4. As time progressed the covenant was further confirmed and limited to the tribe of Judah, and the family of Jesse, and, again, of David. 5. The _time_ of the Messiah’s advent was closely indicated by the prophecy of Daniel; seventy weeks of years, or 490 years from the rebuilding of Jerusalem (Dan. ix. 24, 25). It was to be during the continuance of the second Temple, and when there should be a general expectation and desire in all nations for Him (Hag. ii. 6–9). He would be preceded by a forerunner, who would prepare His way (Mal. iii. 1). 6. The _place_ of His birth was pointed out by Micah (v. 2) as Bethlehem of Judah. He was to be born of a virgin, and called Immanuel—“God with us” (Isa. vii. 14). He was to commence His teaching in Galilee (Isa. ix. 1, 2). 7. The _character_ of His mediatorial coming; His humble origin; His lowly, suffering life, and His cruel death—were described with singular accuracy by the Prophet Isaiah;—as well as the ultimate glory of His Kingdom and reign. And the Psalms abound in references to the sufferings of Christ, often spoken as of David, but having their full accomplishment in Him who was emphatically “the Son of David.” It was natural that the _worldly-minded Jews_, in anticipating their Messiah, and looking for one greater than Solomon, should expect to see one exceeding him, not only in wisdom, but in that outward display of wealth and grandeur which the world so much admires, as indicating the royal power and pomp of kings. But it was not so to be: “He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground; He hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see Him there is no beauty that we should desire Him.” He would bear our griefs and carry our sorrows while He was “despised and rejected of men,” and numbered with the transgressors (Isa. liii.). He should be the mighty God, the Everlasting Father (Isa. ix. 6), whose goings forth have been from of old—from everlasting (Micah v. 2). “A prophet like unto Moses, him shall ye hear” (Deut. xviii. 15, 18). 8. Subsequent to the close of the Old Testament prophecy, some very remarkable incidents marked, to the believing Jews, the near approach and the actual coming of their Messiah. The angel Gabriel appeared to Zacharias as he ministered in the priest’s office, to announce the approaching birth of John the Baptist, who should “go before, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord” (Luke i. 17). This visitation was made on a very public occasion, on the great Day of Atonement, while “the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense” (Luke i. 10). The angel Gabriel appeared also to the Virgin Mary to tell her that she should be blessed among women in giving birth to the Messiah (ver. 28), and “all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judea” (Luke i. 65).