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The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Vol 1 - Predestination

The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Vol 1 - Predestination

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on this very element in his communication to<br />

Joseph, <strong>and</strong> not to Mary.<br />

<strong>The</strong> fact that such an announcement came to him in<br />

a drewm^ would dispose Joseph all <strong>the</strong> more<br />

readily to receive it. * A good dream' was one <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> three things ' popularly regarded as marks <strong>of</strong><br />

God's favour; <strong>and</strong> so general was <strong>the</strong> belief in <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

significance, as to have passed into this popular<br />

saying : ' If any one sleeps seven days without<br />

dreaming (or ra<strong>the</strong>r, remembering his dream for<br />

interpretation), call him wicked' (as being<br />

unremembered <strong>of</strong> God'*). Thus •Ber.55 6 Divinely<br />

set at rest, Joseph could no longer hesitate. <strong>The</strong><br />

highest duty towards <strong>the</strong> Virgin-Mo<strong>the</strong>r <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

unborn <strong>Jesus</strong> dem<strong>and</strong>ed an immediate marriage,<br />

which would afford not only outward, but moral<br />

protection to both.*<br />

I ThiiB we read in (^Skoeher Tobh) <strong>the</strong> Midrash<br />

on Prov. zix. 21 (closing part; ed. Lemberg. p. 16<br />

h) <strong>of</strong> eight names given to <strong>the</strong> <strong>Messiah</strong>, viz. Ytnnon<br />

(Ps. Ixxii. 17, * His name shall sproat [bear

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