i. Many looked for a great Conqueror, whom God would send, investing Him with the attributes of majesty and humanity, describing Him as the “Elect One,” the “Anointed,” the “Son of Man,” who should “execute a terrible vengeance on the enemies of His people,” “cleanse Jerusalem,” and exalt the Jews above all other nations[184]. These attributes, ascribed to the Messiah in early Jewish literature, receive illustration from the Gospel Narrative. It was the opinion of the national teachers that His coming would be heralded by Elias, and the belief was shared by the common people (Mtt. xvii. 10 and the parallels; Comp. also xvi. 14). There was considerable uncertainty, indeed, as to the precise _manner_ of His appearance (Jn. vii. 27), but it was fully expected that He would be born _at Bethlehem, the city of David_ (Mtt. ii. 5; Comp. Jn. vii. 41, 42); that He would be _David’s Son_, and should _sit on David’s throne_ (Mtt. xxii. 42; xii. 23; ix. 27; xx. 30; xv. 22); that He would _abide for ever_ and _set up a kingdom_ in which He would dispense honours _on His right hand and on His left_ (Mtt. xx. 21; Mk. x. 37). ii. With these regal attributes others combined prophetic functions, and looked for _the Prophet_ that should come into the world (Comp. Jn. vi. 14; i. 21, 46; vii. 40; 1 Macc. xiv. 41), expecting that He would show “signs” not unlike the giving of the manna in the wilderness, and instruct the people _in all things_ (Jn. iv. 25), and instead of altering or abolishing any of the Mosaic ordinances, would enhance them to a greater glory, making the sacrifices, purifications, Sabbaths, festivals, and all other usages, far more resplendent and glorious than they had ever been before. That the Messiah would ever _suffer_ or _die_ was an idea, from which, to the last, even the Apostles shrank with horror and amazement (Mtt. xvi. 22, 23; Lk. xxiv. 21; Jn. xx. 9). BOOK II. THE GOSPEL HISTORY. PART I. THE BIRTH AND CHILDHOOD OF CHRIST. CHAPTER I. _THE BIRTH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST._ A.U.C. 749, B.C. 5. ABOUT the year B.C. 5, when the bloodstained reign of Herod was approaching its close, there lived in Judæa, either at the little village of Juttah, or the time-honoured city of Hebron[185], an aged priest named ZACHARIAS. His wife ELISABETH was also of the priestly family (Lk. i. 5), and both enjoyed a high reputation for piety and uprightness of life, being alike _righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless_ (Lk. i. 6). One great sorrow, however, cast a deep shadow over their daily life. They were now old and well-stricken in age, but no child had ever gladdened their humble home.