The Foreshadowing of the Virgin Birth – Herod and Jesus

In the foreshadowing of the virgin birth, Mary is foreshadowed by Rebekah. Herod the Great was descended from Rebekah’s son, Esau (source: Josephus) and Jesus is descended from Rebekah’s son, Jacob. Herod the Great was a very adept battlefield commander and participated personally in combat with the javelin (source: Josephus). Thus like Esau – Herod was a “hunter” and a man of the “field.” Jesus until about the age of thirty lived in Nazareth which was a tent city. Thus like Jacob – Jesus dwelled in tents. After they were born, Jacob’s hand had taken hold of Esau’s heel. Another way to look at this birth scenario is that Esau was thwarted from trampling on Jacob by Jacob’s intervention. This is somewhat symbolic of Herod’s plot to “trample” Jesus after his birth being thwarted by the intervention of God.

Matthew 02:16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, was in a furious rage. And he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all its region who were two years old or under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men.

Genesis 25:26 Afterward his brother came forth, and his hand had taken hold of Esau's heel; so his name was called Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them. 27 When the boys grew up, Esau was a skilful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, dwelling in tents.

J. Clontz – Editor of the Comprehensive New Testament

Previously:

The accounts of Mary and Rebekah both start with an angel sent by God – Luke 1:26/Genesis 24:7,40

Mary and Rebekah were virgins who were betrothed to a man – Luke 1:27/Genesis 24:16,51

Mary and Rebekah were selected by God - Luke 1:30/Genesis 24:14,44

Mary and Rebekah consented to being selected by God - Luke 1:38/Genesis 24:57-58

Mary and Rebekah went with haste and told their relatives what had happened - Luke 1:36,39/Genesis 24:28

Mary and Rebekah were blessed by their relatives - Luke 1:42/Genesis 24:60

God provided information about the future of Mary and Rebekah’s unborn children and the nature of their pregnancies - Matthew 1:20/Genesis 25:23

Mary and Rebekah’s lives were potentially threatened by their pregnancies – Matthew 1:18-19/Genesis 25:22

Mary and Rebekah stayed in a shelter where animals also stayed – Luke 02:07/Genesis 24:25

Mary and Rebekah were visited by “wise” men bringing gifts who had travelled through Mesopotamia – Matthew 02:01,11/Genesis 24:10

Mary and Rebekah were visited by men who worshipped the Lord at the house where they were staying - Matthew 02:11/Genesis 24:26

Mary and Rebekah were visited by men who were bearing gifts including gold - Matthew 02:11/Genesis 24:10,53

Mary and Rebekah were visited by men who were led by something from heaven – Matthew 02:09, Luke 02:09/Genesis 24:07

Mary and Rebekah’s genealogies are listed in the Bible - Luke 03:23-38/Genesis 24:15