Presenting: Jesus & 42
* Combined readings in Numbers 1, 9, 28 and Leviticus 23 explains timing of festivals: The first Passover was celebrated on the 14th day of the 1st month, followed by a week with no leaven. Following that was a Sabbath on which a firstfruits offering was made which began a count of seven weeks called the Festival of Weeks. The fourteenth day of the second month was the day for anyone who had missed to 1st Passover of a given year. Fourteen generations were required for a converted Moabite family to enter the temple. 3 times 14 is 42. Each of Matthews 14 generations represents a period of cleansing for Israel (in the fiery furnace). Israel's journey from Egypt to the Promised Land altogether was 42 years. Matthew's commentary divides this period into three parts, three periods of suffering, judgment and cleansing.
** Jubilee is declared once every fifty years and is the release of all debts Lev 25:10 . It differs from our modern bankruptcy protection laws in that the credit of the person is to remain undamaged. The gospels consider this to foreshadow the end of debts and poverty, someday.
- Matthew 1:1-17 recounts the genealogy of Jesus culminating with how he is the 14th of the 14th of the 14th heir, a total of 42 generations. Matthew is commenting upon the significance of the numbers 14 and 42, equating the birth of Jesus generation (not just him) with the entrance of Israel into the Promised Land in a metaphorical sense. The 14's are three periods of purification of Israel through suffering. Thereby Matthew declares his generation to be the perfected generation of Israelites through which a blessing would come to the world, Jesus being the purity of purity of purity. * Israel's generations are equated with its years between Egypt and the Promised Land.
Luke 1:51-53 Mary prophesies the end to poverty in a monologue similar to that of Hanna in I Samuel: He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.
- Mary is here declaring that the full meaning of Jubilee (the Jewish time of debt forgiveness) will come into being. ** She is also declaring fulfillment of Job 40:11 "look at all who are proud and humble them, crush the wicked where they stand...Then I myself will admit to you that your own right hand can save you." In other words, poverty will end.
- Luke 2:13-14 The end of hostility of the LORD against Israel: Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
The hostility against Israel ends. Luke here represents that the troubles Israel has up until then are patterned after the hostility (see Numbers 14:34) of the LORD against those who had wandered the wilderness for forty (+2) years between Egypt and Jericho. Luke, like Matthew, sees that period of 42 years as a commentary upon all of Israel's past history up until Jesus. The things that happen to Israel on its wilderness journey are prophecies of Israel's time all the way up into Luke's day.
- The gospel writers assume the same worldview as Isaiah 40-44. This simile between Israel's journey in the wilderness and Israel's entire history is borrowed from Isaiah chapters 40 through 44 in which the prophet uses the same simile. John the Baptist is equated with Isaiah's 'Voice in the wilderness' proclaiming equality for all has come. The low places will be brought up and the high places brought down, providing streams through the 'Desert' that this world is.
* Combined readings in Numbers 1, 9, 28 and Leviticus 23 explains timing of festivals: The first Passover was celebrated on the 14th day of the 1st month, followed by a week with no leaven. Following that was a Sabbath on which a firstfruits offering was made which began a count of seven weeks called the Festival of Weeks. The fourteenth day of the second month was the day for anyone who had missed to 1st Passover of a given year. Fourteen generations were required for a converted Moabite family to enter the temple. 3 times 14 is 42. Each of Matthews 14 generations represents a period of cleansing for Israel (in the fiery furnace). Israel's journey from Egypt to the Promised Land altogether was 42 years. Matthew's commentary divides this period into three parts, three periods of suffering, judgment and cleansing.
** Jubilee is declared once every fifty years and is the release of all debts Lev 25:10 . It differs from our modern bankruptcy protection laws in that the credit of the person is to remain undamaged. The gospels consider this to foreshadow the end of debts and poverty, someday.
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