Messianic Judaism - The Torah and the Testimony Revealed

This study establishes from the Torah, Tenach, Talmud, and other Jewish sources the facts, that the Rabbis don't tell you, that validate Yeshua's birth, lineage, and Messiahship. And discusses the curse on Yekon'yah's lineage and the word "almah", translated as virgin.

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What Judaism Doesn't Tell About Messiah 8-23-08 Edition

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08/23/2008

WHAT JUDAISM DOESN'T TELL ABOUT MESSIAH 10-30-05

Large portions of this teaching are founded upon the righteous work
of the late Talmud teacher, Rachmiel Frydland.
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Welcome to TNT, to the Torah and the Testimony Revealed. Thank you for joining us today. Today we are going to talk about the curse placed on the lineage of Yekan'yah (Jeconiah) which contemporary Judaism states disqualifies Yeshua as the Messiah, and about the virgin birth which they contest as not valid.

In our study we will investigate what the Torah and Tenach have to say concerning these matters, and what our most ancient of sages in the Talmud and other authoritative rabbinical sources have to say on these subjects.

Beginning in Yerem'yahu (Jeremiah) 22:30, it is written,

22:30 This is what Yahuweh says, "List this man as childless; as a man who shall not prosper in His days, and whose seed shall not prosper; none will sit on David’s throne, or rule again in Yahudah (Judah)".

This of course, is clearly a 3 fold curse declaring that,

1- Yekan'yah (Jeconiah) would die childless, that
2- He would not prosper, and
3- That his seed would not prosper on the throne of David.

Thereby eliminating any chance that Messiah would come from Shlomo (Solomon) through him.

But then in Divrei-HaYamim Alef (I Chronicles) 3:17,18 it is written,

3:17 The sons of Yekan'yah (Jeconiah), Sh’alti’el (Shealtiel) his son, and Asir,

3:18 also Malkiram, P’dayah (Pedaiah), Shen’atzar (Shenazzar), Y’kamyah (Jecamiah), Hoshama and N’davyah (Nedabiah).

Indicating that the first curse had been lifted.

This is followed by M’lakhim Bet (II Kings) 25:27, 28 where it is written,

25:27 In the thirty-seventh year of the captivity of Yahuyachin (Jehoichin) [Yekan'yah’s (Jeconiah’s) alternate name] "the king of Babel" commuted Yahuyachin’s (Jehoichin’s) sentence and released him from prison.

25:28 And he [the king of Babel], treated him with kindness and gave him a throne higher than the throne of the other kings that were with him in Babel.

Indicating that the second curse on him had been lifted as well.

Our sages in the Yalkut explain the removal of these curses after this manner,

"Nebuchadnezzar took Yahuyachin (Jehoichin) and put him in prison."

“…The Jewish religious Council gathered to consider the matter, for they feared that the Davidic kingdom would come to an end, of which it is written, ‘His throne shall endure before me as long as the sun; Tehilli (Psalm) 89:36.’ "

“What can we do in order to help? In order that the Scriptures might be fulfilled? We will go and plead with the governess, and the governess will plead with the queen, and the queen with the king."

This indicates that our sages understood that if the curse upon Yahuyachin (Jehoichin) was not lifted, then all hopes for a Messianic Kingdom would come to an end; for prior to the curse, Yahuyachin (Jehoichin) was the only King who qualified for the Seed of Messiah to come through. The Yalkut continues with Rabbi Shabatai who said,

"Yahuyachin (Jehoichin) did not leave prison until he repented fully and God forgave his sins and "his wife got pregnant as it is written, ‘Sh’alti’el (Shealtiel) his son, Asir his son.’ "

Sh’alti’el (Shealtiel) means, "I asked of God." Asir means "prisoner." Our sages understood this to mean that Yahuyachin (Jehoichin) ask God to forgive him while he was in prison, and that God indicated His forgiveness by giving him sons.

Accordingly, our people when returning from Babel appointed Yahuyachin (Jehoichin) to be their prince, a full expectation on the part of our sages continued to reveal that if God had lifted the first two curses, then perhaps He would lift the 3rd as well in order for the hope of the Messianic Kingdom to continue.

As it is written Zechar’yahu (Zechariah) 4:7,9-10 concerning Z'rubavel (Zerubabel), the descendent of Yahuyachin (Jehoichin),

4:7 Who are you, O great mountain? Before Z'rubavel (Zerubabel) you shall become a plain, and he will put the capstone in place, as everyone shouts; "It is beautiful, it is beautiful!"

4:9 The hands of Z'rubavel (Zerubabel) have laid the foundation of this house, and his hands will also finish it...

4:10 For even someone who doesn’t think much of a day when such minor events take place will rejoice at seeing the plumbline in the hand of Z'rubavel (Zerubabel).

Showing that, though the 3rd curse had not been lifted yet, the people, and our sages, in light of the lifting of the previous two curses, were still hopeful that perhaps this 3rd one would be lifted as well.

This is further re-enforced by Divrei-haYamim Alef (I Chronicles) 3:19-24, which reflects the only genealogy preserved and recorded after Z'rubavel’s (Zerubabel‘s) death as being none other than Z'rubavel’s (Zerubabel‘s) own genealogy.

This indicates two things,

1- The absence of any other genealogies outside of Z'rubavel’s (Zerubabel‘s) after his death shows that there was no expectation of a Messianic lineage through any other descendent of Shlomo (Solomon), and

2- The preservation of six generations of Z'rubavel’s (Zerubabel)’s genealogy after his dearth shows clearly the continuing hope our people, and of the sages, of Messiah’s arrival through this lineage - despite the curse. Believing fully, that even as God had lifted the first two curses, even so, perhaps He would eventually lift the 3rd.

As a result of these hopes, our sages continued to diligently track the genealogies, that branched off of this one line, all the way up to the time of the destruction of the 2nd Temple in 70 CE.

And as is evident, even today, no descendent from this lineage ever ascended the throne of David.

In the Sanhedrin 96b-99a, it is stated,

The world endures 6,000 years, and 1,000 it shall be laid waste, that is, the enemies of God shall be laid waste, whereof it is said, "[Yahuweh] alone shall be exalted in that day." As out of seven years, every seventh is a year of remission, so out of the seven thousand years of the world, the seventh millennium shall be the 1,000 years of remission, that God alone may be exalted in that day.

This points to an ancient understanding that the 7th Millennium will be set apart from the others.

In the Midrash Rabbah on B’resheet (Genesis), 98:3, it is stated,

The world is to be for 6,000 years. 2,000 years empty without Torah; 2,000 years with Torah; and 2,000 years Messianic Times.

And in Sanhedrin 97a & b that on the 3rd millennium following the 2,000 year Messianic era (the 7th millennium), the resurrection of the dead would occur. As it states in Hoshea (Hosea) 6:1, 2

6:1 Come, let us return to Yahuweh; for He has torn, and He will heal us; He has struck, and He will bind our wounds.

6:2 After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up and we will live in His presence.

This expectation of a Messianic Kingdom after 4,000 years was primarily due to the prophecy of Daniel the prophet which foretold the coming of Messiah at the end of 69 heptads; Daniel 9:24-26

Pursuant to this 70 heptad prophecy (69 weeks of years to the Messiah, and 1 week of years for a final covenant), the sages placed Messiah’s expected arrival at the 1st half of the 1st century CE.

As was stated by Rabbi Moshe Avraham Levi,

"I have examined and searched all the Holy Scriptures and have not found the time for the coming of Messiah clearly fixed, except in the words of Gabriel to the prophet Daniel, which are written in the 9th chapter of the prophecy of Daniel."

And also in the Targum of the prophets, Megillah 3a, where it states,

And the (voice from heaven) came forth and exclaimed, "who is he who has revealed my secrets to mankind?" He further sought to reveal by a Targum the inner meaning of the Hagiographa, but a voice from heaven went forth and said, "Enough!", And what was the reason? Because the date of the Messiah was foretold in it!

This prophecy of Daniel also states that the Temple would be destroyed sometime after the 69th heptad, as is stated in Nazir 32b, where Rabbi Yoseph speaks concerning the time of the second Temple,

Had I been there, I should have said to them, "Is it not written, the Temple of Adonai, the Temple of Adonai, the Temple of Adonai are these, which points to the destruction of the first and second Temples?"

Granted that they knew it would be destroyed, but did they know when this would occur?

Rabbi Abaye responded, "Did they not know when?" Is it not written, 70 heptads (70 weeks of years) are determined upon the people, and upon the holy city?

This is also in the Yalkut, vol. 2, pg 79d, that this prophecy of Daniel was the one which revealed the timing of Messiah’s arrival, and destruction of the Temple.

And concerning the two views of Messiah, the one as ben Yoseph (Joseph), and the other as ben David, Rabbi Yoshua bar Levi stated in Sanhedrin 98a,

The one [verse] that says, "Behold, one like the Son of Man came with the clouds of heaven"; Daniel 7:13, and the other verse that says, "poor and riding upon a donkey"; Zechar’yahu (Zechariah) 9:9. If we are worthy, Messiah will come on the clouds of heaven; if we are not worthy, He will come poor and riding on a donkey."

The fact that we have only been allowed to build the Temple in times when we as a nation were worthy, and that God allowed our Temple to be destroyed in times past only when we are unworthy, indicates that the destruction of the Temple spoken of by Daniel the prophet would be the result of unworthiness on our part.

Also, in Sukkah 51a, it states,

"The Messiah descended from Yoseph (Joseph) will appear first to bring salvation to the Jewish people. However, He will be killed" and the full redemption will be brought about solely through the Messiah descended through David."

It continues by stating,

"[In] the period of the Messiah descended from Yoseph (Joseph)" death and sin will continue to exist. But the period of the Messiah descended from David will usher in a new natural order, in which death and sin will have no place."

Showing an understanding that Messiah ben Yoseph (Joseph) would appear first, and be killed, and that Messiah ben David would appear afterward. And that under Messiah ben Yoseph (Joseph), sin and death would continue to exist in the world; but that under Messiah ben David, a world where sin and death no longer exist would be ushered in.

And it is also written in B’resheet (Genesis) 49:10,

49:10 The scepter shall not depart from Y'hudah (Judah), nor a giver of Torah from between his feet, until Shiloh comes; and to Him shall be the obedience of the people. Shiloh referring to Messiah.

The Targum Onkelos states the following meaning of this as follows,

"The transmission of dominion shall not cease from the house of Y'hudah (Judah), nor the scribe from his children’s children, forever, until Messiah comes."

The Targum Yerushalmi likewise states,

"Kings shall not cease from the house of Y'hudah (Judah)" until the time of the coming of the King Messiah" to whom all the dominions of the earth shall become subservient."

And in Sanhedrin 98b,

"The world was created for the sake of the Messiah, what is the name of the Messiah? The school of Rabbi Shila said, "His name is Shiloh, for it is written, ‘Until Shiloh comes’.”

And concerning the removal of the Scepter, the Jerusalem Talmud, Sanhedrin, folio 24, states,

"A little more than 40 years before the destruction of the Temple, the power of pronouncing capital sentences was taken away from the Jews."

As it says in the Babylonian Talmud, chapter 24, folio 37,

"When the members of the Sanhedrin found themselves deprived of their right over life and death, a general consternation took possession of them, and they covered their heads with ashes, and their bodies with sackcloth, and exclaimed: 'Woe unto us for the scepter has departed from Y'hudah (Judah) and the Messiah
has not come'."

This was proclaimed at the time of Yeshua's coming when they recognized that the scepter had departed; but rather than accept Yeshua as that Messiah, that stated, "and the Messiah has not come", thereby denying the infallibility of prophecy, and denying the writings of the sages.

In Rosh Hashanah 31b it states, 40 years prior to the destruction of the Temple, the lot for the goat to be sacrificed ceased to come up on the right hand of the Cohen haGadol (High Priest) as previously, and that the crimson cloth put out on Yom Kippur no longer turned white to indicate God‘s forgiveness of Israel‘s sins.

This also occurred in Yeshua's day, in fact in the very year of Yeshua's death and resurrection.

It also states in Yoma 39b, that at this same time, 40 years prior to the destruction of the Temple, that the western light did not keep burning as before, and that the doors of the Temple now opened of themselves.

Based on the above passages quoted from the Torah, the Tenach, and from the writings of our sages in the Talmud and other sources, the following conclusions can be reached.

1- That the world would last 7,000 years, and that the 7th Millennium would be set apart from the others; Sanhedrin 96b-99a

2- That Messiah would come after 4,000 years, and that the Messianic era following would last for 2,000 years thereafter; Midrash Rabbah 98:3, on B’resheet (Genesis)

3- That on the 3rd millennium following the 2,000 year Messianic era (the 7th millennium), that the resurrection of the dead would occur where we would live in God’s presence; Sanhedrin 97a & b; Hoshea (Hosea) 6:1, 2

4- That Messiah after 4,000 years,

a. would come within the first half of the first century CE; i.e. 69 heptads (483 years) after the decree was issued to restore and rebuild Yerushalayim (Jerusalem); Daniel 9:24, 25; Rabbi Moshe Avraham Levi; Targum of the prophets, Megillah 3a

b. And that the Temple would be destroyed sometime after the 69th heptad, and prior to the 7 year covenant of the final, 70th, heptad; Daniel 9:26, 27; Nazir 32b, and the Yalkut, vol.2 pg 79d

5- That Messiah would come poor and riding on a donkey if we were unworthy, which the destruction of the 2nd Temple indicated we were; and which Messiah Yeshua in fact did. Sanhedrin 98a; Daniel 7:13; Zechar’yahu (Zechariah) 9:9

6- That Messiah ben Yoseph (Joseph) would come before Messiah ben David, and be killed; and that sin and death would continue to exist on earth after His death; Sukkah 51a

7- That the removal of the scepter from Y'hudah (Judah) would be a sign that Messiah had arrived; B’resheet (Genesis) 49:10; Targum Onkelos; Targum Yerushalmi; Sanhedrin 98b

8- That in the 1st half of the 1st century CE, and prior to the destruction of the Temple, the Sanhedrin recognized that the scepter had departed from Y'hudah (Judah). Babylonian Talmud, chapter 24, folio 37; Jerusalem Talmud, Sanhedrin, folio 24

9- And that 40 years prior to the destruction of the Temple, the Lot for the goat ceased to come up on the right hand of the Cohen haGadol (High Priest), the crimson thread stopped turning white, the Western lights ceased to burn, and the Temple gates now opened of their own accord; Rosh Hashanah 31b, Yoma 39b

According to all these writings in the Torah, Tenach, Talmud and other Jewish sources, Messiah had to come in the 1st half of the 1st century CE; at the time the scepter departed from Y'hudah (Judah); and prior to the destruction of the 2nd Temple.

That He would be killed. That sin and death would continue in the world after His death. And that the resurrection of the dead would occur 2,000 years later.

The evidences to support that these things had come to pass are,

1- That the Sanhedrin, in the 1st half of the 1st century CE acknowledged that the scepter had departed from Y'hudah (Judah), a sign that Messiah had come.

2- In 30 CE, 40 years prior to the destruction of the Temple, and at the time of Yeshua's death, the crimson cord no longer turned white, the lot for the goat came up on the left instead of the right, the Western lights stopped shining, and the Temple Gates now opened of their own accord, and

3- In 70 CE the Temple was destroyed as Daniel the prophet foretold would happen after the 69 heptads (the 483 years) were completed, and foretold would happen after Messiah had come.

But if the Messiah did not yet come in the first century CE as Daniel prophesied He would, and as our most ancient of sages believed and affirmed He would, then Daniel would be a false prophet. As it is written in D’varim (Deuteronomy) 18:20-22,

18:20 the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.

18:21 And if you say in your heart, "How shall we know the word which Yahuweh has not spoken?"

18:22 when a prophet speaks in the name of Yahuweh, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which Yahuweh has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously.

But you and I, as well as the sages, all know that Daniel was not a false prophet. And if a true prophet, which we all know he was, then Messiah has come; and it is in the first century CE that He came. And if the Messiah was not Yeshua, then who?

I must state at this point that there is no individual in the history of our people who fits this criteria better than Yeshua of Nazareth does. In fact, no other even comes close.

The whole disqualification of Yeshua as the Messiah that my people present appears to be based almost in its entirety on the curse on Yekan'yah, and on the prophesy of the virgin birth.

But two important points missed, in addition to the above points, are that

1- The lineage presented in Mattit’yahu (Matthew) 1:16, does not claim Yoseph (Joseph) as Yeshua’s biological father, but only as the husband of Miriam. And this is in perfect harmony with the curse on Yekan'yah (Jeconiah).

Accordingly, this curse on Yekan'yah’s line does not disprove Yeshua as Messiah. On the contrary, in order for this to provide any evidence against Yeshua as Messiah, this passage would have to claim that Yoseph (Joseph) begat Yeshua; which claim this passage clearly avoids making; and,

2- The arguments against Yeshua assumes that the Almighty would never consider, and/or was incapable of producing, a virgin birth. And also ignores B’resheet (Genesis) 3:15 which states that Messiah would come from the seed of the woman, but never states that He would come from the seed any man other than Avraham, of which Miriam, Yeshua’s mother, was a descendent.

Likewise, Yeshua is only referred to as a son of Joseph in connection with Miriam’s lineage given in Luke 3:23. But not in the line of Yoseph (Joseph) which contained the curse.

This leaves us only with the issue of whether God is capable of producing a virgin birth, and whether the word "almah" really means virgin or not. For if Yoseph (Joseph) did not "beget" Yeshua, and Miriam is not a virgin, then she would have to be an adulteress or prostitute. And I hesitate to condemn a person of a sin that is not supported by the evidence - if even they are dead.
However, concerning the word "almah", it states in Yesh'yahu (Isaiah) 7:14-16 that an "almah" shall conceive and bear a son; and that this would be presented as a "sign" for us.

First we must consider the fact that the 70 Jewish scholars who were expert in both Hebrew and Greek translated the Hebrew word "almah" into the Septuagint with the Greek word "parthenos", which means, without exception, "an unmarried virgin" - not young woman.

Also, the equivalent term in Ugaritic, which is the cognate language to Hebrew, also means "an unmarried virgin" - not young woman.

Likewise, the word "sign" comes from the Hebrew word "ot" which can mean "a supernatural event" or "miracle". In fact, the 10 plagues against Pharaoh, and the rainbow given to Noach are both described by the word "ot".

And it is no miracle for a "young woman" to bear a child; but is a miracle for a virgin to bear one.

Likewise, concerning this same passage, some of our sages thought at one time that this prophecy was in regard to King Chezk’yahu (King Hezekiyah), but was dismissed in part, because the prophecy was given 9 years after King Chezk’yahu (Hezekiyah) was born.

Believing in the Messiah is not a christian concept, but a Jewish concept that was stolen and tainted by the goyim (the Gentiles). But Yeshua? Yeshua was everything that the Torah and the Tenach said the Messiah would be concerning the picture of ben Yoseph (Joseph); and most of the things that the sages thought He would be.

Likewise, if the curse of Yekan'yah (Jeconiah) was really a sincere argument on the part of my people, then they would not be continuing to this very day to seek a man from the lineage of David to be their Messiah King.

It is not a wise thing to limit the power of the Almighty, or to place the Almighty in a box by implying that He could not, or would not, cause a virgin woman to bear a child.

Especially when Yekan'yah (Jeconiah), the only one whose lineage was capable of producing the Messiah, had a curse on it, creating a scenario that could only be circumvented by either the lifting of the curse, or through a virgin birth.

To call the Almighty the Creator of the Universe, and to understand that He formed Adam from the dust of the earth, and then turn around and state that a virgin birth is an unreasonable act of creation for Him to perform is very dangerous.

It is also dangerous to limit the Almighty by implying that because we cannot conceive of it happening, that somehow this prevents Him from bringing such a thing to pass.

In the same manner, it is also dangerous for us to assume that because we would never consider doing something a certain way, that somehow that ensures that the Almighty would never do it that way either.

Our limited thoughts, ways, and abilities, are not to be compared to the unlimited and incomprehensive thoughts, ways, and abilities of our Creator.

And if you really consider this matter deeply, it becomes an insult to the power of the Almighty if we place Him in a box concerning the probability or possibility of causing a virgin birth.

We as mere humans have, for the last 15 years, had the ability to implant a fertilized egg into the womb of a virgin woman and successfully impregnate her. But the Almighty cannot? Our Rabbi’s of today need to seriously reconsider their position on this matter on the basis of this alone.

Following is the prophecy given by Daniel the prophet in Daniel 9:24-27; It describes the work of Yeshua that was done, and to be done, precisely.

When reading this, remember also, not only does it describe Yeshua’s first coming precisely, but if Messiah did not come, then Daniel is a false prophet.

And if Daniel is not a false prophet, but true, then Messiah has come and we are well advised to receive Him for who He is.

Daniel 9:24-27

9:24 Seventy heptads (70 weeks of years) are determined for your people and for your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sins, to make reconciliation for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy.

9:25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the command to restore and build Yerushalayim (Jerusalem) until Messiah the Prince, shall be 7 heptads and 62 heptads. The streets shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.

9:26 And after the 62 heptads, Messiah will be cut off, but not for Himself; and the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood. And up through the end desolations are determined.

9:27 [This verse is about the 70th heptad and final 7 year covenant which hasn’t occurred yet]

These things are but a fraction of the oral teachings describing Yeshua; and 10 pages could also be easily written out of the Talmud, and other Jewish sourcebooks as well, in support of any view of Yeshua that is commonly contested in the Judaism of today.

We cannot reject Yeshua as the Messiah based on a corrupted presentation of His message and teachings by Christians.

In fact, it is not even the recognition of Yeshua as Messiah where the Christians have erred, but rather, in their understanding of His teachings in that they hold the erroneous belief that Yeshua did away with the Torah by nailing it to the cross.

That somehow the Almighty one of Israel imposes double standards, a strict and righteous standard for Jews - which they declare "legalistic", and a lenient and sinful standard for themselves which they call "grace".

This is their great error.

But for us, our great error is in failing to recognize Yeshua as the Torah teacher and Messiah of Israel that He is.

To the Torah of Yahuweh and the Testimony of Yeshua, if anyone does not speak according to these words it is because they have no light in them. Yesh’yahu (Isaiah) 8:16-20; Revelation 12:17 & 14:12.

Until next time, Shalom Mishpochah.

Copyright 12/14/03 compilation by the Torah & Testimony Revealed Ministry
10/30/05 Edition, Renamed 8/23/08

For more details on this very important subject you can purchase from Amazon.com, and other book sellers, the book by Rachmiel Frydland entitled, "What the Rabbis Know about Messiah".

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