While there is great debate between Rabbinics and Christians as to the wording and the meaning of the word Almah in the Masoretic text, and Parthenos in the Septuagent.
While it is easy to give modern renditions of a word without looking back at antiquity as to the original meaning and purpose, i am dropping a couple of logs onto the fire, so as to help others see what the true meaning of Almah is.
In Rabbinics, it is interpreted as "A young maiden"
Of course according to the Law if a young maiden was not a virgin at marriage she was to be stoned for living the life of a harlot..
There is also the question of how a young maiden could bring forth a child, which would be a sign and would be named Immanuel, "G-d with us".???
Of course it is vehemently denied in Rabbinic Judaism that there was a belief 2,000 years ago amongst the Jewish People in which a virgin of the tribe of Judah,(an untouched maiden), would indeed conceive and bring forth the Messiah of Israel.
The coverup begins with discourses on the word B'Tullah, and Almah, in which the two are compared, and the statement made that if G-d meant a virgin, then why did not the prophet, say B'Tullah instead of Almah?
The question becomes moot if one is just speaking about any virgin, which is B'tullah, or an espoused virgin, whose marriage is not yet consumated.
The prophet Isaiah, rings faithful to his prophecy and states boldly:
"Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a child and his name shall be called
Immanuel (G-d with us)."
The purpose of this treatise is to once and for all reveal to all that in Biblical times, there was a belief taught about the Almah,virgin, amongst the house of Israel and of the tribe of Judah...
The below quotes are taken from the English folio edition of the Talmud vol ii
p 386...
"Truth shall spring out of the earth", R. Yoden, saith he, notes upon this place, that it is not said, Truth sahll be born, but shall spring out; because the generation and the nativity of the Messiah is not to be as other creatures in the world, but shall be begot without carnal copulation; and therefore no one hath mentioned his father, as who must be hid from the knowledge of men til himself shall come and reveal him. And upon Genesis: "Ye have said (saith the L-rd), we are orphans, bereaved of our fa
ther; such a one shall your redeemer be, whom i shall give you, so upon Zechariah "Behold my servant whose name is the Branch:" and out of Psalm CX "Thou art a priest after the order of Melchi Zedek:" he saith, R. Berachiah delivers the same things, and R Simeon Ben Yochai upon Genesis more plainly; viz "That the Spirit, by the impulse of a mighty power, shall come forth of the womb, though shut up, that will become a mighty prince, the King Messiah"
Hence we can all plainly see that the concept of the Virgin birth is strictly Theologically a Jewish concept of Messiah, and not a gentile christian one..
Shalom to all
Your responses are welcome, and if anyone has any other Talmudic information
on the above, please post it here or net mail it to me..
Thanks
Harvey, Yours for the Kingdom of the Almighty G-d.
