ut the attribute of antiquity, and that alone, is
nevertheless taken from it, and ascribed to the Messiah. But now, we
cannot at all see what pre-eminence in this respect the family of David
enjoyed above other families, and how, therefore, it could have been an
honour for the Messiah to be descended from it. How strange would,
according to this explanation, be the words, "of the days of eternity,"
which, as a climax, are added to, "of days of old!" What reason could
there have existed for the prophet to exalt, by a hyperbolical
expression, a limited time to eternity? As regards His human origin,
the Messiah had not the slightest advantage over other mortals, as far
as the age of the family was concerned. What, then, was the use of such
a hyperbole in a matter which, in this connection, was of no
consequence, and which could not in any way serve for His exaltation?
It is just this, however, which after all is required by the contrast.
What kind of consolation would thereby have been afforded to the
people? Certainly no one doubted that the Messiah would have parents,
and ancestors reaching back to a hoar antiquity. But was there anything
gained by this, since He had it only in common with the lowest and
feeblest among the people? How does this shallow, unmeaning, and yet so
much pretending contrast in reference to the Messiah, suit the other
contrast in reference to Bethlehem, which is so brilliant and exalted?
And now what reason is there for preferring that explanation which is
so unnatural, to the other, which is so natural, so obvious, which
presents a contrast so beautiful, and opens up to the Covenant-people a
source of consolation so rich? Is it this, perhaps, that the eternity
of the Messiah is not mentioned anywhere else in the Old Testament? But
the eternity of the Messiah is only a single feature of His divine
nature, and just that feature which, according to the context, came
here into special consideration. _Caspari_ very correctly remarks: "The
prophet pointed out just the feature of the pre-existence, and of the
eternal existence of the Messiah, and these only, because the
announcement of His origin from the little Bethlehem led just to this,
and to this alone." The intimation of the divine nature of the Messiah
is, [Pg 495] however, as old as the Messianic prediction in general;
compare, concerning this, my remarks on Gen. xlix. 10. In a more
definite shape, and in a more distinct form, it appears as early