Section: The Christians’ explanation of the Jews’ refusal to believe in the Messiah, despite the prophecies they possessed foretelling his advent
The narrator who reports their words said:
“So I asked them, ‘Since these prophecies are in the Jews’ own scriptures, and they freely acknowledge that they are genuine and will be fulfilled when the Messiah arrives, what possible case can they make for not believing in him?’
“They answered:
‘God chose the Children of Israel and, in that era, set them apart from all other peoples as His own nation. While they were in the land of Egypt under Pharaoh’s bondage, He sent the prophet Moses to them. Moses guided them to the knowledge of God and promised that God would rescue them from Pharaoh’s slavery, lead them out of Egypt, and show them the Promised Land—namely the land of the Holy House (Jerusalem). Moses entreated God for this, and he worked wonders before their very eyes.
‘The Egyptians were struck with ten plagues, all of which the Israelites witnessed, knowing that God was doing it for their sake. Then God led them out of Egypt with a mighty hand, split the sea for them, and brought them into it, the water standing like a wall to their right and another to their left. Pharaoh and all his troops entered the sea while the Children of Israel looked on. When Moses and the Israelites had come out of the sea and Pharaoh and his army were still inside it behind them, God commanded Moses to stretch his staff over the water; the sea returned to its normal state, and Pharaoh and all his soldiers drowned, as the Children of Israel watched.’