Refutations of All Prophecies
And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”
There is Jesus in the context of this verse.
Genesis 49:10 -
The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his.
This contradicts the life of Jesus since Jesus was never a king or a ruler. He never had the obedience of nations and he never had a rulers staff.
Psalm 2:1-6 -
Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, “Let us break Their bonds in pieces and cast away Their cords from us.” He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord shall hold them in derision. Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, and distress them in His deep displeasure: “Yet I have set My King on My holy hill of Zion.
The context of the Psalm is that it's talking about David, and all of this applies to David.
David was the anointed of God (2 Samuel 23:1, Psalm 89:20) who was anointed for kingship by God Himself (1 Samuel 16:13).
The rulers of the nations surrounding Jerusalem conspired against David after being upset at his conquests, such as the Moabites, Zobahites, Arameans, and Edomites, who were conquered and forced to pay tribute, or “bonds” (2 Samuel 8:1-14), as well as the Philistines (2 Samuel 5:17) who learn about David’s anointing as king and go to search for him to destroy him, and the Ammonites, who “took counsel” with the Arameans to fight David, and were ultimately defeated and fearful (2 Samuel 10:6-19).
Despite this pressure, God reassures the Psalmist that He has set him on Zion as king, which we see when David takes “the stronghold of Zion” (2 Samuel 5:6-7), and that it was the “city of David” (2 Samuel 5:9, 1 Kings 8:1, 1 Chronicles 11:5-7).
Psalm 2:7 -
I will tell of the decree: the Lord said to me, “You are My son, today I have begotten you.
David was the son of God (Psalm 89:26).
What does it mean that “today he was begotten”? Well, we know that begotten doesn’t mean generated by essence as Christians claim, as seen when it says God “begat” Israel (Deuteronomy 32:18). It can simply mean he was anointed or chosen by God as king, because we see the same language used in reference to kingship with Solomon (2 Samuel 7:14-16, 1 Chronicles 22:9-10; 28:6).
Psalm 2:8-12 -
Ask of Me, and I will give you the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for your possession. you shall break them with a rod of iron; you shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’ ” Now therefore, be wise, O kings; be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.
David was fought for by God and allowed to conquer many lands surrounding Israel (1 Samuel 22:19; 27:8-9, 2 Samuel 5:1-11; 8:1-14; 10:1-19).
He is explicitly called the ¨head of nations” (2 Samuel 22:44, Psalm 18:43) after being delivered from Saul and his armies.
The “kissing the son” is in reference to honoring the anointed king, as we see with Samuel pour oil on and kiss Saul to honor him as king (1 Samuel 10:1), and we see the nations serve David as well (1 Chronicles 12:38-40).
Now the contention would be, who is the “He” who will be angry, and the “Him” whom the kings need to trust? Well, that would be God. The assumption is that the nearest antecedent of “the Son” carries the third person pronoun “He”, but it really just goes back to the prior clause when it says to “serve the LORD (Him) with fear”. This means it should be read as “Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the son (David, God’s anointed king) lest He (God) be angry (because you are not honoring His king), and you perish in the way, when His (God’s) wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him (God).”
Psalm 16:10 -
For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.
The Psalm is David talking to God. To make this a prophecy about Jesus, you have to presuppose that Jesus is God. The entire Psalm is referring to David. Here is proof:
Preserve me, O God, for in You I put my trust
David put his trust in God (Psalm 7:1; 11:1)
O Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup
Lord was his portion or cup (Psalm 119:57; 142:5)
The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; yes, I have a good inheritance
he had a good inheritance from God (2 Samuel 7:18-19, Psalm 61:5)
the Lord who has given me counsel; my heart also instructs me in the night seasons
he received instruction in the night (Psalm 63:6; 119:62)
because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.
God was at his right hand (Psalm 62:6; 121:5)
Psalm 22:1 -
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish?
Christians claim that Psalm 22 is about Jesus since Jesus quotes this verse while on the cross, however this fails because according to the Psalm, the Psalmist is saved at the end (Psalm 22:19-24).
If Jesus did come to anticipate his suffering at the hands of his enemies, I
am convinced that he expected that he would be saved from death,
delivered from the "mouth of the lion” as the Psalmist had predicted (Psalm
22:21) - James D Tabor, Jesus Dynasty
Psalm 22:16 -
Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce my hands and my feet.
"Pierce" is a faulty translation. The correct translation is "like a lion". Here is the proof:
Psalm 22:16 Dead Sea Scrolls and some manuscripts of the Masoretic Text, Septuagint and Syriac; most manuscripts of the Masoretic Text me, / LIKE A LION - NIV, BibleGateway
The New English Translation (NET) Bible actually renders the verse correctly:
22.16-17 Dogs. See vv12-13; note on 7.2. The picture here is of one wasted away by illness and the taunters and persecutors already distributing the victim’s clothing as death nears. 22.20-21 Dog, lion. - The SBL Study Bible, NRSVUE Edition, Page 820
Psalm 22 belongs, again, to the large category of Laments. Strobel, like all apologists, cite “They have pierced my hands and feet” (22:16b) as a prediction of the nail wounds of crucifixion, but the reference makes more sense in context as bite and claw-wounds incurred by the sufferer as he tries to fend off the wild animals snapping at him (22:16a), the symbols of his real life dilemmas. What/who were these? Creditors? Political enemies? Romantic rivals? Vendetta avengers? Legal plaintiffs? Fill in the blank, that’s the whole idea. The business about dividing up the sufferer’s garments just means “They’ve given me up for dead.” It could apply to anybody in the same straights. That was the whole idea. Psalm 22, any more than any other Lament Psalm, is no prophecy at all, no prediction of anything, much less of the crucifixion of Jesus. One can, on the pother hand, easily imagine Jesus taking such a psalm as a fitting prayer in his hour of desperation, as Mark seems to imply he is doing, by having him quote the first lines of it, “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me.” - Robert M. Price, The Case Against “The Case for Christ”, a New Testament scholar refutes the Reverend Lee Strobel, Page 75.
The exact same Hebrew word, "כָּֽאֲרִ֔י - kā-’ă-rî" is rendered as Like a Lion in Isaiah 38:13:
I waited patiently till dawn, but like a lion he broke all my bones; day and night you made an end of me.
Psalm 41:9 -
Even my close friend, someone I trusted, one who shared my bread, has turned against me.
According to this Psalm, the Psalmist is a sinner (Psalm 41:4), therefore, in context, the verse isn't about Jesus.
Psalm 69:21 -
They put gall in my food, and gave me vinegar for my thirst.
John quotes this verse as a prophecy in John 19:28-29. However, according to this Psalm, the Psalmist is a sinner (Psalm 69:5), therefore, in context, the verse isn't about Jesus.
Psalm 110:1 -
Of David. A psalm. The Lord says to my lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”
The argument from the New Testament is that the Psalmist is David and therefore David is calling upon his Lord, who is the Messiah.
This doesn't work because the Psalmist isn't David, which is why the Psalm starts with "Of David. A Psalm." It's also the scholarly consensus:
sn My lord. In the psalm’s original context the speaker is an unidentified prophetic voice in the royal court. - Psalm 110, NET Bible Footnote
The LORD says to my lord: a polite form of address of an inferior to a superior, cf. 1 Sm 25:25; 2 Sm 1:10. The court singer refers to the king. Jesus in the synoptic gospels (Mt 22:41–46 and parallels) takes the psalmist to be David and hence “my lord” refers to the messiah, who must be someone greater than David. Your footstool: in ancient times victorious kings put their feet on the prostrate bodies of their enemies. - Psalm 110:1, USCCB
many scholars of more skeptical persuasion argue the author must be a courtier, not David, because then the first verse makes a certain kind of obvious sense. - Don Carson, Psalm 110, Jan 8, 2009
Furthermore, this cannot be about Jesus since Jesus did not make his enemies his footstool, rather he was crucified by his enemies.
Rather, this entire Psalm is about David:
The Lord says to my lord, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool.
As for the sitting at the right hand, this does not necessitate divinity if we take it literally, since the “host of heaven stand at God’s right hand” (1 Kings 22:19, 1 Chronicles 18:18). If we take it metaphorically, it is simply a position of God-given authority and kingship, as seen when Bathsheba sat at Solomon’s right hand (1 Kings 2:19). This makes perfect sense in reference to David, because God chose him as a king over Israel, and greater than all the kings of the earth (Psalm 89:27).
Now as for the enemies being made a footstool for the feet, God promises the exact same thing to David, that He would soon put David’s enemies beneath his feet (Psalm 18:37-39, 2 Samuel 22:48-49, 1 Kings 5:3).
The Lord sends out from Zion your mighty scepter. Rule in the midst of your foes.
The Psalmist refers to the sceptre, aka rule of his master expanding by virtue of God’s favor and help. “From Zion” implies beyond the borders of the Holy City, and King David indeed expanded his dominion far beyond, and was “given victory [by God] wherever he went” (2 Samuel 8:1-14).
Your people will offer themselves freely on the day of your power, in holy garments; from the womb of the morning, the dew of your youth will be yours.
David was a warrior who had much power and went on conquests (1 Samuel 22:19; 27:8-9, 2 Samuel 8:1-14). He also amassed a large group of young supporters who were zealous for fighting (1 Chronicles 12:8-22).
The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: 'You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek
David wore a linen ephod (2 Samuel 6:14) that was reserved for the Levitical High priests (Exodus 28:4; 39-40), David offered the ox and fattened calf as an offering (2 Samuel 6:13) that the Levitical priests handled (Leviticus 1:5; 3:2; 6:9), David blessed all the people in the name of the Lord (2 Samuel 6:18), which was the job of the Levitical priests (Numbers 6:22-27), and carried the ark of the covenant (2 Samuel 6:13), which the Kohathite Levites were commanded to do (Numbers 4:15). The point is, David is acting as Levitical priest, yet he is not from Levi, but rather from Judah (Ruth 4:18-22). This means, in order to reconcile this, he must be a priest from a different order.
Isaiah 7:14 -
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
The Hebrew word for virgin in this verse is almah, which means young woman and not virgin. This word appears 7 times in the Old Testament (Genesis 24:43, Exodus 2:8, 1 Samuel 20:21-22, 1 Chronicles 15:20, Psalm 68:25, Proverbs 30:18-20, Isaiah 7:14). In Proverbs, the word is used to refer to an adulterous woman:
There are three things that are too amazing for me, four that I do not understand: the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a snake on a rock, the way of a ship on the high seas, and the way of a man with a YOUNG WOMAN (almah). This is the way of an adulterous woman: she eats and wipes her mouth and says, ‘I’ve done nothing wrong.’ - Proverbs 30:18-20
Now, from the context, we know that this isn't Jesus for many reasons.
We see that the referent of the chapter is King Ahaz, and the Northern Kingdom of Judah has just been invaded by the king of Aram, and the son of the king of Israel (remember Israel and Judah were divided). The people, Ahaz included, are overwhelmed by this massive burden (verses 1-2), and we see God comforting Ahaz by telling him that to not be worried and that God will aid the Judahites in their fight (verses 3-6). He then says that the two kings will eventually be defeated (verses 7-9) and tells Ahaz to ask Him for a sign (verses 10-11). However, Ahaz denies, claiming he would never test God, and God gets upset, now turning to the House of David giving the prophecy of Immanuel (verses 12-13).
However, the reason that it cannot be about Jesus is that the context is about an immediate coming of a son as shown by verses 15-16.
Isaiah 9:6-7 -
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder. And his name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over his kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the lord of hosts will perform this.
Christians claim that the titles in the verse given to the child shows that he's God, however this is an example of nothing more than theophoric names. Here are a few examples:
Then Jehu (YHWH is He) gathered all the people together, and said to them, “Ahab served Baal a little, Jehu (YHWH is He) will serve him much. - 2 Kings 10:18
In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell safely. And this is the name by which she will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. - Jeremiah 33:16
For “wonderful counselor”, the hebrew is עֵצָה (ya’ats), which appears 78 times in the Hebrew Bible in reference to human kings and leaders (Exodus 18:19, Numbers 24:14, 2 Samuel 15:12, 2 Kings 6:8). It quite literally means someone who “advises”.
For “mighty God”, the Hebrew is אֵ֣ל גִּבּ֔וֹר (’êl gib-bō-wr). Now, although this is only used one other time in the singular (Isaiah 10:21), it actually occurs one other time in the plural, in reference to other than God (Ezekiel 32:21). Essentially, a bunch of mighty warriors trying to oppose God are called “ele gibbowrim”, which means that each individual person is “el gibbor” (see strongs 1368 and strongs 410 for word reference, same as Isaiah 9:6; 10:21).
For “Everlasting Father”, this is actually another case of a faulty translation. The hebrew utilized is אֲבִיעַ֖ד (’ă-ḇî-‘aḏ). It carries the lexical meaning of “perpetually/to eternity”, however it is not limited to this. Accordinf to BDB again, it can mean “2 of future time, לָעַד (usually לָעַ֑ד) for ever: a. during lifetime, of king Psalm 21:7; Proverbs 29:14; of others Psalm 9:19; Psalm 22:27; Psalm 61:9; Proverbs 12:19.” The example I underlined in Proverbs 29 states that if a king judges the poor fairly, his throne will be established FOREVER. Obviously this is not literal language, therefore “Everlasting Father” could be properly understood as “Father (source) of continuity”.
The king who judges the poor with truth, His throne will be established FOREVER. - Proverbs 29:14
Also, the verse says that the child will have a government, Jesus never had a government so he fails. This is referring to Hezekiah.
Isaiah 53 -
Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished. He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.
Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days
First, we must understand that the suffering servant in Isaiah 53 has continuously been identified as the righteous remnant of Israel all through Isaiah:
But you, Israel, my servant… Jacob whom I have chosen… - Isaiah 41:8–9
You are my witnesses (plural)… and my servant (singular) whom I have chosen - Isaiah 43:10
O Jacob my servant… Israel… - Isaiah 44:1, 44:21
For the sake of Jacob my servant, and Israel my chosen - Isaiah 45:4
YHWH has redeemed his servant Jacob. - Isaiah 48:20
You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will display my splendor. - Isaiah 49:3
Furthermore, everything described of the servant in Isaiah 53 is applied to Israel elsewhere:
V2. He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground.
Then all your people will be righteous and they will possess the land forever. They are the shoot I have planted, the work of my hands, for the display of my splendor. - Isaiah 60:21
You brought a vine out of Egypt; you drove out the nations and planted it. You cleared the ground for it; it took deep root and filled the land. - Psalm 80:8-9
V2-3. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.
Jerusalem has sinned greatly and so has become unclean. All who honored her despise her, for they have all seen her naked - Lamentations 1:8-9
On the day you were born your cord was not cut, nor were you washed with water to make you clean, nor were you rubbed with salt or wrapped in cloths. No one looked on you with pity or had compassion enough to do any of these things for you. Rather, you were thrown out into the open field, for on the day you were born you were despised. - Ezekiel 16:4-6
You have made us scum and refuse among the nations. - Lamentations 3:45
V4-6. Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
The Hebrew doesn't actually say "for our" rather it says "because of" since the prefix mi is used. Also, the word "pierced" is a faulty translation. It's actually wounded. The same word used in Psalm 109:22 to refer to being wounded.
According to this verse, God uses the iniquities of the nations to bring judgement and punishment to Israel, when Israel is punished and the righteous remnant preservers and repents to God, God uses Israel as a means to bless the nations and bring them to repentance:
I will return again to My place, until they acknowledge their guilt and seek My face; in their affliction they will earnestly seek Me. - Hosea 5:15
Furthermore, the Gospel of Matthew uses verse 4-6 not to refer to substitutionary atonement, but to Jesus’s physical healing miracles:
When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: “He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases.” - Matthew 8:16-17
How V4-6 refers to Israel:
Our fathers have sinned, and are not; and we have borne their inequities - Lamentations 5:7
V7. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “At first my people went down to Egypt to live; lately, Assyria has oppressed them. - Isaiah 52:4
Have you rejected Judah completely? Do you despise Zion? Why have you afflicted us so that we cannot be healed? We hoped for peace but no good has come, for a time of healing but there is only terror. - Jeremiah 14:19
I had been like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter; I did not realize that they had plotted against me, saying - Jeremiah 11:19
Yet for Your sake we are killed all day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered. - Psalm 44:22
You gave us up to be devoured like sheep and have scattered us among the nations. - Psalm 44:11
V8. By oppression and judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished.
Being cut off from the land of the living means to be in exile according to Ezekiel 37:
Then he said to me: “Son of man, these bones are the people of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.’ Therefore prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. Then you, my people, will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord.’ - Ezekiel 37:11-14
V9. He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.
This is talking about Israel being buried outside of the Promised Land, with sinners.
Israel had no deceit in its mouth:
They will do no wrong; they will tell no lies. A deceitful tongue will not be found in their mouths. They will eat and lie down and no one will make them afraid. - Zephaniah 3:13
V10-11. Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.
The book of Maccabees during the persecution of the Jews by the Greeks describes the death of righteous Jews as a sin offering for the nation! Consider the following passages:
These, then, who have been consecrated for the sake of God are honored not only with this honor but also by the fact that because of them our enemies did not rule over our nation, the tyrant was punished, and the homeland purified—they having become, as it were, a ransom for the sin of our nation. And through the blood of those pious ones and their death as an atoning sacrifice, divine Providence preserved Israel that previously had been mistreated. - 4 Maccabees 17:20-22
If I dissemble to gain a brief moment of life, they would be led astray by me, while I would bring defilement and dishonor to my old age. Even if, for the time being, I avoid human punishment, I shall never, whether alive or dead, escape the hand of the Almighty. Therefore, by bravely giving up life now, I will prove myself worthy of my old age, and I will leave to the young a noble example of how to die willingly and nobly for the revered and holy laws. - 2 Maccabees 6:26
Then the passage says that God will prolong the days of his servant, this is such an amazing passage because that is exactly what God promises Israel in the same book of Isaiah:
No more shall there be in it an infant who lives but a few days or an old person who does not live out a lifetime, for one who dies at a hundred years will be considered a youth, and one who falls short of a hundred will be considered accursed. They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat, for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be, and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands. - Isaiah 65:20–22
I will sanctify my great name, which has been profaned among the nations and which you have profaned among them, and the nations shall know that I am the Lord, says the Lord God, when through you I display my holiness before their eyes - Ezekiel 36:23
Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. - Daniel 12:3
Those who are wise among the people shall instruct many, though for a time they shall fall by sword and flame, by captivity and plunder. - Daniel 11:33
Micah 5:2 -
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”
Some translations, instead of rendering the verse correctly as "from ancient times", renders it as "from everlasting". This is not correct:
The Hebrew vocabulary used in Micah 5:2 is not saying that Jesus physically existed forever. Bill Schlegel writes about the Hebrew word sometimes translated “origins,” and says, “The word translated as ‘origins’ or ‘goings forth’ (motsa’ot, מוצאות) [Strong’s #04163] occurs only here in the Bible in the feminine form (and only in plural), with one additional possible textual variant in 2 Kings 10:27.” From the same root is “descendant” צאצא (e.g. Job 5:25; Isa. 44:3) and later Hebrew “ancestry” מוצא. In association with miqqedem, mimei olam (“from before, from days of long ago”), which relate to Israel’s historical past, the feminine plural form in Micah 5:1 (5:2 in the English versions) most likely relates to physical ancestry, especially David’s and/or Abraham’s. - REV Bible Commentary
In Micah 5:2, the use of mōtsa’ah along with yōm ōlam conveys the idea that “the ancestry of the expected ruler traces back to David’s time as well as David’s city.” Furthermore, J. M. P. Smith also sees this as a reference to the Messiah belonging to one of the oldest families, that is, the Davidic family, and so does Ralph L. Smith, describing how Micah has in mind the idea of a “new David” by making use of colloquial language where the days of David were spoken of as “the ancient days,” like in Amos 9:11 - REV Bible Commentary
Now, let's go through each verse one at a time:
V1. Marshal your troops now, city of troops, for a siege is laid against us. They will strike Israel’s ruler on the cheek with a rod.
This was written during the Assyrian threat, when King Sennacherib rose up and sieged Jerusalem (2 Kings 18:13, Isaiah 36:1). King Hezekiah was the king at this time (2 Kings 18:1-3). What siege occurred when Jesus was born, when the gospels cite this passage about him? (Matthew 2:6).
V2. “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”
The person in reference is a ruler, Jesus was never a ruler of Israel.
V3. Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor bears a son, and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites.
Israel was “abandoned” and allowed to be captured and ransacked by the Assyrians. The language of “bearing a son” is used in reference to the siege (Isaiah 37:3). During Hezekiah’s time, a remnant was described to return (Isaiah 10:20-21, 2 Kings 19:30-31, Isaiah 37:31-32).
V4. He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth.
“The flock” is in reference to the people of Israel (Psalm 77:20; 80:1, Jeremiah 31:10, Ezekiel 34:12, Micah 7:14). Kings are shepherds to their people, such as David (2 Samuel 5:2; 7:8, Psalm 78:70-71, Jeremiah 3:15), Cyrus (Isaiah 44:28), and even wicked rulers (Isaiah 56:9-11, Zechariah 10:3). This means Hezekiah fits the role of a shepherd. It also states this ruler has a God. Without presupposing Christian theology and the roles in the triune Godhead, it is most likely to be a human king as opposed to God Himself. It also states Israel will live securely. Hezekiah described peace in his days (2 Kings 20:19, Isaiah 39:8).
What about his greatness reaching the “ends of the earth”? This phraseology does not have to be taken literally, as seen when Babylon is called “the ends of the earth” (Deuteronomy 28:49), or when Daniel says there is a tree that was visible throughout the “whole world” (Daniel 4:20). It can just be in reference to a long strip of land, and we know Hezekiah had a lasting legacy and impact on many nations. Now as for Jesus, Israel did not live securely in his days, as they remained in Roman captivity for hundreds of years, and their temple was destroyed in 70 AD.
V5. And he will be our peace when the Assyrians invade our land and march through our fortresses. We will raise against them seven shepherds, even eight commanders,
The most explicit reference: again, Hezekiah was the king who made peace with the Assyrian king by paying him the treasures in the temple (2 Kings 18:13-23), prayed for the destruction of Assyria (2 Kings 19:20-23, Isaiah 37:21-24), and described peace in his days (2 Kings 20:19, Isaiah 39:8).
V6. who will rule the land of Assyria with the sword, the land of Nimrod with drawn sword. He will deliver us from the Assyrians when they invade our land and march across our borders.
The same thing: Hezekiah was the one who historically delivered the Israelites from Assyrian oppression when they sieged, not Jesus.
V7-8. The remnant of Jacob will be in the midst of many peoples like dew from the Lord, like showers on the grass, which do not wait for anyone or depend on man. The remnant of Jacob will be among the nations, in the midst of many peoples, like a lion among the beasts of the forest, like a young lion among flocks of sheep, which mauls and mangles as it goes, and no one can rescue.
The remnant of Jacob is described as bearing much fruit during Hezekiah’s time (Isaiah 37:31-32). They were amongst foreigners and were meek and gentle. However, when they were threatened, they became untouchable like a lion, because they only depended on God, and He was with them (2 Kings 19:35-38), despite the Assyrians claiming no one would help them (Isaiah 36:4-7).
V9-15. Your hand will be lifted up in triumph over your enemies, and all your foes will be destroyed. “In that day,” declares the Lord, “I will destroy your horses from among you and demolish your chariots. I will destroy the cities of your land and tear down all your strongholds. I will destroy your witchcraft and you will no longer cast spells. I will destroy your idols and your sacred stones from among you; you will no longer bow down to the work of your hands. I will uproot from among you your Asherah poles when I demolish your cities. I will take vengeance in anger and wrath on the nations that have not obeyed me.”
We know Israel triumphed over their enemies (the Assyrians) during this time. God then goes on to condemn Israel for their wickedness and disobedience to Him. Hezekiah was the righteous king during this time who destroyed their wickedness and reinstated true Torah observance (2 Chronicles 29:3-5; 18-19; 30:6-8). The Israelites would raise up Asherah poles (Exodus 34:13, Judges 3:7; 6:25-27), as well as the Bronze Serpent Moses raised up in the wilderness (Numbers 21:9) and Hezekiah destroyed them (2 Kings 18:4-6, 1 Chronicles 31:1).
Psalm 69:21 -
They put gall in my food, and gave me vinegar for my thirst.
John quotes this verse as a prophecy in John 19:28-29. However, according to this Psalm, the Psalmist is a sinner (Psalm 69:5), therefore, in context, the verse isn't about Jesus.
Psalm 110:1 -
Of David. A psalm. The Lord says to my lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”
The argument from the New Testament is that the Psalmist is David and therefore David is calling upon his Lord, who is the Messiah.
This doesn't work because the Psalmist isn't David, which is why the Psalm starts with "Of David. A Psalm." It's also the scholarly consensus:
sn My lord. In the psalm’s original context the speaker is an unidentified prophetic voice in the royal court. - Psalm 110, NET Bible Footnote
The LORD says to my lord: a polite form of address of an inferior to a superior, cf. 1 Sm 25:25; 2 Sm 1:10. The court singer refers to the king. Jesus in the synoptic gospels (Mt 22:41–46 and parallels) takes the psalmist to be David and hence “my lord” refers to the messiah, who must be someone greater than David. Your footstool: in ancient times victorious kings put their feet on the prostrate bodies of their enemies. - Psalm 110:1, USCCB
many scholars of more skeptical persuasion argue the author must be a courtier, not David, because then the first verse makes a certain kind of obvious sense. - Don Carson, Psalm 110, Jan 8, 2009
Furthermore, this cannot be about Jesus since Jesus did not make his enemies his footstool, rather he was crucified by his enemies.
Rather, this entire Psalm is about David:
The Lord says to my lord, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool.
As for the sitting at the right hand, this does not necessitate divinity if we take it literally, since the “host of heaven stand at God’s right hand” (1 Kings 22:19, 1 Chronicles 18:18). If we take it metaphorically, it is simply a position of God-given authority and kingship, as seen when Bathsheba sat at Solomon’s right hand (1 Kings 2:19). This makes perfect sense in reference to David, because God chose him as a king over Israel, and greater than all the kings of the earth (Psalm 89:27).
Now as for the enemies being made a footstool for the feet, God promises the exact same thing to David, that He would soon put David’s enemies beneath his feet (Psalm 18:37-39, 2 Samuel 22:48-49, 1 Kings 5:3).
The Lord sends out from Zion your mighty scepter. Rule in the midst of your foes.
The Psalmist refers to the sceptre, aka rule of his master expanding by virtue of God’s favor and help. “From Zion” implies beyond the borders of the Holy City, and King David indeed expanded his dominion far beyond, and was “given victory [by God] wherever he went” (2 Samuel 8:1-14).
Your people will offer themselves freely on the day of your power, in holy garments; from the womb of the morning, the dew of your youth will be yours.
David was a warrior who had much power and went on conquests (1 Samuel 22:19; 27:8-9, 2 Samuel 8:1-14). He also amassed a large group of young supporters who were zealous for fighting (1 Chronicles 12:8-22).
The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: 'You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek
David wore a linen ephod (2 Samuel 6:14) that was reserved for the Levitical High priests (Exodus 28:4; 39-40), David offered the ox and fattened calf as an offering (2 Samuel 6:13) that the Levitical priests handled (Leviticus 1:5; 3:2; 6:9), David blessed all the people in the name of the Lord (2 Samuel 6:18), which was the job of the Levitical priests (Numbers 6:22-27), and carried the ark of the covenant (2 Samuel 6:13), which the Kohathite Levites were commanded to do (Numbers 4:15). The point is, David is acting as Levitical priest, yet he is not from Levi, but rather from Judah (Ruth 4:18-22). This means, in order to reconcile this, he must be a priest from a different order.
Isaiah 7:14 -
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
The Hebrew word for virgin in this verse is almah, which means young woman and not virgin. This word appears 7 times in the Old Testament (Genesis 24:43, Exodus 2:8, 1 Samuel 20:21-22, 1 Chronicles 15:20, Psalm 68:25, Proverbs 30:18-20, Isaiah 7:14). In Proverbs, the word is used to refer to an adulterous woman:
There are three things that are too amazing for me, four that I do not understand: the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a snake on a rock, the way of a ship on the high seas, and the way of a man with a YOUNG WOMAN (almah). This is the way of an adulterous woman: she eats and wipes her mouth and says, ‘I’ve done nothing wrong.’ - Proverbs 30:18-20
Now, from the context, we know that this isn't Jesus for many reasons.
We see that the referent of the chapter is King Ahaz, and the Northern Kingdom of Judah has just been invaded by the king of Aram, and the son of the king of Israel (remember Israel and Judah were divided). The people, Ahaz included, are overwhelmed by this massive burden (verses 1-2), and we see God comforting Ahaz by telling him that to not be worried and that God will aid the Judahites in their fight (verses 3-6). He then says that the two kings will eventually be defeated (verses 7-9) and tells Ahaz to ask Him for a sign (verses 10-11). However, Ahaz denies, claiming he would never test God, and God gets upset, now turning to the House of David giving the prophecy of Immanuel (verses 12-13).
However, the reason that it cannot be about Jesus is that the context is about an immediate coming of a son as shown by verses 15-16.
Isaiah 9:6-7 -
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder. And his name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over his kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the lord of hosts will perform this.
Christians claim that the titles in the verse given to the child shows that he's God, however this is an example of nothing more than theophoric names. Here are a few examples:
Then Jehu (YHWH is He) gathered all the people together, and said to them, “Ahab served Baal a little, Jehu (YHWH is He) will serve him much. - 2 Kings 10:18
In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell safely. And this is the name by which she will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. - Jeremiah 33:16
For “wonderful counselor”, the hebrew is עֵצָה (ya’ats), which appears 78 times in the Hebrew Bible in reference to human kings and leaders (Exodus 18:19, Numbers 24:14, 2 Samuel 15:12, 2 Kings 6:8). It quite literally means someone who “advises”.
For “mighty God”, the Hebrew is אֵ֣ל גִּבּ֔וֹר (’êl gib-bō-wr). Now, although this is only used one other time in the singular (Isaiah 10:21), it actually occurs one other time in the plural, in reference to other than God (Ezekiel 32:21). Essentially, a bunch of mighty warriors trying to oppose God are called “ele gibbowrim”, which means that each individual person is “el gibbor” (see strongs 1368 and strongs 410 for word reference, same as Isaiah 9:6; 10:21).
For “Everlasting Father”, this is actually another case of a faulty translation. The hebrew utilized is אֲבִיעַ֖ד (’ă-ḇî-‘aḏ). It carries the lexical meaning of “perpetually/to eternity”, however it is not limited to this. Accordinf to BDB again, it can mean “2 of future time, לָעַד (usually לָעַ֑ד) for ever: a. during lifetime, of king Psalm 21:7; Proverbs 29:14; of others Psalm 9:19; Psalm 22:27; Psalm 61:9; Proverbs 12:19.” The example I underlined in Proverbs 29 states that if a king judges the poor fairly, his throne will be established FOREVER. Obviously this is not literal language, therefore “Everlasting Father” could be properly understood as “Father (source) of continuity”.
For the title “prince of peace”, this is pretty straightforward, many people in the Old Testament are called “princes”, such as the 12 sons of Ishmael (Genesis 17:20; 25:12-18), Israelite tribal leaders (Numbers 1:16; 7:2; 10:4), Solomon’s officials (1 Kings 4:2-4), and leaders of Israel in the book of Isaiah itself (Isaiah 3:14; 32:1). Also, being a “peacemaker” doesn't make you God (Matthew 5:9).
The second argument Christians like to use is that since the throne is forever, it must mean that the child is divine and therefore God. This is just a lack of the understanding of the OT since other kings in the OT are given this promise:
The king who judges the poor with truth, His throne will be established FOREVER. - Proverbs 29:14
Also, the verse says that the child will have a government, Jesus never had a government so he fails. This is referring to Hezekiah.
Isaiah 53 -
Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished. He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.
Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days
First, we must understand that the suffering servant in Isaiah 53 has continuously been identified as the righteous remnant of Israel all through Isaiah:
But you, Israel, my servant… Jacob whom I have chosen… - Isaiah 41:8–9
You are my witnesses (plural)… and my servant (singular) whom I have chosen - Isaiah 43:10
O Jacob my servant… Israel… - Isaiah 44:1, 44:21
For the sake of Jacob my servant, and Israel my chosen - Isaiah 45:4
YHWH has redeemed his servant Jacob. - Isaiah 48:20
You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will display my splendor. - Isaiah 49:3
Furthermore, everything described of the servant in Isaiah 53 is applied to Israel elsewhere:
V2. He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground.
Then all your people will be righteous and they will possess the land forever. They are the shoot I have planted, the work of my hands, for the display of my splendor. - Isaiah 60:21
You brought a vine out of Egypt; you drove out the nations and planted it. You cleared the ground for it; it took deep root and filled the land. - Psalm 80:8-9
V2-3. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.
Jerusalem has sinned greatly and so has become unclean. All who honored her despise her, for they have all seen her naked - Lamentations 1:8-9
On the day you were born your cord was not cut, nor were you washed with water to make you clean, nor were you rubbed with salt or wrapped in cloths. No one looked on you with pity or had compassion enough to do any of these things for you. Rather, you were thrown out into the open field, for on the day you were born you were despised. - Ezekiel 16:4-6
You have made us scum and refuse among the nations. - Lamentations 3:45
V4-6. Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
The Hebrew doesn't actually say "for our" rather it says "because of" since the prefix mi is used. Also, the word "pierced" is a faulty translation. It's actually wounded. The same word used in Psalm 109:22 to refer to being wounded.
According to this verse, God uses the iniquities of the nations to bring judgement and punishment to Israel, when Israel is punished and the righteous remnant preservers and repents to God, God uses Israel as a means to bless the nations and bring them to repentance:
I will return again to My place, until they acknowledge their guilt and seek My face; in their affliction they will earnestly seek Me. - Hosea 5:15
Furthermore, the Gospel of Matthew uses verse 4-6 not to refer to substitutionary atonement, but to Jesus’s physical healing miracles:
When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: “He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases.” - Matthew 8:16-17
How V4-6 refers to Israel:
Our fathers have sinned, and are not; and we have borne their inequities - Lamentations 5:7
V7. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “At first my people went down to Egypt to live; lately, Assyria has oppressed them. - Isaiah 52:4
Have you rejected Judah completely? Do you despise Zion? Why have you afflicted us so that we cannot be healed? We hoped for peace but no good has come, for a time of healing but there is only terror. - Jeremiah 14:19
I had been like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter; I did not realize that they had plotted against me, saying - Jeremiah 11:19
Yet for Your sake we are killed all day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered. - Psalm 44:22
You gave us up to be devoured like sheep and have scattered us among the nations. - Psalm 44:11
V8. By oppression and judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished.
Being cut off from the land of the living means to be in exile according to Ezekiel 37:
Then he said to me: “Son of man, these bones are the people of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.’ Therefore prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. Then you, my people, will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord.’ - Ezekiel 37:11-14
V9. He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.
This is talking about Israel being buried outside of the Promised Land, with sinners.
Israel had no deceit in its mouth:
They will do no wrong; they will tell no lies. A deceitful tongue will not be found in their mouths. They will eat and lie down and no one will make them afraid. - Zephaniah 3:13
V10-11. Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.
The book of Maccabees during the persecution of the Jews by the Greeks describes the death of righteous Jews as a sin offering for the nation! Consider the following passages:
These, then, who have been consecrated for the sake of God are honored not only with this honor but also by the fact that because of them our enemies did not rule over our nation, the tyrant was punished, and the homeland purified—they having become, as it were, a ransom for the sin of our nation. And through the blood of those pious ones and their death as an atoning sacrifice, divine Providence preserved Israel that previously had been mistreated. - 4 Maccabees 17:20-22
If I dissemble to gain a brief moment of life, they would be led astray by me, while I would bring defilement and dishonor to my old age. Even if, for the time being, I avoid human punishment, I shall never, whether alive or dead, escape the hand of the Almighty. Therefore, by bravely giving up life now, I will prove myself worthy of my old age, and I will leave to the young a noble example of how to die willingly and nobly for the revered and holy laws. - 2 Maccabees 6:26
Then the passage says that God will prolong the days of his servant, this is such an amazing passage because that is exactly what God promises Israel in the same book of Isaiah:
No more shall there be in it an infant who lives but a few days or an old person who does not live out a lifetime, for one who dies at a hundred years will be considered a youth, and one who falls short of a hundred will be considered accursed. They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat, for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be, and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands. - Isaiah 65:20–22
I will sanctify my great name, which has been profaned among the nations and which you have profaned among them, and the nations shall know that I am the Lord, says the Lord God, when through you I display my holiness before their eyes - Ezekiel 36:23
Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. - Daniel 12:3
Those who are wise among the people shall instruct many, though for a time they shall fall by sword and flame, by captivity and plunder. - Daniel 11:33
Micah 5:2 -
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”
Some translations, instead of rendering the verse correctly as "from ancient times", renders it as "from everlasting". This is not correct:
The Hebrew vocabulary used in Micah 5:2 is not saying that Jesus physically existed forever. Bill Schlegel writes about the Hebrew word sometimes translated “origins,” and says, “The word translated as ‘origins’ or ‘goings forth’ (motsa’ot, מוצאות) [Strong’s #04163] occurs only here in the Bible in the feminine form (and only in plural), with one additional possible textual variant in 2 Kings 10:27.” From the same root is “descendant” צאצא (e.g. Job 5:25; Isa. 44:3) and later Hebrew “ancestry” מוצא. In association with miqqedem, mimei olam (“from before, from days of long ago”), which relate to Israel’s historical past, the feminine plural form in Micah 5:1 (5:2 in the English versions) most likely relates to physical ancestry, especially David’s and/or Abraham’s. - REV Bible Commentary
In Micah 5:2, the use of mōtsa’ah along with yōm ōlam conveys the idea that “the ancestry of the expected ruler traces back to David’s time as well as David’s city.” Furthermore, J. M. P. Smith also sees this as a reference to the Messiah belonging to one of the oldest families, that is, the Davidic family, and so does Ralph L. Smith, describing how Micah has in mind the idea of a “new David” by making use of colloquial language where the days of David were spoken of as “the ancient days,” like in Amos 9:11 - REV Bible Commentary
Now, let's go through each verse one at a time:
V1. Marshal your troops now, city of troops, for a siege is laid against us. They will strike Israel’s ruler on the cheek with a rod.
This was written during the Assyrian threat, when King Sennacherib rose up and sieged Jerusalem (2 Kings 18:13, Isaiah 36:1). King Hezekiah was the king at this time (2 Kings 18:1-3). What siege occurred when Jesus was born, when the gospels cite this passage about him? (Matthew 2:6).
V2. “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”
The person in reference is a ruler, Jesus was never a ruler of Israel.
V3. Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor bears a son, and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites.
Israel was “abandoned” and allowed to be captured and ransacked by the Assyrians. The language of “bearing a son” is used in reference to the siege (Isaiah 37:3). During Hezekiah’s time, a remnant was described to return (Isaiah 10:20-21, 2 Kings 19:30-31, Isaiah 37:31-32).
V4. He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth.
“The flock” is in reference to the people of Israel (Psalm 77:20; 80:1, Jeremiah 31:10, Ezekiel 34:12, Micah 7:14). Kings are shepherds to their people, such as David (2 Samuel 5:2; 7:8, Psalm 78:70-71, Jeremiah 3:15), Cyrus (Isaiah 44:28), and even wicked rulers (Isaiah 56:9-11, Zechariah 10:3). This means Hezekiah fits the role of a shepherd. It also states this ruler has a God. Without presupposing Christian theology and the roles in the triune Godhead, it is most likely to be a human king as opposed to God Himself. It also states Israel will live securely. Hezekiah described peace in his days (2 Kings 20:19, Isaiah 39:8).
What about his greatness reaching the “ends of the earth”? This phraseology does not have to be taken literally, as seen when Babylon is called “the ends of the earth” (Deuteronomy 28:49), or when Daniel says there is a tree that was visible throughout the “whole world” (Daniel 4:20). It can just be in reference to a long strip of land, and we know Hezekiah had a lasting legacy and impact on many nations. Now as for Jesus, Israel did not live securely in his days, as they remained in Roman captivity for hundreds of years, and their temple was destroyed in 70 AD.
V5. And he will be our peace when the Assyrians invade our land and march through our fortresses. We will raise against them seven shepherds, even eight commanders,
The most explicit reference: again, Hezekiah was the king who made peace with the Assyrian king by paying him the treasures in the temple (2 Kings 18:13-23), prayed for the destruction of Assyria (2 Kings 19:20-23, Isaiah 37:21-24), and described peace in his days (2 Kings 20:19, Isaiah 39:8).
V6. who will rule the land of Assyria with the sword, the land of Nimrod with drawn sword. He will deliver us from the Assyrians when they invade our land and march across our borders.
The same thing: Hezekiah was the one who historically delivered the Israelites from Assyrian oppression when they sieged, not Jesus.
V7-8. The remnant of Jacob will be in the midst of many peoples like dew from the Lord, like showers on the grass, which do not wait for anyone or depend on man. The remnant of Jacob will be among the nations, in the midst of many peoples, like a lion among the beasts of the forest, like a young lion among flocks of sheep, which mauls and mangles as it goes, and no one can rescue.
The remnant of Jacob is described as bearing much fruit during Hezekiah’s time (Isaiah 37:31-32). They were amongst foreigners and were meek and gentle. However, when they were threatened, they became untouchable like a lion, because they only depended on God, and He was with them (2 Kings 19:35-38), despite the Assyrians claiming no one would help them (Isaiah 36:4-7).
V9-15. Your hand will be lifted up in triumph over your enemies, and all your foes will be destroyed. “In that day,” declares the Lord, “I will destroy your horses from among you and demolish your chariots. I will destroy the cities of your land and tear down all your strongholds. I will destroy your witchcraft and you will no longer cast spells. I will destroy your idols and your sacred stones from among you; you will no longer bow down to the work of your hands. I will uproot from among you your Asherah poles when I demolish your cities. I will take vengeance in anger and wrath on the nations that have not obeyed me.”
We know Israel triumphed over their enemies (the Assyrians) during this time. God then goes on to condemn Israel for their wickedness and disobedience to Him. Hezekiah was the righteous king during this time who destroyed their wickedness and reinstated true Torah observance (2 Chronicles 29:3-5; 18-19; 30:6-8). The Israelites would raise up Asherah poles (Exodus 34:13, Judges 3:7; 6:25-27), as well as the Bronze Serpent Moses raised up in the wilderness (Numbers 21:9) and Hezekiah destroyed them (2 Kings 18:4-6, 1 Chronicles 31:1).
Zechariah 2:10-11 -
“Shout and be glad, Daughter Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you,” declares the Lord. “Many nations will be joined with the Lord in that day and will become my people. I will live among you and you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you.
Christians argue that is it about the incarnation. However, God "being/living/dwelling" among us doesn't necessitate incarnation and we know this from the Bible, from the Old Testament as well as the New Testament:
I will not execute my burning anger; I will not again destroy Ephraim; for I am God and not a man, the Holy One in your midst, and I will not come in wrath. - Hosea 11:9
Also, God incarnating contradicts verses in the Bible:
But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built! - 1 Kings 8:27, 2 Chron 2:6; 6:18
Zechariah 9:9 -
Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
Zechariah 9 talks about judgement on a bunch of lands in verses 1-7. These lands include Tyre, Sidon, Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron, Ashdod, Philistia, etc, for their sins. We then see the promise of the king to come riding on a donkey. The coming of Jesus does not fulfill these conditions.
Also, in verse 10, it says that the king will proclaim peace throughout to the nations, and his rule will extend from sea to sea. Jesus failed this.
Zechariah 12:10 -
“And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.
The chapter, from verse 1 to 10, parallels the end time battle of Gog and Megog:
V2-3. See, I am about to make Jerusalem a cup of reeling for all the surrounding peoples; it will be against Judah also in the siege against Jerusalem. On that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who lift it shall grievously hurt themselves. And all the nations of the earth shall come together against it.
You will come from your place in the far north, you and many nations with you, all of them riding on horses, a great horde, a mighty army. You will advance against My people Israel like a cloud that covers the land. In those days to come, Gog, I will bring you against My land, so that the nations may know Me when I am proved holy through you before their eyes.” - Ezekiel 38:15-18
V3-4. All who try to move it will injure themselves. On that day I will strike every horse with panic and its rider with madness,’ declares the Lord. ‘I will keep a watchful eye over Judah, but I will blind all the horses of the nations.
On the mountains of Israel you will fall, you and all your troops and the nations with you. I will give you as food to all kinds of carrion birds and to the wild animals.” - Ezekiel 39:4
V5. Then the clans of Judah will say in their hearts, ‘This people of Jerusalem are strong, because the Lord Almighty is their God.’
All the people of the land will bury them, and the day I display my glory will be a memorable day to them,’ declares the Sovereign Lord. - Ezekiel 39:13
V10. And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication.
‘I will no longer hide my face from them, for I will POUR OUT my Spirit on the people of Israel’, declares the Sovereign Lord. - Ezekiel 39:29
Now that we understand that this chapter has nothing to do with the coming of the Messiah, let's see why Jesus fails this prophecy:
V11-14. On that day the weeping in Jerusalem will be as great as the weeping of Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo. The land will mourn, each clan by itself, with their wives by themselves: the clan of the house of David and their wives, the clan of the house of Nathan and their wives, the clan of the house of Levi and their wives, the clan of Shimei and their wives, and all the rest of the clans and their wives.
According to the verse, there is a mass lament for the "piercing". However, when Jesus was crucified, there is no mass lament for Jesus.
Now let’s look where Jesus supposedly fulfills this:
But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe. For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, “Not one of His bones shall be broken.” And again another Scripture says, “They shall look on Him whom they pierced. - John 19:34-37
According to the Gospel of John, Jesus fulfills this prophecy because the Roman soldier pierces his side and looks upon him. John makes this a false prophecy because the one looking upon Jesus is a Roman soldier and not an Israel as Zechariah 12 says. Furthermore, John changes the verse from "they will look upon me" to "they will look upon him". In conclusion, Zechariah 12 was talking about the Israelites piercing God and looking at him, however, according to John, it's the Roman soldier.
Zechariah 13:7 -
“Awake, sword, against my shepherd, against the man who is close to me!” declares the Lord Almighty. “Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn my hand against the little ones.
In Zechariah 13 verses 1-6, It is speaking about a day when God will purge the house of David and Jerusalem from idolatry and sin, and all of the false prophets will be intensely interrogated and even killed by their own families. When did this occur in the gospels?
Ironically, citing this proves that Jesus is a false prophet because in context of Zechariah 13, the shepherd being mentioned here is a false prophet. The context is verse 4-6:
“On that day every prophet will be ashamed of their prophetic vision. They will not put on a prophet’s garment of hair in order to deceive. Each will say, ‘I am not a prophet. I am a farmer; the land has been my livelihood since my youth. If someone asks, ‘What are these wounds on your body?’ they will answer, ‘The wounds I was given at the house of my friends.’
We see that God here is speaking very harshly of the shepherd, as if He is disgusted with him. Well lo and behold, we see the exact same thing earlier in Zechariah, Isaiah, and Ezekiel where God condemns the shepherds of Israel who were being wicked and hypocritical:
My anger is kindled against the shepherds, and I will punish the goats. For the Lord of hosts will visit His flock, the house of Judah, and will make them as His royal horse in the battle. - Zechariah 10:3
All you beasts of the field, come to devour, all you beasts in the forest. His watchmen are blind, they are all ignorant; they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. Yes, they are greedy dogs which never have enough. And they are SHEPHERDS who cannot understand; they all look to their own way, every one for his own gain, from his own quarter. - Isaiah 56:9-11
“The word of the Lord came to me: Mortal, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: To the shepherds—thus says the Lord God: Woe, you shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep? You eat the fat; you clothe yourselves with the wool; you slaughter the fatted calves, but you do not feed the sheep. You have not strengthened the weak; you have not healed the sick; you have not bound up the injured; you have not brought back the strays; you have not sought the lost, but with force and harshness you have ruled them. So they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and scattered they became food for all the wild animals. My sheep were scattered; they wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill; my sheep were scattered over all the face of the earth, with no one to search or seek for them. Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: As I live, says the Lord God, because my sheep have become a prey and my sheep have become food for all the wild animals, since there was no shepherd, and because my shepherds have not searched for my sheep, but the shepherds have fed themselves and have not fed my sheep— therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: Thus says the Lord God: I am against the shepherds, and I will demand my sheep at their hand and put a stop to their feeding the sheep; no longer shall the shepherds feed themselves. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, so that they may not be food for them. - Ezekiel 34:1-10
So what does verses 8-9 mean?
V8-9. In the whole land,” declares the Lord, “two-thirds will be struck down and perish; yet one-third will be left in it. This third I will put into the fire, I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on my name and I will answer them; I will say, ‘They are my people,’ and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God.’ - Zechariah 13:8-9
The whole point of the chapter is that Israel will be purged of idolatry and falsehood, and the wicked shepherds who had pride and arrogance would be struck down, leaving Israel in a state of despair and panic, now that they don’t have a ruler. It is then that God Himself will test them in order to purify them, and then they will call out to Him in desperation and repentance, and He will respond to them and forgive them for their sin.
Zechariah 14:9 -
The Lord will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and his name the only name.
Jesus doesn't fulfill a single requirement in Zechariah 14.
V2-8. I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem to fight against it; the city will be captured, the houses ransacked, and the women raped. Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be taken from the city. Then the Lord will go out and fight against those nations, as he fights on a day of battle. On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south. You will flee by my mountain valley, for it will extend to Azel. You will flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the Lord my God will come, and all the holy ones with him. On that day there will be neither sunlight nor cold, frosty darkness. It will be a unique day—a day known only to the Lord—with no distinction between day and night. When evening comes, there will be light. On that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem, half of it east to the Dead Sea and half of it west to the Mediterranean Sea, in summer and in winter.
Jesus does none of this.
Daniel 9:24-27 -
“Seventy ‘sevens’ are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the Most Holy Place. “Know and understand this: From the time the word goes out to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven ‘sevens,’ and sixty-two ‘sevens.’ It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble. After the sixty-two ‘sevens,’ the Anointed One will be put to death and will have nothing. The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed. He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.
This is one of the false prophecies in the Bible.
According to the verse, after the word goes out to restore and rebuild Jerusalem, there will be a period of "Seventy Sevens", which means 490 years, after which the Anointed One will be put to death. Christians affirm that this is a prophecy of the crucifixion and death of Jesus.
However, we know that the decree comes from the time of King Cyrus from Isaiah 45:12:
It is I who made the earth and created mankind on it. My own hands stretched out the heavens; I marshaled their starry hosts.
King Cyrus lived approximately from 600 to 530 BCE. So, 490 years after 530 BCE is the year 40 BCE, when nothing happens. So, this is a failed prophecy of the Bible.
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