Matthew 24:30: "And at-that-time the sign (of) the Son (of) Man will-appear in (the) heaven. And at-that-time all the tribes (of) the earth will-strike(-their-breasts-to-mourn). And they-will-see the Son (of) man coming on the clouds (of) heaven with power and great glory."
1st century audience?
Jesus said "all the tribes (of) the earth will-strike(-their-breasts-to-mourn)" (Matthew 24:30).
Jesus addressed His 1st century disciples when He said these things.
Jesus said 3 verses later to His 1st century disciples: "So also YOU — when YOU-see all these (things), YOU know that it-is near, at (the) doors. Truly I-say (to) YOU that this generation by-no-means will-pass-away until all these (things) take-place" (Matthew 24:33-34).
All the "tribes"?
Jesus said "all the TRIBES (of) the earth will-strike(-their-breasts-to-mourn)" (Matthew 24:30).
The only other time in which the Greek word for "TRIBES" (Matthew 24:30) is used in Matthew can be found in Matthew 19, in which Jesus said: "when the Son (of) Man sits on (the) throne (of) His glory, you also will-sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve TRIBES (of) Israel" (Matthew 19:28).
The "TRIBES" (Matthew 24:30) could be the "twelve TRIBES (of) Israel" (Matthew 19:28) specifically.
All the tribes of the "earth"... or the "land"?
The Greek word used for "EARTH" [gé 1093 in Greek] in "the tribes (of) the EARTH" (Matthew 24:30) can also be translated as "LAND".
For example, the same Greek word can be translated as "LAND" in other places in Matthew:
"LAND [gé 1093 in Greek] of Judah" (Matthew 2:6).
"(the) LAND [gé 1093 in Greek] (of) Israel" (Matthew 2:20, Matthew 2:21).
"LAND [gé 1093 in Greek] (of) Zebulun and LAND [gé 1093 in Greek] (of) Naphtali" (Matthew 4:16).
"And this news went-out into that whole LAND [gé 1093 in Greek]" (Matthew 9:26).
The specific expression for "THE LAND" can also be used in other places in Matthew:
"THE LAND [gé 1093 in Greek] (of) Sodom" (Matthew 11:24).
"from (the) sixth hour, (a) darkness came over all THE LAND [gé 1093 in Greek] until (the) ninth hour" (Matthew 27:45).
All the "tribes of the earth"... or all the "tribes of the land" (of Israel)?
Jesus talked about the "TRIBES (of) the EARTH" (Matthew 24:30). The Greek word used for "EARTH" [gé 1093 in Greek] in Matthew 24:30 can also be translated as "LAND".
If these are the "TRIBES (of) ISRAEL" (Matthew 19:28), then the verse may be more accurately translated as the "TRIBES (of) the LAND" (of ISRAEL).
Indeed, the same Greek word for "EARTH" [gé 1093 in Greek] in Matthew 24:30 can also be translated as "LAND" in Matthew and can refer specifically to "(the) LAND [gé 1093 in Greek] (of) ISRAEL" (Matthew 2:20, Matthew 2:21).
All the tribes of "the earth"... or "the land" (of Israel) in Luke 21?
The Greek word used for "EARTH" [gé 1093 in Greek] in "the tribes (of) THE EARTH" (Matthew 24:30) can also be translated as "THE LAND".
In the parallel account to Matthew 24 found in Luke 21, THE LAND (of Israel) would be specifically mentioned, as it is written: "when you-see JERUSALEM being-surrounded by army-encampments" (Luke 21:21), "let the (ones) in JUDEA be-fleeing" (Luke 21:21), "For there-will-be (a) great distress upon THE LAND [gé 1093 in Greek], and wrath (against) this people" (Luke 21:23), "And JERUSALEM will-be being-trampled by (the) Gentiles" (Luke 21:24).
Here there is the mention of "this people" (Luke 21:23) in "JERUSALEM" (Luke 21:21, Luke 21:24) and "JUDEA be-fleeing" (Luke 21:21), which would be on "THE LAND [gé 1093 in Greek]" (Luke 21:23) of Israel specifically.
All the tribes of "the earth"... or "the land" (of Israel) in Zechariah 12?
Jesus said "all the TRIBES (of) the EARTH WILL-STRIKE(-THEIR-BREASTS-TO-MOURN). And THEY-WILL-SEE the Son (of) man coming on the clouds (of) heaven " (Matthew 24:30).
A similar verse can be found in Revelation 1, which reads: "He-is-coming with the clouds, and every eye WILL-SEE Him — even THEY WHO PIERCED Him. And all the TRIBES (of) the EARTH WILL-STRIKE(-THEIR-BREASTS-TO-MOURN) over Him" (Revelation 1:7).
For more similarities between Matthew 24 and Revelation 1:
A similar phrasing can be found in Zechariah 12, which reads: "I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the ones inhabiting Jerusalem, (the) Spirit of grace and compassion; and THEY-WILL-LOOK towards Me, WHOM THEY PIERCED, and THEY-WILL-STRIKE(-THEIR-BREASTS-TO-MOURN) for Him" (Zechariah 12:10).
In that passage in Zechariah 12, it would be specifically those in THE LAND of Israel that would see that, as it is written in the context: "it will be in that day, I will seek to drive away all the nations coming against JERUSALEM. And I will pour upon THE HOUSE OF DAVID, and upon THE ONES INHABITING JERUSALEM, (the) Spirit of grace and compassion; and THEY-WILL-LOOK towards Me, WHOM THEY PIERCED, and THEY-WILL-STRIKE(-THEIR-BREASTS-TO-MOURN) for Him, LAMENTING as for a beloved (one), and they will be deeply distressed (with) sorrow, as for a firstborn (son). In that day THE LAMENTATION IN JERUSALEM will be enlarged, as (the) mourning for a pomegranate orchard being cut down in a plain. And THE LAND WILL-STRIKE(-THEIR-BREASTS-TO-MOURN) ACCORDING TO CLAN (BY) CLAN" (Zechariah 12:9-12).
Here specifically "THE LAND WILL-STRIKE(-THEIR-BREASTS-TO-MOURN) ACCORDING TO CLAN (BY) CLAN" (Zechariah 12:12), which could refer to THE LAND of Israel doing that according to their tribes. This was in the context of "JERUSALEM" (Zechariah 12:9). Here specifically "THE HOUSE OF DAVID" (Zechariah 12:10) and "THE ONES INHABITING JERUSALEM" (Zechariah 12:10) would be concerned by those events.
"Will-strike(-their-breasts-to-mourn)" can be used in a context of lamentation?
Jesus said "all the tribes (of) the earth WILL-STRIKE(-THEIR-BREASTS-TO-MOURN)" (Matthew 24:30).
The Greek word for "WILL-STRIKE(-THEIR-BREASTS-TO-MOURN)" (Matthew 24:30) can be used in a context of lamentation in Matthew, as for example it is written in Matthew 11: "We-lamented and you-did not STRIKE(-YOUR-BREAST-TO-MOURN)" (Matthew 11:17).
1st century events
Jesus said "
all the tribes (of) the earth will-strike(-their-breasts-to-mourn)" (Matthew 24:30).
Around the time of the First Jewish-Roman War in the 1st century, people were reported to have been lamenting because of the events that were happening at that time.
The 1st century historian Josephus wrote in "The Wars of the Jews":
(2:17:10 (2:455)): "while men made public lamentation when they saw that such occasions were afforded for a war as were incurable; that the city was all over polluted with such abominations, from which it was but reasonable to expect some vengeance even though they should escape revenge from the Romans; so that the city was filled with sadness, and every one of the moderate men in it were under great disturbance, as likely themselves to undergo punishment for the wickedness of the seditious"
(2:22:1 (2:649)): "in all parts of the city, darts and all sorts of armor were upon the anvil. Although the multitude of the young men were engaged in exercises, without any regularity, and all places were full of tumultuous doings; yet the moderate sort were exceedingly sad; and a great many there were who, out of the prospects they had of the calamities that were coming upon them, made great lamentations"
Early Christian author
An early Christian author would have written about this.
Around the 4th century, the Christian historian Eusebius wrote in "The Proof of the Gospel":
(2:17:10 (2:455)): "When, then, we see what was of old foretold for the nations fulfilled in our day, and when the lamentation and wailing that was predicted for the Jews, and the burning of the Temple and its utter desolation, can also be seen even now to have occurred according to the prediction, surely we must also agree that the King who was prophesied, the Christ of God, has come, since the signs of His coming have been shewn in each instance I have treated to have been clearly fulfilled."
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