During the Critarchal Age, the predictions concerning Christ were less numerous; but it commenced with the brilliant prophecy of the Star which was to come out of Jacob, and terminated with the first announcement in Scripture of the name of the Messiah. To Balaam it was permitted to foresee in splendid vision, the glory of Israel in the latter days, and the rise of a Sceptre or King who should possess universal dominion; see Numbers xxiv. 17. Dr. Gill, in his comment on this passage, seems to think that the Star which the Eastern Magi saw at the birth of Christ, is here clearly foretold, and that the Jews themselves were at that period in expectation of such a phenomenon. That this universal King was to be a Jew, is manifestly the opinion held by the Seventy Interpreters; for in their version, the prophecy is thus rendered, “A star shall arise out of Jacob, and _a man_ shall be raised up, or shall raise himself up, out of Israel.” How strongly does this passage remind us of our Saviour’s own words, when speaking of his Mission, he said, “I have power to lay down my life, and I have power to take it up again;” John x. 18. Moses, who had so often spoken to the children of Israel concerning Jehovah their God, and the “Angel of his presence,” was at last commissioned to predict the Advent of Christ in the following words: “I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth;” Deuter. xviii. 15. To this prophecy is added an awful sanction, to which our Saviour plainly alluded when speaking of the unbeliever he said, “the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day;” John xii. 48. But to the mother of Samuel, the prophet, was it first given to announce in holy prayer and song, the name of the Messiah, the anointed of the Lord; for she said “Jehovah shall judge the ends of the earth, and he shall give strength unto our king, and exalt the horn of his _Messiah_;” 1 Samuel ii. 10.