The western Christian worldview sees prophecy only as prediction and fulfillment, while the Jewish worldview sees prophecy as a pattern of starting a point, later summarizing and stating again the main points, but with additions and possibly a refocus on the same, a different aspect, or entirely new point of emphasis. The pattern of events across books and stories illuminates a thematic play and replay of events, and predictions, all of which come to fulfillment multiple times (or, as often stated in the Jewish worldview, ‘In every generation’), with their ultimate fulfillment in the future. 

Using the Midrash established by Moses, Ezra, or, if you prefer, The Redactor, combine many kinds of scrolls with many forms and styles of writing. For example, Ezra used a common name or a word along The Seams of the separate scrolls he combined. When he needed to compile one scroll with many source scrolls, you can often see The Seams. When he combined one completed ‘book’ to another, he would often use some word, phrase, name, or concept to connect to the beginning of the next one. Where he combined them was, at one point, a literal sewn Seam, like on a shirt or a pair of slacks. Often, the Hebrew word Yeshua (salvation) is used by The Redactor, which is the name of Jesus, or a variation of that word for salvation. This word or concept, ‘Salvation,’ is another thread that can be followed that becomes a Major Thread (noted as Thread 4, below), connecting the entire Jewish Bible, uniting it with the New Testament.

‘For the many centuries before Jewish scribes published books in codex [book] form, they preserved books in the form of separate scrolls. In certain cases, the scribes put several books in a single scroll–and in a particular order.[32] This was true of the Torah (the first five books of the Bible ascribed to Moses’ penmanship), which needed to be ordered because Jew[ish people] read it ritually in order, as part of their worship. Similarly, the scribes grouped Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings in sequence since they tell a more or less continuous story in chronological order.[33] However, for the rest of the Bible, even in Rabbinic times, there was a varying order of the Prophets (except for the ‘Minor Prophets ‘) and the Writings.’[34] However, today, there is a primary accepted order to the books used by most Jewish people worldwide.

‘The Bible shows evidence of ordering at both the macro and the micro level. On the micro level, its text is divided into books—typically, what can fit on a scroll. (Thus the 12 Minor Prophets constitute a single book or scroll, even though it is made up of many books.)…On the macro level, this large collection comprises smaller collections…Torah [Moses], Nevi’im [Prophets], and Ketuvim [Writings]…Scholars have found allusions to this structure in the New Testament and among the Dead Sea Scrolls.’ [35]

The Thread of the Name of the Bridegroom (Yeshua) can be followed from the book of Genesis and is firmly established by the last chapter of Deuteronomy. The name of the Messiah (The Bridegroom) has several variations, but is found most often as, Hoshea, Hosea, Yehoshua, and Yeshua, which are all carry the primary usage: Salvation. These names, variations of name, alternative descriptions of the One represented by the name such as, the Anointed One, the King, The Prophet, the Word, the Happy Man, the Blessed Man, et al., can be easily found in progressively building a ‘character sketch’ of Messiah from Genesis to the end of Chronicles in the Jewish order of the Old Testament.

 A character sketch simply means a description or analysis of a certain character, telling the reader about their physical appearance, personality traits, habits, strengths, weaknesses, and history amongst other things.[36]

Here are the necessary elements that should be in a character sketch, all of which are highlighted by Ezra’s redaction:

1. Physical Characteristics

2. Personality Traits

3. Back story or what the writer wants you to know about the character

4. What the character wants or aspires to be

5. How they talk and how they treat others

6. How they evolved with time

7. Habits/Strengths/Weaknesses that can tell the reader more about the character

These are the main Midrashic Threads of the Bridegroom:

1. The Ancient Jewish Marriage Ceremony Thread

2. The Marriage Cup Thread

3. The Specific Marriage Thread

4. The Name of the Bridegroom Thread

5. The Name of the Bridegroom as the Word of God Thread (the Memra of Yahweh)[37]

Thread 5 is covered separately in another course, as it is the most extensive and in-depth study. However, this course does end with a taste of what that course entails, showing how specific names of Yahweh are correlated in ancient Jewish literature as the Word of the LORD, which the New Testament authors identify the Word of the LORD, the Creator God, and Jesus the Bridegroom.[38]

Lesson Summary

The western Christian worldview views prophecy simply as prediction and fulfillment, while the Jewish perspective sees prophecy as a pattern that begins at a certain point and then reiterates and expands on the main points with new emphases or different aspects. The Jewish view encompasses a thematic play and replay of events and predictions across various books and stories, suggesting multiple fulfillments throughout history leading to a final culmination in the future.

Midrash, attributed to figures like Moses, Ezra, or The Redactor, combines different scrolls, writing styles, and forms. This method combines scrolls by using common names or words to create seams where various source scrolls are merged. The word "Yeshua" (meaning salvation) frequently appears in this process, creating a major thread that connects the Jewish Bible with the New Testament, uniting both canons.

In ancient times, Jewish scribes maintained books in the form of separate scrolls before the advent of the codex. Books were often grouped together in single scrolls in a specific order for worship practices. While there was flexibility in the arrangement of certain books, a generally accepted order exists today for Jewish scriptures.

The text of the Bible shows ordering at both macro and micro levels, with divisions into specific books or scrolls and larger groupings like Torah, Nevi’im, and Ketuvim. The thread of the Bridegroom’s name (Yeshua) can be traced from Genesis to Deuteronomy, with variations such as Hoshea, Hosea, Yehoshua, all connoting salvation. Ezra's redaction highlights various aspects essential for building a character sketch of the Messiah throughout the Old Testament.

Key elements in building this character sketch, as highlighted by Ezra, include physical characteristics, personality traits, backstory, aspirations, dialogue, evolution over time, and habits/strengths/weaknesses. Additionally, the Midrashic Threads of the Bridegroom concept encompass various themes like the ancient Jewish marriage ceremony, the marriage cup, specific marriage details, and the Bridegroom's name as the Word of God.

• The main Midrashic Threads of the Bridegroom are:
  • The Ancient Jewish Marriage Ceremony Thread
  • The Marriage Cup Thread
  • The Specific Marriage Thread
  • The Name of the Bridegroom Thread
  • The Name of the Bridegroom as the Word of God Thread (the Memra of Yahweh)