Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Harold Holmyard <hholmyard3 AT earthlink.net>]

Dear Joseph,
>  
> In a message dated 7/8/2007 7:15:34 PM Central Daylight Time,  
> klriley AT alphalink.com.au writes:
>
> Does the  prophecy really work with a generic young woman?  If the child is
> the  sign, and it is specifically his age that is important as the end-point
> of  the prophecy, wouldn't we need to know which child, and therefore  which
> young woman?  
>
> Kevin Riley
>
>
>
>
> JW:
> This would seem to be, as the Brit Melahs say, "the cruncher". In order for  
> Isaiah's immediate audience to be able to recognize prophecy fulfillment they  
> would need to know the identity of the young woman. This than would  support 
> use of the definite article in 7:14 as confirming that the young  woman was 
> known to Isaiah and his immediate audience and therefore an English  translation 
> of "the" is likely. 
>  
> Intellectually though, all the available evidence should be looked at  before 
> making a conclusion.
>   

HH: No, they didn't need to know the individual. All they needed to know 
was the time period needed for a virgin to bear and raise a child who 
did not quite know how to discern good from evil. This would take about 
3-4 years.

Yours,
Harold Holmyard
>  
>