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.