For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.
] These words are to be considered in connection with ( Matthew 11:11 ) and are a further proof of John's being greater than any of the prophets; because all the inspired writers and prophets, who were before him, prophesied of the Messiah as to come; and either spoke of him in obscure terms, or represented him under dark shadows and figures: whereas John spake of him as already come, and in plain terms, and directed to his very person; and since his time, there have been no prophecies concerning the Messiah and his kingdom; vision and prophecy are now sealed up; all which are acknowledged by the Jews themselves, who F2 say, (xyvmh twmyl ala wabntn al zlwk Myaybnh lk) , "all the prophets did not prophesy but to, or of the days of the Messiah". This was the subject, and these the limits of their prophecies; for they own F3, that
``from the day that the temple was destroyed, (yaybnh Nm) (hawbn hlyjb) , "prophecy was taken away from the prophets".''Since that time, they confess they have had no prophet F4, and that they are not able to observe their signs.