Ok, first let's review from the last post.
1. Context of Isaiah 7: Two neighboring kings have come and besieged Jerusalem. Hashem has told Isaiah to tell the wicked king Ahaz, he would be delivered because of a promise made to King David. There will be a sign given. The sign is not the "almah" but something else.
2. The Almah. Hebrew for a virgin is betulah not almah. Almah used also in other places in the Scriptures means maiden, not particularly one who is a virgin.
3. The Hebrew also uses a prefix H'almah, meaning "the young maiden" or this particular maiden you see here before you. It cannot mean one who is 700 years in the future. In particular it is pointing out Isaiah's wife, who is also a prophetess.
Many other translations today now use the word young maiden and not virgin.
OK, now let's proceed. NET Bible.
Isa 7:14 For this reason the sovereign master himself will give you a confirming sign. Look, this young woman is about to conceive and will give birth to a son. You, young woman, will name him Immanuel.
Isa 7:15 He will eat sour milk and honey, which will help him know how to reject evil and choose what is right.
Isa 7:16 Here is why this will be so: Before the child knows how to reject evil and choose what is right, the land whose two kings you fear will be desolate.
Is the way the child is conceived the sign? No, the sign is the maturity of the child and what happens before he is able to reject evil and choose good. The two kings opposing Jerusalem will be done away with. This is again foretold in Isaiah 8:4. for before the child knows how to cry out, 'My father' or 'My mother,' the wealth of Damascus and the plunder of Samaria will be carried off by the king of Assyria."
This could have very well happened within a year's time frame, not 700 years in the future. We are able to see the confirmation of the prophecy being completed in II Kings 15:29-30 and also in II Kings 16: 5-9.
I personally find the genealogies in Scripture fascinating. They have been given for a reason. The reason can often be found in the meaning of the names. What the names mean in the original language, Hebrew. Isaiah was told the names of his children would have specific meanings. Isaiah means "the salvation of G-d". Isaiah's sons names have special meaning as well. You take time and look them up for yourself.
Now let's compare both the Matt and Isaiah portions.
1. A specific time table was given.
a. before the child knows evil and good,
b. by the time he can say mommy or daddy.
2. A specific young maiden was pointed out
Matthew has taken out the definite article of a certain maiden and has instead inserted the word a virgin. There is also an indefinate article, meaning that this "virgin" cannot be pointed out to others.
Matthew also says that the "virgin" is not yet pregnant, whereas the Hebrew in Isaiah says that she is already pregnant. This appears in the perfect/past tense in the Hebrew.
Now, who will call the boy's name Immanuel?
Isaiah tells us "she will call" Isaiah's wife will call his son Immanuel. Now where in Matthew or any of the other gospels does Mary ever call Jesus Immanuel? In the book of Luke, Mary was instructed to call him Jesus. Matthew replaces the "she" with "they".
The Torah clearly teaches it is the father alone who gives his children their tribal identity. For Jesus to have been of the tribe of Judah, his father must have been from the tribe of Judah, not G-d. Also, if you look closely at the fact Joseph was getting ready to put Mary away quietly because he thought she was unfaithful. They were in essence married. What does the Torah say about taking another man's wife. G-d by impregnating Mary would be breaking His own law.
If you would like to move ahead and look at the next Matthew fulfilled prophecy it is in Matt. 2:5 "In Bethlehem of Judea," they said, "for it is written this way by the prophet:
Mat 2:6 'And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are in no way least among the rulers of Judah,
for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.' "
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