Nor is the sign said to be anything to do with the child\u2019s birth. Rather, the sign is that before the child is chewing solid food or saying his first words, the present threat will be over. The key issue is thus not whether the Hebrew word means \u2018virgin\u2019 or \u2018young woman\u2019, since nothing is made of the mode of conception. Even if the woman was a virgin at the time, virgins get pregnant (usually through a loss of virginity), and so that question has nothing to do with the fact that the sign is the time frame rather than the mode of conception.<\/p>\n
It is possible that the child was Hezekiah \u2013 a royal heir would certainly be a great sign. But more likely is that the child in question was Isaiah\u2019s own son, Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz (not to be confused with this one<\/a>, or this one<\/a>). If one objects that he was not named Immanuel, I respond \u201cNeither was Jesus\u201d \u2013 in Matthew\u2019s Gospel, the verse from Isaiah is quoted, and then they name the child Jesus<\/i>. Immanuel was the child\u2019s significance, and not the name he actually bore, in either case.<\/p>\n The mentions of Immanuel\/God is with us surround the mention of Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz (who from time to time secretly wished they had named him \u2018Immanuel\u2019). The birth of a child is predicted. The birth of a child is mentioned. The meaning of the symbolic birth is consistent. Immanuel=Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz, in the original context \u2013 case closed?<\/p>\n The contemporary perspective has three \u2018wise men\u2019 (i.e. scientists) who have posted on things to do with virgin births in the past few days:<\/p>\n http:\/\/scienceblogs.com\/evolgen\/2007\/12\/whats_the_deal_with_virgin_bir.php<\/a>
http:\/\/scienceblogs.com\/digitalbio\/2007\/12\/did_she_or_didnt_she_genetic_t.php<\/a>
http:\/\/scienceblogs.com\/gregladen\/2007\/12\/the_bible_as_ethnography_05_th.php<\/a><\/p>\n
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