Messianic Expectations

In the intertestamental period (ca 400 BC to the birth of Christ) several passages of Old Testament Scripture are interpreted in the light of the messianic hope. Besides Isaiah 11:1-5, Genesis 49:10 (“The scepter will not depart from Judah or the staff from between his feet”) and Numbers 24:17 (“A star will come from Jacob, and a scepter will arise from Israel”) are often cited. First-century philosopher Philo of Alexandria and Josephus, historian and survivor of the great rebellion (AD 66-70), both allude to these passages as pertaining to Messiah. Isaiah 11 is of special interest in the Dead Sea Scrolls. 1QSb 5 applies portions of Isaiah 11:2-5 to the awaited Messiah, while 4Q161, a major commentary on the book of Isaiah, interprets Isaiah 10:34-11:5 as a prophecy of the coming Messiah, called the “Branch of David,” who will destroy Israel’s enemies, the Romans (called the “Kittim”). 4Q285 quotes Isaiah 10:34-11:1 and interprets it as a reference to the coming Messiah, called the “Branch of David” and “leader of the community” (i.e., the leader of the Qumran community). It is said that he will put to death the “king of the Kittim,” or the Roman emperor (see also the parallel 11Q14).

Jesus’s willingness to suffer and die stands in marked contrast to the widespread expectation of a coming Messiah who would slay his enemies. The fact that he did not attempt to overthrow the Roman occupiers and reclaim Israel’s throne may explain in part why he was widely rejected by Jewish authorities. They wished for him to pursue violent, military goals whereas he came instead to usher in the merciful, forgiving rule of God. As for Jesus’s fulfillment of the Bible’s messianic expectations, it must not be missed that he came first to suffer and die on behalf of sinners (as predicted in Is 52:13-53:12), but will come again as conquering King (2Th 1:7-10).