whole, in contrast with the particular, can
be accounted for only from the embarrassment into which this
commentator could not here avoid falling by his interpretation of the
prophecy of Isaiah, according to which a semblance of agreement is,
with the utmost difficulty, made out betwixt it, and the event in which
Matthew finds its fulfilment. Moreover, all the single features of the
account have too distinct a reference to the prophecy which is to be
afterwards quoted. It is from a regard to it, that he is most anxious
to point out that Christ was conceived by a pure and immaculate virgin,
that, in ver. 25, he expressly adds that before the birth of Jesus,
Mary had had no connubial intercourse with Joseph, because Immanuel was
not only to be conceived, but born of a virgin. The words, [Greek:
kaleseis to onoma autou Iesoun], correspond exactly with [Greek: kai
kalesousi to onoma autou Emmanouel]. The Evangelist explains the latter
name by [Greek: meth' hemon ho Theos], which, again, cannot be without
an object, for the name of Jesus (_Gottheil_, _God-Salvation_) has,
with him, the same signification. We pass over, in the meantime, the
section ii. 1-12. In ver. 13 there follows the account of the flight
into Egypt with a reference to Hos. xi. 1. This passage refers, in the
first instance, to Israel; but Israel does not here come into view
according to its carnal condition, but only according to its divine
destination and election,--as is evidently shown by the designation
"Son of God." Israel was called to preserve the truth of God in the
midst of error, to proclaim among the Gentiles the mighty acts of God,
and to be His messenger and ambassador. In this respect Israel was a
type of the Messiah, and the latter, as it were, a concentrated and
exalted Israel. It is from this relation alone that many passages in
the second part of Isaiah can be explained; and in Is. xlix. 3, the
Messiah is expressly called Israel. If, then, there existed between
Israel and the Messiah such a relation of type and Antitype;--if this
relation was not accidental, but designed by God, it will, _a priori_,
appear to us most probable that the abode of the children of Israel in
Egypt, and the residence of Christ in the same country, have a relation
to each other. This supposition rests upon the perception of the [Pg
506] remarkable coincidence which, by divine Providence, generally
exists betwixt the destinies of typical persons, and those of the