Understanding Isaiah 52,13 thru the 53rd Chapter In Context...

by Judah Moshe on Monday, January 9, 2012 at 3:39am I'v decided to write this note in response to repeated request from my fellow spiritual loved ones. This note is simple. It addresses the fundamental problems with mistaking these passages for a prophecy about Yeshu/jesus... I've added commentary following the scriptures for contextual and understanding to keep this note concise. All questions and comments are welcomed...

ISAIAH 52 13. Watch, My servant will succeed; he will be exalted and become high and exceedingly lofty. (One would only discover when reading Isaiah 41,8 44,1 44,21 45,4 49,3 that Isaiahs Servant is none other than Israel.) 14. Just as multitudes were astonished over you, [saying,] His appearance is too marred to be a mans, and his visage to be human, (It's interesting to note here that Rashi (a famous Jewish scholar) says, "How marred is Israel's appearance that from a man! See how their features are darker than those of other people, so as we see with our eyes" 15. so will the many nations exclaim about him, and kings (international leaders) will shut their mouths [in amazement], for they will see that which had never been told to them, and will perceive things they had never heard. (There were no Kings or Nations of the earth reported to exclaim this about Yeshu/jesus during his lifetime However, such a case is to prophecied about the people of Israel, as CHAPTER 53. IS A FUTURE EXCLAMATION OF INTERNATIONAL LEADERS, SPEAKING EXPOST FACTO OF ABOUT DEEDS TO ISRAEL AND FINAL OUT COME 1. [They/the nations shall exclaim,] Who would believe what we

have heard! For whom has the arm of HASHEM been revealed! 2. Formerly he grew like a sapling or like a root from arid ground; he had neither form nor grandeur; we saw him, but without such visage that we could desire. 3. He was despised and isolated from men, a man of pains and stricken with diseases. As one from whom we would hide our faces; he was despised, and we had no regard for him. (There are NO gospel account of Yeshu ever having or being stricken with diseases, but Israel has been accustom to diseases, Deut 28,60, Deut 29,22) 4. But in honesty, it was our ills that he bore, and our pains that he carried but instead, we had regarded him diseased, stricken by G-d, and afflicted! 5. He was pained because of our rebellious sins and oppressed through our iniquities; the chastisement upon him was for our benefit, and through his wounds, we were healed. 6. We [the nations] have all strayed like sheep, each of us turning his own way, and HASHEM inflicted upon him the iniquity of us all. (Nations will come from the ends of the earth and say, Our ancestors possessed nothing but false gods, worthless idols that did them no good. Do people make their own gods? Yes, but they are not gods! Jeremiah 16,19-20. "Thus saith the L-RD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that G-d is with you." Zech 8,23) 7. He was persecuted and afflicted, but he did not open his mouth; like a sheep being led to the slaughter or a ewe that is silent before her shearers, he did not open his mouth. (Throughout history Israelites have been in constant persecution and oppression since their exile) 8. Now that he had been released from captivity and judgment (Read Isaiah 11,12, Ez 28,25 Zeph 3,18-20), who could have

imagined such a generation? For he had been removed from the land of the living (LAND OF THE LIVING Read Psalm 52,5 Psalm 116,9 Lev 20,22, Ez 37,12), an affliction upon them that was my peoples sin. 9. He submitted himself to his grave (Grave is figurative, any place outside the land of Israel Ez 37,12-14) like wicked men; and the wealthy [submitted] to his executions, for committing no crime and with no deceit in his mouth. 10. HASHEM desired to oppress him and afflicted him; if his soul would acknowledge guilt[9], he would see offspring (Yeshu never had any children) and live long days (Yeshu was literally killed at a young age 33yrs) and the desire of HASHEM would succeed in his hand. 11. He would see [the purpose] and be satisfied with his souls distress. With his knowledge My servant will vindicate the Righteous One to multitudes; it is their iniquities that he will carry (Israels purpose will be realized as the Light & Priest to the nations) Ex 19,5-7, Isaiah 61,5-6. 12. Therefore, I will assign him a portion from the multitudes and he will divide the mighty as spoils ( in return for having poured out his soul for death and being counted among the wicked for he bore the sin of the multitudes and prayed for the wicked. (This has never been the case for Yeshu/jesus, nowhere in the gospels will one ever find such an ending, but this is prophesied about Israel. "...You will feed on the wealth of nations, and in their riches you will boast. Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace you will rejoice in your inheritance. And so you will inherit a double portion in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours." Isaiah 61, 6-7)

Additionally, Christian scholars now viewed Isaiah 53, the way Jews do saying, RSV tells us that Isaiah 53 is about National Israel, not jesus. Not only the New Revised Standard Version, but New English Bible echo this analysis as well.

Historically speaking, it was a well known fact that Isaiah 53 was referring to Israel A FIRST CENTURY CE JEWISH VIEW OF ISAIAH 53 Targum of Yohanathan ben Uziel, lived during the 1st century ce, who was no doubt one of the earlier Tannaim and Early rabbi, writes concerning Isaiah 53:2 He writes concerning Isaiah 53:2 (For he shot up right forth as a sapling, and as a root out of a dry ground; he had no form nor comeliness, that we should look upon him, nor beauty that we should delight in him.) 53:2. The righteous [Israel] will grow up before him, yeah, like blooming shoots, and like a tree which sends forth its roots to streams of water will they increase - a holy generation in the land that was in need of him; his countenance no profane countenance, and the terror at him not the terror at an ordinary man; his complexion shall be a holy complexion, and all who see him will look wistfully upon him. Targum Y.There are more from this Targum, that I did not include, such as its statement on Isaiah 52:14 which introduces the subject in question, and continues on into chapter 53, but Ive decided to confine my quotes to the 53rd chapter of Isaiah. smh A SECOND CENTURY CE JEWISH VIEW OF ISAIAH 53 R. Simeon b. Yohai lived and died, during the 2nd century ce. He was a Tanna a very Early rabbi, Ishall quote from him now, Regarding Isaiah 53:10 (He crushes him with painful sufferings. For it is said: And HaShem was pleased with [him, hence] He crushed him by disease), R. Simeon b. Yohai says: The Holy One, blessed be He, gave ISRAEL three precious gifts, and all of them were given only through [their] SUFFERINGS. These are: The Torah, the Land of Israel and the world to come." Bavli Talmud, Berachoth 5aMidrash Rabba on Numbers 23 likewise attests that Isaiah 53 refers to the nation of Israel Saying:

I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey (Song of Songs 5:1): because the ISRAELITES poured out their soul to die in captivity, as it is said, Because he poured out his soul to die (Isaiah 53:12). Here, I will reiterate, this is a 2nd century Midrashic commentary A THIRD CENTURY CE JEWISH VIEW OF ISAIAH 53 Origen, an early prominent christian church father tells of his encounter with wise Jews (rabbis) concerning Isaiah 53 and he says, Now I remember that, on one occasion, at a disputation held with certain Jews, who were reckoned wise men, I quoted these prophecies (Isaiah 53); to which MY JEWISH OPPONENT REPLIED, that these predictions bore reference to the WHOLE PEOPLE (ISRAEL), regarded as one individual, and as being in a state of dispersion and suffering, in order that many proselytes might be gained, on account of the dispersion of the Jews among numerous heathen nations. - Contra Celsus 1:55 written 248 CE. Remember, Origen was speaking to THIRD CENTURY Jewish rabbis. I have chosen these as a few examples of Jews who agrees with Rashi, using a specific identification of Isaiah 53 with Israel found in any Rabbinic literature starting from the 1st century ce., much earlier than most would have thought. I used the Targum, Talmud, Midrash and provided a BONUS, the writings of a prominent christian church father, Origen. I hope that this information has helped you Shalom.