Chizuk Emunah (Pt 2) Under the Microscope: Chapter 8

In this chapter, Troki charges the New Testament passage in Matthew 4 with contradicting the meaning of Isaiah 9:

Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

“The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,

the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—

the people dwelling in darkness

have seen a great light,

and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death,

on them a light has dawned.” (Matthew 4:12-16)

But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.

The people who walked in darkness

have seen a great light;

those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,

on them has light shone.

You have multiplied the nation;

you have increased its joy;

they rejoice before you

as with joy at the harvest,

as they are glad when they divide the spoil. (Isaiah 9:1-3)

Immediately, Troki attacks a straw man when he says: "Let the reader refer to Isaiah 9:1, and see whether the detached passage, as given in the New Testament, proves anything relating to Jesus." As I will continue to state throughout this entire attack on the New Testament. Matthew's quotations are not prooftexts.

Furthermore, this passage is not about the deliverance of Judah by Hezekiah. It refers to the Northern Kingdom of Israel. This segment is the climax of the section begun in chapter 7. In the place of a wicked and unfaithful monarch whose shortsightedness will bring the nation into greater trouble, Isaiah lifts up the ideal monarch.

Troki also complains about the use of "borders" which in New Testament Greek often means "districts." This is why the ESV translates it "territory" instead of "boundaries." Most of Troki's objection has been rendered obsolete by the fact that we have better translations of the New Testament than the one that Troki used.