OT Notes Is. 7

1) OK let's deal with it: almah means young woman, not virgin.Yes the sep[tuagint translates it as virgin.

2)I understand that this is referring to a real child born in the face of Assyrian aggression. Still, is this child then being referred to by chapter 9? Words do have plasticity and referents beyond original intent, so i suppose we are OK in making explicity messianic claims on it.

3) Then, isn;t the point of the Incarnation for christians seeing god clearly working in the everyday anmd ordinary and not only the huge events such as the Red Sea experience?

4) How do you seek to understand Matthew's use of  this passage in terms of the virgin birth?
How is every birth a declaration of hope in a new future?

5) I lean much more toward an emphaisis on Immanuel. See Douglas John Halls's second volume in his trilogy for a superb analysis of the concept.

6) usually we are not to seek signs from God in the tradition as this is putting god to the test, no?

7) When do we weary God, do you think?

8) One could work with ahaz's protrayal here and perhaps extend it to herod, or Augustus.I could imagine a sermon, the politics of christmas tiem emerging.