Prophecies of Jesus-6

1. Messiah would be a descendant of Jacob.

   
   

   Old Testament Scripture. Num. 24:17

   
   

   New Testament Fulfillment. Mat. 1:2

Num. 24:17 I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.

I (Balaam) shall see Him, but not now (Num. 24:17). Balaam and all other men will see Him, for every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess His Lordship (Php. 2:9-11). Even all rebels in hell will be tormented forever in His presence (Rev. 14:9-11; cp. Isa. 66:22-24). The literal meaning here is, "I shall have a full view of Him, but the time is far distant"; that is, the person I am prophesying about does not now exist among these Israelite's, nor shall He appear in this generation.

I (Balaam) shall see...

ראה

râ'âh

Definition:

1) to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to see

1a2) to see, perceive

1a3) to see, have vision

1a4) to look at, see, regard, look after, see after, learn about, observe, watch, look upon, look out, find out

1a5) to see, observe, consider, look at, give attention to, discern, distinguish

1a6) to look at, gaze at

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to appear, present oneself

1b2) to be seen

1b3) to be visible

1c) (Pual) to be seen

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to cause to see, show

1d2) to cause to look intently at, behold, cause to gaze at

1e) (Hophal)

1e1) to be caused to see, be shown

1e2) to be exhibited to

1f) (Hithpael) to look at each other, face

Part of Speech: verb

Him (Christ Jesus), but not...

לה / לוא / לא

lô' / lôh

Definition:

1) not, no

1a) not (with verb - absolute prohibition)

1b) not (with modifier - negation)

1c) nothing (substantive)

1d) without (with particle)

1e) before (of time)

Part of Speech: adverb

now:...

עתּה

‛attâh

Definition:

1) now

1a) now

1b) in phrases

Part of Speech: adverb

I (Balaam (and other men)) shall behold...

שׁוּר

shûr

Definition:

1) to see, behold, observe, regard

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to behold, observe

1a2) to regard

1a3) to watch, watch (stealthily), lie in wait

Part of Speech: verb

Him, but not... see above.

nigh:...

קרב / קרוב

qârôb

Definition:

1) near

1a) of place

1b) of time

1c) of personal relationship

1c1) kinship

Part of Speech: adjective

there shall come...

דּרך

dârak

Definition:

1) to tread, bend, lead, march

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to tread, march, march forth

1a2) to tread on, tread upon

1a3) to tread (a press)

1a4) to tread (bend) a bow

1a5) archer, bow-benders (participle)

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to tread, tread down

1b2) to tread (bend with the foot) a bow

1b3) to cause to go, lead, march, tread

Part of Speech: verb

He shall rise as a Star out of Jacob (Num. 24:17). The star has been a symbol of regal power among all nations, being often used to herald the rise of, and future glory of, a monarch.

a Star (Messiah)...

כּוכב

kôkâb

Definition:

1) star

1a) of Messiah, brothers, youth, numerous progeny, personification, God’s omniscience (figuratively)

Part of Speech: noun masculine

out of Jacob,...

מנּי / מנּי / מן

min / minnı̂y / minnêy

Definition:

1) from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than (preposition)

1a) from (expressing separation), off, on the side of

1b) out of

1b1) (with verbs of proceeding, removing, expelling)

1b2) (of material from which something is made)

1b3) (of source or origin)

1c) out of, some of, from (partitively)

1d) from, since, after (of time)

1e) than, more than (in comparison)

1f) from...even to, both...and, either...or

1g) than, more than, too much for (in comparisons)

1h) from, on account of, through, because (with infinitive)

2) that (conjunction)

Part of Speech: see above in Definition

יעקב

ya‛ăqôb

Definition:

Jacob = “heel holder” or “supplanter”

1) son of Isaac, grandson of Abraham, and father of the 12 patriarchs of the tribes of Israel

Part of Speech: noun proper masculine

A Sceptre shall rise out of Israel (Num. 24:17). This same thing was predicted by the prophet Jacob (Gen. 49:10; cp. Psm. 45:6; Heb. 1:8). It expresses the ruling power of the Messiah who was to come (Isa. 9:6-7; Dan. 7:13-14; Luke 1:32-33; Rev. 11:15).

and a Sceptre (Messiah)...

שׁבט

shêbeṭ

Definition:

1) rod, staff, branch, offshoot, club, sceptre, tribe

1a) rod, staff

1b) shaft (of spear, dart)

1c) club (of shepherd’s implement)

1d) truncheon, sceptre (mark of authority)

1e) clan, tribe

Part of Speech: noun masculine

shall rise...

קוּם

qûm

Definition:

1) to rise, arise, stand, rise up, stand up

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to arise

1a2) to arise (hostile sense)

1a3) to arise, become powerful

1a4) to arise, come on the scene

1a5) to stand

1a5a) to maintain oneself

1a5b) to be established, be confirmed

1a5c) to stand, endure

1a5d) to be fixed

1a5e) to be valid

1a5f) to be proven

1a5g) to be fulfilled

1a5h) to persist

1a5i) to be set, be fixed

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to fulfill

1b2) to confirm, ratify, establish, impose

1c) (Polel) to raise up

1d) (Hithpael) to raise oneself, rise up

1e) (Hiphil)

1e1) to cause to arise, raise

1e2) to raise, set up, erect, build

1e3) to raise up, bring on the scene

1e4) to raise up, rouse, stir up, investigate

1e5) to raise up, constitute

1e6) to cause to stand, set, station, establish

1e7) to make binding

1e8) to carry out, give effect to

1f) (Hophal) to be raised up

Part of Speech: verb

out of Israel,...

ישׂראל

yiśrâ'êl

Definition:

Israel = “God prevails”

1) the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel

2) the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob

2a) the name of the nation until the death of Solomon and the split

2b) the name used and given to the northern kingdom consisting of the 10 tribes under Jeroboam; the southern kingdom was known as Judah

2c) the name of the nation after the return from exile

Part of Speech: noun proper masculine

He shall smite the corners (extremity or uttermost parts) of Moab (Num. 24:17; cp. Psm. 60:8; Isa. 11:14; 16:1-5; 25:10; Jer. 48:47; Dan. 11:40-41).

and shall smite...

מחץ

mâchats

Definition:

1) to smite through, shatter, wound severely

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to shatter

1a2) shattering (participle)

Part of Speech: verb

the corners...

פּאה

pê'âh

Definition:

1) corner, edge, side, quarter, extremity

1a) corner

1b) side

Part of Speech: noun feminine

of Moab,...

מואב

mô'âb

Definition:

Moab = “of his father”

1) a son of Lot by his eldest daughter (noun proper masculine)

2) the nation descended from the son of Lot (noun proper masculine)

3) the land inhabited by the descendants of the son of Lot (noun proper locative)

Part of Speech: see above in Definition

and destroy... see and shall smite above.

all...

כּול / כּל

kôl / kôl

Definition:

1) all, the whole

1a) all, the whole of

1b) any, each, every, anything

1c) totality, everything

Part of Speech: noun masculine

the children...

בּן

bên

Definition:

1) son, grandson, child, member of a group

1a) son, male child

1b) grandson

1c) children (plural - male and female)

1d) youth, young men (plural)

1e) young (of animals)

1f) sons (as characterization, i.e. sons of injustice [for unrighteous men] or sons of God [for angels])

1g) people (of a nation) (plural)

1h) of lifeless things, i.e. sparks, stars, arrows (figuratively)

1i) a member of a guild, order, class

Part of Speech: noun masculine

of Sheth...

שׁת

shêth

Definition:

Seth = “compensation”

1) the 3rd son of Adam by Eve

1a) also ‘Sheth’

Part of Speech: proper noun masculine

The truth Balaam saw concerned primarily a star and a scepter that would originate in Israel in the future. Since poetically the star is parallel to the scepter, the star must also refer to royalty. This has now been strikingly confirmed in prophetic texts from Mari which describe various kings by the epithet “star.” The connection of this prophecy to that of Jacob, in which he predicted that a ruler over Israel would come from Judah (Gen. 49:10), is unmistakable. Balaam went on to predict that this king will crush the foreheads of Moab, the skulls of all the sons of Sheth. The word translated “forehead” (pē'âh) is usually rendered “side” or “border,” but it can mean forehead (as in Lev. 19:27 3; 21:5 3; Jer. 9:26 3, NIV marg.; Jer. 25:23 3, NIV marg.). With the verb “crush” (mahaṣ) pē'âh almost certainly should be rendered “forehead.” The parallel word “skulls” translates the word qoḏqōḏ (“skull”). (The MT has the obscure qarqar, a word that appears only here and has no clear meaning.) The validity of this proposal is supported by Jer. 48:45, “It burns the foreheads [pē'âh as in Num. 24:17] of Moab, the skulls [qoḏqōḏ] of the noisy boasters.” Also the Hebrew for “the noisy boasters” in Jer. 48:45 is literally, “the sons of uproar” (b^enē šā'ôn), not “the sons of Sheth” (b^enē sĕṯ) as in Num. 24:17. “Sheth” is of dubious etymology but perhaps, with Jeremiah, it suggests confusion or turmoil. In both Numbers and Jeremiah, “turmoil” (šĕt) or “uproar” (šā'ôn is parallel to Moab and therefore is a way of describing the Moabites as a people in an uproar. This may allude to all the terror and dread Moab felt when Israel camped in her plains (Num. 22:3).

Mat. 1:2 Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren;

Abraham History of Abraham (Genesis 11:26-25:11).

Isaac History of Isaac (Genesis 21:1-35:29).

Jacob History of Jacob (Genesis 25:24-50:14).

Judas and his brethren Genesis 29:16-30:24; 1Chr. 2:1-4.

Matthew gave Jesus’ lineage through His legal father, Joseph (Mat. 1:16). Thus this genealogy traced Jesus’ right to the throne of David, which must come through Solomon and his descendants (Mat. 1:6). Of particular interest is the inclusion of Jeconiah (Mat. 1:11) of whom Jeremiah said, “Record this man as if childless” (Jer. 22:30). Jeremiah’s prophecy related to the actual occupation of the throne and the reception of blessing while on the throne. Though Jeconiah’s sons never occupied the throne, the line of ruler ship did pass through them. If Jesus had been a physical descendant of Jeconiah, He would not have been able to occupy David’s throne. Luke’s genealogy made it clear that Jesus was a physical descendant of David through another son named Nathan (Luke 3:31). But Joseph, a descendant of Solomon, was Jesus’ legal father, so Jesus’ right to the throne was traced through Joseph.

Matthew traced Joseph’s line from Jeconiah through the latter’s son Shealtiel and grandson Zerubbabel (Mat. 1:12). Luke (Luke 3:27) also refers to Shealtiel, the father of Zerubbabel, in Mary’s line. Does Luke’s account, then, mean that Jesus was a physical descendant of Jeconiah, after all? No, because Luke’s Shealtiel and Zerubbabel were probably different persons from those two in Matthew. In Luke Shealtiel was the son of Neri, but Matthew’s Shealtiel was the son of Jeconiah.

Matthew obviously did not list every individual in the genealogy between Abraham and David (Mat. 1:2-6), between David and the Exile (Mat. 1:6-11), and between the Exile and Jesus (Mat. 1:12-16). Instead he listed only 14 generations in each of these time periods (Mat. 1:17). Jewish reckoning did not require every name in order to satisfy a genealogy. But why did Matthew select 14 names in each period? Perhaps the best solution is that the name “David” in Hebrew numerology added up to 14. It should be noted that in the period from the Exile to the birth of Jesus (Mat. 1:12-16) 13 new names appeared. Many scholars feel that Jeconiah (Mat. 1:12), though repeated from Mat. 1:11, provides the 14th name in this final period.

Matthew’s genealogy answered the important question a Jew would rightfully ask about anyone who claimed to be King of the Jews. Is He a descendant of David through the rightful line of succession? Matthew answered yes!