Prophecy
A great light on Galilee of the nations (Isaiah 9:1-2)
◆ Written before: a dated manuscript proves it
Written c. 733–700 BC according to tradition; c. 732–600 BC according to historians. Event: c. 28–33 AD.
See the full entry: sources, objections, answersIn short
The announcement. The prophet Isaiah, around 733–700 BC, announces that a great light will shine on the lands of Zebulun and Naphtali, “Galilee of the nations”, which Assyria had just conquered.
What happened. Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee, carries out most of his activity around the Sea of Galilee, around AD 28–30 (or 33), and the Gospel of Matthew then quotes this text of Isaiah. His Galilean origin is one of the most certain points of his biography.
What is still debated. the text first has in view the recovery of northern Israel after the Assyrian invasion, and Matthew may have looked for a text to justify a known fact, a messiah who came from Galilee.
Why it is striking
The Messiah was expected in Judea: “no prophet has arisen out of Galilee”, Jesus is told by way of objection. A manuscript dated before him attests this text. The link is a reading by the Gospel of Matthew, but the geography matches.
Main objection (in French for now)
Dans son contexte, la promesse vise la restauration des territoires du Nord après l’annexion assyrienne ; Rashi lit la « grande lumière » comme la chute de Sennachérib, vue par les habitants de Jérusalem.
The text (World English Bible)
But there shall be no more gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time, he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali; but in the latter time he has made it glorious, by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
Isa 9:1
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. The light has shined on those who lived in the land of the shadow of death.
Isa 9:2
Sources
- Tiglath-pileser III’s Campaigns in 734-732 B.C.: Historical Background of Isa 7; 2 Kgs 15–16 and 2 Chr 27–28 (Peter Dubovský) — Biblica 87 (2006), 153-170
- The Sisters of Nazareth Site (Ken Dark) — The Bible and Interpretation (University of Arizona)
- Rashi sur Ésaïe 9:1 — Sefaria
- The Great Isaiah Scroll (1QIsa^a) — The Israel Museum, Jerusalem
- Dating ancient manuscripts using radiocarbon and AI-based writing style analysis (Popović et al.) — PLOS ONE 20(6), DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0323185
- Keil & Delitzsch (Delitzsch) — Commentaire d’Ésaïe 8:23-9:1 (9:1-2 angl.) — Keil & Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament (Bible Hub)
- Calvin — Commentaire d’Ésaïe 9:1-2 — Calvin, Commentaries (Bible Hub)
- Justin, Première Apologie 32-35 et 48 — New Advent (ANF 1)