a) Deuteronomy 18
b) The prophet will be...
c) 'among...brothers'
d) Conclusion – Why this prophet would rise out of Israel.
a) Deuteronomy 18
15 The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers -it is to him you shall listen- ...17 And the LORD said to me...18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. (emphasis mine)
b) The prophet will be...
i) The prophet will be 'from among you' (v15)
This point should not be missed, 'Moses spoke to all Israel' (Deut 1:1) and said the prophet will be 'from among you'ii) The prophet will be 'from your brothers' (v15)
iii) The prophet will be 'from among their brothers' (v18)
c) 'among...brothers'
The two words that are translated 'among...brothers' are used together three other times in the Bible.
i) Deuteronomy 18
'inheritance among his brothers (18:2 LITV) which is paralleled in the verse prior as:In the same chapter (Deut 18) as the prophecy of one like Moses it is made clear from the parallel that among...brothers is speaking of Israel.
'inheritance with Israel (18:1)
ii) Deuteronomy 17
One from among your brothers you shall set as king over you (v15)No King in the Books of Samuel, Kings and Chronicles is described as being descended from any nation but Israel.
iii) 1 Samuel 16
Closely related to the Deut 17 occurance which outlines the choosing of a King, is the account of the anointing of David as King.
...as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel...anointed [him]... (v13 NLT)David and Jesus were both from Israel and from the tribe of Judah. David was a King, who was anointed whilst among his brothers who were descended from Israel.
d) Conclusion
That this prophecy is referring to a Prophet who would rise out of Israel is certain for the following reasons:
i) 'Moses spoke to all Israel' (Deut 1:1) and said the prophet will be 'from among you'
ii) In the same chapter as the prophecy (Deut 18) 'among...brothers' is used to refer to Israel. (18:1,2)
iii) The only other occurances of 'among...brothers', Deut 17:15 and 1 Sam 16:13, are referring to Kings who rose out of Israel.
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