Exercitations on the Epistle to the Hebrews

The Jews cannot assign either Virgin or Son that is here intended. Some of them § 29 affirm that Alma was the Wife of Ahaz, and the Son promised Hezekiah; but this is rejected by Kimchi himself, acknowledging that Hezekiah was now eight years old, being born four years before his Father came to the Kingdom, in the fourth year of whose Reign this promise was given unto him. Others would have the Alma to be the Wife of the Prophet, and the Son promised to be Maker-shalal-hasbaz, whose birth is mentioned in the next chapter. But neither hath this any more colour of reason: For besides that, his Wife is constantly called [Greek or Hebrew], the Prophetess, and could on no account be termed [Greek or Hebrew] a Virgin, having a Son some years old at that time accompanying his Father, that Son of hers in the eighth chapter, is promised as a sign quite to another purpose, nor could for any reason be called [Greek or Hebrew] Immanuel, whose the Land should be, which is said to belong unto this promised child. And for what they, lastly, add concerning some Virgin then standing by, who was shortly after to be married, it is as fond as any other of their imaginations; for besides that the Prophet says not [Greek or Hebrew] this Virgin, as he would have done, had he directed his speech unto any one personally present; it is a more arbitrary invention, no way countenanced from the Text or Context; such as if men may be allowed in, it is easy for them to pervert the sense of holy Writ at their pleasure. On all which considerations it appeareth, that none can possibly in this promise be intended, but he whose birth ⟨p. 222⟩was [Greek or Hebrew] a miraculous sign, as being born of [Greek or Hebrew] a Virgin, and who being born was [Greek or Hebrew] God with us, both in respect of his person uniting the Natures of God and Man in one, and of his Office reconciling God and Man, that God might dwell with us in a way of favour and grace, and he whose the Land should be in an everlasting Kingdom.

The Jews cannot assign either Virgin or Son that is here intended. Some of them § 29 affirm that Alma was the Wife of Ahaz, and the Son promised Hezekiah; but this is rejected by Kimchi himself, acknowledging that Hezekiah was now eight years old, being born four years before his Father came to the Kingdom, in the fourth year of whose Reign this promise was given unto him. Others would have the Alma to be the Wife of the Prophet, and the Son promised to be Maker-shalal-hasbaz, whose birth is mentioned in the next chapter. But neither hath this any more colour of reason: For besides that, his Wife is constantly called , the Prophetess, and could on no account be termed a Virgin, having a Son some years old at that time accompanying his Father, that Son of hers in the eighth chapter, is promised as a sign quite to another purpose, nor could for any reason be called Immanuel, whose the Land should be, which is said to belong unto this promised child. And for what they, lastly, add concerning some Virgin then standing by, who was shortly after to be married, it is as fond as any other of their imaginations; for besides that the Prophet sayes not this Virgin, as he would have done, had he directed his speech unto any one personally present; it is a more arbitrary invention, no way countenanced from the Text or Context; such as if men may be allowed in, it is easie for them to pervert the sense of holy Writ at their pleasure. On all which considerations it appeareth, that none can possibly in this promise be intended, but he whose birth