Yeshayohu perek ז, posek יד

לָכֵן יִתֵּן ה' הוּא לָכֶם אוֹת הִנֵּה הָעַלְמָה הָרָה וְיֹלֶדֶת בֵּן וְקָרָאת שְׁמוֹ עִמָּנוּ אֵל:

"Therefore HaKadosh Baruch Hu, He will give you a sign, see an olmah will conceive and give birth to a son and his name will be called "HaKadosh Baruch Hu with us".

HaMelech Achaz was a king who did not seek HaKadosh Baruch Hu, even though Beis Dovid was threatened with destruction, and even though HaKadosh Baruch Hu had promised to help him (Yeshayohu perek ז, psukim יא-ב). So HaKadosh Baruch Hu says He will give an אות that will show beyond any possible doubt that He is with Yisroel and that Beis Dovid will have a king forever. (See Yeshayohu perek ז, posek יא.)

What is the אות? What sign is so supernatural to show this will be true? An olmah will give birth to a son and his name will be "HaKadosh Baruch Hu with us".

What about the olmah giving birth is so remarkable? As we know העלמה means a young woman who is of age to be married. Does it mean a bsule? As we know our sages tell us today that the word בתולה is used in Tanach for this. But does בתולה mean only bsule in Tanach? We see clearly in Tanach that בתולה means a girl that was never married or it can also mean a married woman. See Bereshis perek כד, posek טז where this is clear. Moshe Rabbenu writes "בתולה" and then says, "neither had any man known her". For more examples Yoel perek א, posek ח, says a בתולה can be an almone, and Yeshayohu perek מז, psukim ח-א says a בתולה may even have children.

On the other hand as we know in psukim like in Bereshis, Yitzhak married an olmah (Bereshis perek כד, posek מג). The usage of this rare word "העלמה" in Tanach shows this basically to be in the context of a girl who was not yet married and had known no man. (See Shmos perek ב, posek ח, Tehillim perek סח, posek כו, Mishlei perek ל, posek יט, Shir HaShirim perek א, posek ג & perek ו, posek ח).

What is our conclusion? HaKadosh Baruch Hu chose the best word to show the most supernatural sign was to come - a bsule was to give birth to a son. Not only this but the child's name would be "HaKadosh Baruch Hu". If we are in doubt read Yeshayohu perek ט, posek ה:

כִי יֶלֶד יֻלַד לָנו בֵן נִתַן לָנו וַתְהִי הַמִשְרָה עַל שִכְמוֹ וַיִקְרָא שְמוֹ פֶלֶא יוֹעֵץ אֵל גִבוֹר אֲבִי עַד שַר שָלוֹם:

"For a child will be born to us, a son is given to us and the government will be on his shoulder and his name will be called Wonderful Counselor, mighty HaKadosh Baruch Hu, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

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