epiphanes, and the other says at 70CE and the Roman destruction of Jerusalem. I believe the 70CE account is more accurate. With this reasoning, the "people of the prince" would be understood as the Romans under Vespasian, who was followed by Titus.
But who are the two anointed ones? Well, the first is mostly likely Cyrus, who is called an anointed one in Isaiah 45:1, and he helped get the Jews to their own land and helped them get with the building. The second is most like an anointed priest during 62/63CE, or it could refer to the priestly office in general. It could also refer to King Agrippa II. Either way, there are contenders, and it all fits into the time frame of 70 sevens with no gaps. The Jewish chronology is different to secular chronology for a start date.
For a good series of articles which explain this, go to http://daniel70wks.faithweb.com/cover_page_daniel_seventy_weeks.htm.
There is also http://www.angelfire.com/my/tgoldman0/prophet.htm#dan9.
For an alternate explanation, go http://www.jewsforjudaism.org and search for information on Daniel. There's audio and written resources that go through the translation of the text and the timeline of its fulfilment.
You can also look at http://thejewishhome.org/counter-index.html and look for the article on Daniel 9 for more information.
So does this have anything to do with Yeshua? No! Nothing in the verse concerning what should happen in the 70 weeks concern him. In these verses, the anointed one has nothing to do with the reason sacrifices are cancelled. The Romans stopped that. There is nothing in these verses about dying for sin. In fact the person who did die was no more, or had nothing, and was likely to be wicked. Did he come and die at the right time, just before the people of the prince destroy Jerusalem? No! He's 40 years too early.
Dan. 10:5-6...Messiah in a glorified state... Rev. 1:13-16
Daniel 10:4-7 And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Tigris, I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz; his body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as torches of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to burnished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude. And I Daniel alone saw the vision; for the men that were with me saw not the vision; howbeit a great trembling fell upon them, and they fled to hide themselves.
Looking at the context, this is not a messianic prophecy. As it is not a prophecy, it doesn't need fulfilling.
Hos. 13:14...He would defeat death... 1 Cor. 15:55-57
Hosea 13:12-15 The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is laid up in store. The throes of a travailing woman shall come upon him; he is an unwise son; for it is time he should not tarry in the place of the breaking forth of children. Shall I ransom them from the power of the nether-world? Shall I redeem them from death? Ho, thy plagues, O death! Ho, thy destruction, O netherworld! Repentance be hid from Mine eyes! For though he be fruitful among the reed-plants, an east wind shall come, the wind of YHWH coming up from the wilderness, and his spring shall become dry, and his fountain shall be dried up; he shall spoil the treasure of all precious vessels.
There is some confusion about this verse among the translations. Some see it as this rhetorical question, frustration over the sin of Ephraim (which is the context). Some see this as a sudden injection of hope and translate it as a statement of how Ephraim will be saved from death. For all this differences, one thing remains true: the context. And that shows that this is not a messianic text, and I doubt it refers to the messianic age, unless the rhetorical question is changed into a statement. Even if that happens, it remains unfulfilled, since it refers to the resurrection of the nation of Israel (called Ephraim), and that hasn't happened.
Joel 2:32...Offer salvation to all mankind... Rom. 10:12-13
Joel 3:1-5 (2:28-32 in Christian translations) And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out My spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions; And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out My spirit. And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of YHWH comes. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of YHWH shall be delivered; for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those that escape, as YHWH hath said, and among the remnant those whom YHWH shall call.
It may possibly be a messianic text, but only speaks about the messianic age, not the messiah himself. What does the verse say about salvation? It says that everyone who calls upon the name of YHWH shall be delivered, mostly likely from the great and terrible day of YHWH.
The problem is this: does it say, "Whosoever shall call upon the name of Jesus/Yeshua shall be saved"? No! It has already been shown and emphasised that the Almighty YHWH and Jesus/Yeshua are not the same person. Christians say that their scripture points to salvation in the name of Jesus. The verse doesn't say that. It is YHWH who in those times, and for all time, has offered deliverance to all mankind, if they obey him and do his will (Mic 6:8).
The verse doesn't talk of Yeshua.
Mic.
5:2a...Born in Bethlehem... Mt. 2:1-2
Mic.
5:2b...God's servant... Jn.
15:10
Mic.
5:2c...From everlasting... Jn.
8:58
Micah 5:1-5 [2-6 in Christian translations] But thou, Beth-lehem Ephrathah, which art little to be among the thousands of Judah, out of thee shall one come forth unto Me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth are from of old, from ancient days. Therefore will He give them up, until the time that she who travaileth hath brought forth; then the residue of his brethren shallreturn with the children of Israel. And he shall stand, and shall feed his flock in the strength of YHWH, in the majesty of the name of YHWH his Master; and they shall abide, for then shall he be great unto the ends of the earth.
Well these verses could well be messianic. The references to Assyria in the following verses (verse 4 [5] onwards) raise doubt about this, but we shall see. For now, we'll take it as messianic since it is talking about a king/ruler.
We shall take Bethlehem to mean the place. What does the name "Ephratah" have to do with anything? Well it is the clan that King David descended from (1 Samuel 17:12). That's all well and good. What else does the verse say?
It says that one shall come who is going to be the ruler of Israel. Now we know that Yeshua has never been a ruler of Israel, so he fails in this point. But there is still more.
To back up their view, some Christians will point to a translation of this verse (e.g., KJV) and say that this king will be eternal, and thus has to be deity (i.e., YHWH). Does the verse really say that?
It says that the ruler's "goings forth" will be from old. This word simply means "origins". It doesn't have to mean that the ruler himself has had no beginning, but that his ancestry is from a long time ago. This will be true for the messianic king who will have his origins, his family descent (see Strongs dictionary, number 4163, which defines the Hebrew word has "family descent"), from Bethlehem, the clan of Ephratah, the clan of David, from a long time ago.
By the way, the Hebrew words translated "ancient days" means exactly that. It doesn't mean "from everlasting" as some translation put. The same phrase is used in other places in scripture (Deut 32:7; Isa 63:9, 11; Am 9:11; Mic 7:14; Mal 3:4) and when used in reference to the past, it only means to point to a long time ago, not an eternal history. I don't think a lot of Christians believe their deity had a beginning.
Either way, Yeshua was never a ruler of Israel, so this is unfulfilled.
Hag. 2:6-9...He would visit the second Temple... Lu. 2:27-32
Haggai 2:6-9 For thus saith YHWH of hosts: Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; and I will shake all nations, and the choicest things of all nations shall come, and I will fill this house with glory, saith YHWH of hosts. Mine is the silver, and Mine the gold, saith YHWH of hosts. The glory of this latter house shall be greater than that of the former, saith YHWH of hosts; and in this place will I give peace, saith YHWH of hosts.'
This verse does not appear to be messianic. It is talking about the second temple, the one what was built after Solomon's temple was destroyed and the people taken to captivity. It is evident at the end of Ezra chapter 3 that some old people who had seen the glory of the former temple cried when they only saw the foundation of the new temple to be built (compare with Haggai 2:3). YHWH is encouraging them that this temple will be bigger and better (the first temple stood 410 years, this one stood 420). That is all. This is not messianic. YHWH is talking about the silver and the gold, most likely the tools and furniture that is normally used in the temple, not about a person.
I also do not see where it says that he (the messiah) or even he (YHWH) would visit the second temple.
Hag. 2:23...Descendant of Zerubbabel... Lu. 3:23-27
Haggai 2:23 In that day, saith YHWH of hosts, will I take thee, O Zerubbabel, My servant, the son of Shealtiel, saith YHWH, and will make thee as a signet; for I have chosen thee, saith YHWH of hosts.'
Inherently, this verse is not messianic. It is talking to Zerubbabel.
If it has anything to do with the genealogy of the future anointed king, then it doesn't work for Yeshua who was supposedly born of a virgin and thus had no natural human father, which excludes him any right to kingship.
Zech. 3:8...God's servant... Jn. 17:4
Zechariah 3:7-10 'Thus saith YHWH of hosts: If thou wilt walk in My ways, and if thou wilt keep My charge, and wilt also judge My house, and wilt also keep My courts, then I will give thee free access among these that stand by. Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou and thy fellows that sit before thee; for they are men that are a sign; for, behold, I will bring forth My servant the Shoot. For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone are seven facets; behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith YHWH of hosts: And I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day. In that day, saith YHWH of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbour under the vine and under the fig tree.
Is this a messianic prophecy? Hmm... could be. It doesn't really describe much about this "shoot" (or sprout), which, by the way, should be translated by the name Tzemach (meaning a sprout/shoot) since in the Hebrew there is no "the" before the word. It will be further discussed in the next proof text that talks again about Tzemach (the shoot). For now, this one is open. But if the context is anything to go by, literally speaking it never happened during Yeshua's time because of the words of the last verse (v.10).
Zech. 6:12-13...Priest and King... Heb. 8:1
Zech 6:9-15 And the word of YHWH came unto me, saying: (10) 'Take of them of the captivity, even of Heldai, of Tobijah, and of Jedaiah, that are come from Babylon; and come thou the same day, and go into the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah; (11) yea, take silver and gold, and make crowns, and set the one upon the head of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest; (12) and speak unto him, saying: Thus speaketh YHWH of hosts, saying: Behold, a man whose name is the Shoot, and who shall shoot up out of his place, and build the temple of YHWH; (13) even he shall build the temple of YHWH; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and there shall be a priest before his throne; and the counsel of peace shall be between them both. (14) And the crowns shall be to Helem, and to Tobijah, and to Jedaiah, and to Hen the son of Zephaniah, as a memorial in the temple of YHWH. (15) And they that are far off shall come and build in the temple of YHWH, and ye shall know that YHWH of hosts hath sent me unto you. And it shall come to pass, if ye will diligently hearken to the voice of YHWH your God --.
Looking at the translation we have, and at the Hebrew behind it, we can see something clear about this passage. It has already been fulfilled, and it was fulfilled before the time of Yeshua (Jesus). It was fulfilled in the time of Joshua, the son of Jehozadak, and it says nothing about Tzemach (the shoot) being both a priest and a king. Here's how we come to these conclusions.
When looking at the context of this verse, especially verse 14 which comes straight after, and thus is linked to the same subject, the names there have no bearing whatsoever to Yeshua. Come on, who is Hen, the son of Zephaniah to Yeshua? He was most like a contemporary with Joshua, the high priest at the building of the second temple, hundreds of years before Yeshua was born. The context roots this passage squarely in Joshua the high priest's day.
Also the idea that the messiah will be both a king and a priest is from a mistranslation of verse 13. The KJV puts it "Even he shall build the temple of the L-RD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both" making it seem as if the king and the priest are the same person. The proper translation (which some Christian versions like the Revised Standard Version, the New English Bible, Oxford English Bible agree with) is as follows:
"Even he shall build the temple of YHWH; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and there shall be a priest on his throne; and the counsel of peace shall be between them both."
The verse is talking about two men, the king and the priest, and the peace that will exist between them both. Even the LXX, the Septuagint, the ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures backs this up:
"And he shall receive power, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and there shall be a priest on his right hand, and a peaceable counsel shall be between them both."
The question would naturally be who is Tzemach? Well, who came and helped build the temple? Zerubbabel, the governor of the Jews, and a descendant of David (Zech 4:6-10; Haggai 1:14; 2:23; Ezra 5:2)! During his time there was peace between him and Joshua the priest according to the book of Ezra (3:2, 8; 4:2-3; 5:2).
Also notice in the very last verse in Zechariah 6, that this is a conditional promise. This will all happen IF they keep the commandments of YHWH.
Due to the context, and the proper translation of this verse, it is obvious that it is not a messianic passage. It also answers the query concerning Zechariah 3:8.
Zech. 9:9a...Greeted with rejoicing in Jerusalem... Mt.
21:8-10
Zech. 9:9b...Beheld as King... Jn. 12:12-13
Zech. 9:9c...The
Messiah would be just... Jn.
5:30
Zech. 9:9d...The Messiah would bring salvation... Luke 19:10
Zech. 9:9e...The Messiah would be humble... Mt. 11:29
Zech. 9:9f...Presented to Jerusalem riding on a donkey... Mt. 21:6-9
Zech 9:9-10 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion, shout, O daughter of Jerusalem; behold, thy king cometh unto thee, he is triumphant, and victorious, lowly, and riding upon an ass, even upon a colt the foal of an ass. And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off, and he shall speak peace unto the nations; and his dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.
Now once again, the compiler manages to get so many messianic prophecies out of just one little verse.
Anyway, this could possibly be a messianic verse. But was it fulfilled by Yeshua?
Was Yeshua a king, a ruler of Israel? No! Why is this king triumphant? Look at verse 10, where war is eradicated from Jerusalem and Israel. Now did all this happen when Yeshua was on this earth? No! In fact there has been more war in and around Jerusalem for the past millennia since he died.
If we just want to limit it to a guy who rides a donkey into Jerusalem, this must be one of the easiest prophecies to fulfil. I don't believe this prophecy is so easy. The context doesn't show that at all.
Can we call this a fulfilled prophecy? No! So it is a stretch, at best, to say that Yeshua fulfilled it when he never did.
Zech. 10:4...The cornerstone... Eph. 2:20
Zech 10:1-4 Ask ye of YHWH rain in the time of the latter rain, even of YHWH that makethlightnings; and He will give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field. For the teraphim have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie, and the dreams speak falsely, they comfort in vain; therefore they go their way like sheep, they are afflicted, because there is no shepherd. Mine anger is kindled against the shepherds, and I will punish the he-goats; for YHWH of hosts hath remembered His flock the house of Judah, and maketh them as His majestic horse in the battle. Out of them shall come forth the corner stone, out of them the stake, out of them the battle bow, out of them every master together.
I would ask you to beware of difficult passages. Zech 10:4 on its own is such a passage since by just reading it you don't really know what it is talking about. I would recommend that you start reading from chapter 9 through to the end of chapter 10. Look at the context and ask yourself if this is referring to a specific person, a messiah.
Reading the whole context, you will find that it is talking about YHWH being angry with the shepherds of his flock, or, in other words, the rulers of his people. He will wipe out the evil shepherds, give his flock the strength to overcome and beat their adversaries, and restore Israel, reuniting the two houses of Israel (Ephraim or Joseph) and Judah.
Now whether this text is messianic or not, you have to ask yourself if all this has been done during Yeshua's life? The answer is no! In fact, the tribes were dispersed once again in such a short time after his death.
Zech. 11:4-6a...At His coming, Israel to have unfit
leaders... Mt. 23:1-4
Zech. 11:4-6b...Rejection causes God to remove His protection..Lu. 19:41-44
Zech. 11:4-6c...Rejected
in favor of another king... Jn. 19:13-15
Zech. 11:7...Ministry to "poor," the believing remnant... Mt. 9:35-36
Zech. 11:8a...Unbelief forces Messiah to reject them... Mt. 23:33
Zech. 11:8b...Despised... Mt. 27:20
Zech. 11:9...Stops ministering to those who rejected Him... Mt. 13:10-11
Zech. 11:10-11a...Rejection
causes God to remove protection... Lu. 19:41-44
Zech. 11:10-11b...The
Messiah would be God... Jn.
14:7
Zech. 11:12-13a...Betrayed for thirty pieces of silver... Mt. 26:14-15
Zech. 11:12-13b...Rejected... Mt. 26:14-15
Zech. 11:12-13c...Thirty
pieces of silver thrown into the house of the Lord... Mt. 27:3-5
Zech. 11:12-13d...The Messiah would be God... Jn. 12:45
Zechariah 11:4-14 Thus said YHWH my Master: 'Feed the flock of slaughter; whose buyers slay them, and hold themselves not guilty; and they that sell them say: Blessed be YHWH, for I am rich; and their own shepherds pity them not. For I will no more pity the inhabitants of the land, saith YHWH; but, lo, I will deliver the men every one into his neighbour's hand, and into the hand of his king; and they shall smite the land, and out of their hand I will not deliver them.' So I fed the flock of slaughter, verily the poor of the flock. And I took unto me two staves; the one I called Graciousness, and the other I called Binders; and I fed the flock. And I cut off the three shepherds in one month; 'for My soul became impatient of them, and their soul also loathed Me.' Then said I: 'I will not feed you; that which dieth, let it die; and that which is to be cut off, let it be cut off; and let them that are left eat every one the flesh of another.' And I took my staff Graciousness, and cut it asunder, 'that I might break My covenant which I had made with all the peoples.' And it was broken in that day; and the poor of the flock that gave heed unto me knew of a truth that it was the word of YHWH. And I said unto them: 'If ye think good, give me my hire; and if not, forbear.' So they weighed for my hire thirty pieces of silver. And YHWH said unto me: 'Cast it into the treasury, the goodly price that I was prized at of them.' And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them into the treasury, in the house of YHWH. Then I cut asunder mine other staff, even Binders, that the brotherhood between Judah and Israel might be broken.
OK, is this passage messianic? Hmm. I would say no. Could this have been fulfilled by Yeshua? I believe the way to get proper answers is to ask the proper questions. What is this passage talking about in the first place?
We'll assume the writer to be the prophet Zechariah. YHWH is talking to him. It appears that the whole passage is a parable of YHWH and his flock, Israel. Zechariah represents YHWH, and the sheep represent Israel. That is the backdrop. The flock had shepherds/rulers who had treated them badly, but the flock was not so great itself, being doomed for the slaughter. YHWH leaves them for nature to take its course. We can see that this text is talking about YHWH and his relationship with his people. The humble of his flock (or some translate that as the sheep traders) can see the misery that is happening, that it is from YHWH. The Almighty talks to them and asks for his wages, which is valued as 30 pieces of silver.
Two mysterious objects are the two staffs, Noam (Beauty, Graciousness) and Hoveliym (Bands, Binders, Union, can have a negative notion of Destroyers). He breaks Noam. That ends a covenant with "all the peoples"(also interpreted as other nations), whom YHWH then allows to hurt his people. At first he had graciousness, which stops the nations from hurting Israel, but he ended this covenant.
When he receives his wages, he then breaks Hoveliym, which breaks the brotherhood of Israel and Judah.
So to make this clear, lets break it up into its characters. There is YHWH and his people, and there is Zechariah and the sheep. The context is talking the punishment YHWH has given for the sins of Israel and her leaders. Reading the whole book, you will see this is not the end for Israel and Judah, and looking at the covenant, you will also see that this punishment is in accordance to the covenant of Torah, which YHWH gave to Moshe at Sinai and Moav, specifically in Deut 28 and 29. Looking at things like this, you will see that there is no messiah, and it is still all in the context of the covenant and stipulations given to Moshe to give to Israel.
Now, looking at the knowledge we have of the verse, does it say anything of the messiah? No. It is YHWH talking to Zechariah. There is no other person in there. Does it say that YHWH will take the form of a man? No. It is just a parable that parallels the way Zechariah treats his flock and the way YHWH treats his people.
What does this have to do with Yeshua? Nothing at all! In fact, the mistake of Matthew (27:3-10, esp. v.9) is to say that this verse is in Jeremiah. The context has nothing to do with the betrayal of YHWH, who decided to dress up as a man for a while.
Zech. 12:10a...The Messiah's body would be pierced... Jn. 19:34-37
Zech. 12:10b...The
Messiah would be both God and man... Jn. 10:30
Zech. 12:10c...The Messiah would be rejected... Jn. 1:11
Zechariah 12:9-11 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplication; and they shall look unto Me because they have thrust him through; and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his first-born. In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon.
OK, is this a messianic prophecy? Does it have anything to do with Yeshua?
Firstly, the context speaks of war. The nations have come up against Jerusalem. YHWH will save it. Verse 11 talks about a great mourning in Jerusalem as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon. That was where king Josiah was killed by the king of Egypt (who was actually trying to do what YHWH told him, but Josiah got in the way and got killed). See 2 Kings 23:29 and 2 Chronicles 35:24. What a loss to Israel when they lost such a righteous king as Josiah.
Looking at the context alone, the war, YHWH's deliverance from this war of the nations against Jerusalem, a great mourning of all of Jerusalem over the death of someone, this doesn't really add up to Yeshua. All of Jerusalem didn't mourn for him. YHWH didn't save Jerusalem from any nations at that time, since no nation was really camping against it, and there was no war as such. Read the whole chapter, and you will see the context is incompatible with the death of Yeshua.
The verse itself may have been mistranslated by the King James Version and some other Christian bibles which translated it as "they will look on Me whom they have pierced" making it seem as though it was YHWH being pierced, but it would be strange that the next part says "they will mourn for HIM as one mourns for his only son". Some Christian versions and Jewish translations show it to be saying, "They shall look on me because they have thrust him through", speaking of the people that died during this war, or a cherished ruler who got killed during the war, which actually agrees with the context.
Looking at the context and the proper translation of the text, it is apparent that this isn't talking about Yeshua. That would be totally out of context. The loss of a cherished ruler wouldn't apply either since (as has been said quite a lot now) Yeshua was never a ruler.
Zech. 13:7a...God's will He die for mankind... Jn. 18:11
Zech. 13:7b...A violent death... Mt. 27:35
Zech. 13:7c...Both God and man..Jn. 14:9
Zech. 13:7d...Israel scattered as a result of rejecting Him... Mt. 26:31-56
In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for purification and for sprinkling. And it shall come to pass in that day, saith YHWH of hosts, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered; and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land. And it shall come to pass that, when any shall yet prophesy, then his father and his mother that begot him shall say unto him: 'Thou shalt not live, for thou speakest lies in the name of YHWH'; and his father and his mother that begot him shall thrust him through when he prophesieth. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the prophets shall be brought to shame every one through his vision, when he prophesieth; neither shall they wear a hairy mantle to deceive; but he shall say: 'I am no prophet, I am a tiller of the ground; for I have been made a bondman from my youth.' And one shall say unto him: 'What are these wounds between thy hands?' Then he shall answer: 'Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.' Awake, O sword, against My shepherd, and against the man that is near unto Me, saith YHWH of hosts; smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered; and I will turn My hand upon the little ones. And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith YHWH, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried; they shall call on My name, and I will answer them; I will say: 'It is My people', and they shall say: 'YHWH is my Master.'
I know. Why so much context? Because context is important! Now is this a messianic text. No! Why? Lets see.
The context is NOT talking about a good prophet. It's talking about a false prophet. According to verse 2, the prophet and the unclean spirit will leave the land. The fact that those two phrases ("prophet" and "unclean spirit") are put together shows that it is the bad prophets that leave the land. During that time, if a person who tries to prophecy, people will chastise that person, because they are prophesying lies. When this person (these people claiming to be prophets) is caught, he'll make excuses. He'll say, "I'm no prophet. I just work the ground/field (farmer). I've been a hired hand from my youth. When the accusers see the wounds on the person's chest and back (between their hands, NOT in their hands as some mistranslate), the person makes the excuse that they were received in the house of his friends/lovers." The word translated "friends" normally speaks of sexual lovers (e.g., Jer 22:20, 22; Ezek 16:33,36,37). That is not a good start of a context that supposedly talks of Yeshua.
Now we get to verse 7 and onwards. The Almighty will kill a shepherd and watch the sheep scatter as he turns his hand to destroy them. Two thirds of them die, but a third are refined and become true servants to YHWH. Is there anything in the context that says this shepherd is good? Hmm... Funnily enough the last place in this book where a shepherd is mentioned is in the last part of chapter 11 (Zech 11:15-17), which speaks of a foolish worthless shepherd. In the whole book, the only good shepherd was Zechariah himself. He may be YHWH's associate, or his fellow (LXX says citizen), but YHWH's going to chop him up and whoop the life out of his flock. That only happens for wickedness, not for good. All the signs in Zechariah point to a bad shepherd.
So based on the context, this is not a messianic prophecy. If people are going to say Yeshua fulfills it, they'd better be prepared for the implications shown by the context (i.e., that he was a bad, foolish, worthless shepherd).
Mal. 3:1a...Messenger to prepare the way for Messiah... Mt.
11:10
Mal. 3:1b...Sudden appearance at the temple... Mk. 11:15-16
Mal. 3:1c...Messenger
of the new covenant... Lu.
4:43
Malachi 3:1-3 Behold, I send My messenger, and he shall clear the way before Me; and the Lord, whom ye seek, will suddenly come to His temple, and the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in, behold, he cometh, saith YHWH of hosts. But who may abide the day of his coming? And who shall stand when he appeareth? For he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap; And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver; and there shall be they that shall offer unto YHWH offerings in righteousness.
Is this a messianic prophecy? Maybe! Maybe not! It would be a strange that the messenger is supposed to purify the sons of Levi. If this applies to Yeshua, or the Christian idea of him, then he wiped out the idea of Levitical priests by changing and abolishing that law. He not only purified, but he literally wiped them out. Hmm... Not too consistent is it?
What is noticeable is that Malachi means "my messenger" and that the Hebrew word translated "my messenger" is spelt EXACTLY the same way as Malachi.
Verse 4 talks about Judah and Jerusalem giving offerings of righteousness when this messenger comes. We have no evidence that after Yeshua came, this happened. Actually there is more historical evidence that things became worse. It will be that time that YHWH will judge all the evil people of the land (v.5). That never happened!
Either way, this text doesn't talk of a NEW covenant. It just says "messenger of the covenant". Considering he's coming to purify the sons of Levi, it is more likely that he's a messenger of the present covenant, the Mosaic covenant. I don't think applies to Yeshua or his forerunner, John the Baptist.
Either way, this is the closest prophecy that could suggest that Yeshua is a messenger. Unfortunately, it says nothing about a messiah, and probably wasn't fulfilled in Yeshua's days.
Mal. 4:5...Forerunner in the spirit of Elijah... Mt. 3:1-2
Mal. 4:6...Forerunner would turn many to righteousness... Lu. 1:16-17
Mal 3:22-24 [4-6 in Christian versions] Remember ye the law of Moses My servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, even statutes and ordinances. Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of YHWH. And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers; lest I come and smite the land with utter destruction.
What does it say? Does it say, "The spirit of Elijah shall come"? No! Although it doesn't exclude the possibility, the idea that it is the "spirit" of Elijah has to be read into the text, not extracted from it.
There is nothing explicitly messianic about these verses. They preach that the people could keep the Torah, which Christians now say is either partly or wholly done away with, abolished. That is NOT consistent. Elijah shall come before the great and terrible day of YHWH. Well, no great and terrible day has come. Yeshua didn't bring that with him. John the Baptist didn't bring that with him. So this is unfulfilled.
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