O come, O come, Emmanuel, a nation pleads in waiting.

A prayer, a hope, a wish just made, while prophets and priests are debating.

Some say a king to take the throne, our occupation ended.

Some say a preacher he will be, but this is not recommended.

For our chains weigh heavy upon our hearts.

Our freedom is what we plead for. From Egypt, from Babel, and even

from Rome, we're captives and have been indeed for. Four hundred years and seventy more, even

1,2 hundred and sixty days. Messiah is coming. Oh, here Israel, our God will arrive whom we praise with sword.

With sword and with shield Messiah is nigh, the great son of David he'll be.

But how he will come, not just who he is, is a question that's lost on me.

The I'm Dean Cullinane, and you're listening to Why They Did That,

a show that explores the motivations of biblical characters

and how their choices can guide yours.

The prophet Hosea uttered the words,

Out of Egypt I called my son.

And God in the book of Exodus instructs Moses to go on to Pharaoh and say,

This is what the Lord says.

Israel is my firstborn son.

And I told you to let my son go that he may worship me. Israel is my firstborn son, and I told you to let my son go that he may worship me.

Israel is the firstborn of God.

The ancient custom of the firstborn was that, while other children may indeed come later,

the firstborn receives a double portion of the inheritance.

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