David Baron (1855-1926) was born in a strict, orthodox Jewish home in Russia. He studied Hebrew under rigorous rabbinical training. After a personal search of the Scriptures on his own, he converted to Christianity. Immediately he set out to accomplish two things: to explain Christianity to the Jews and to help Christians understand prophecy and the future restoration of Israel. To do this, he began an organization called Hebrew Christian Testimony to Israel. Through his publications, he created one of the greatest testimonies of God’s working in the lives of the Jewish people.
Baron published premillennial books such as The Servant of Jehovah and Types, Christ, and Israel. His classic Commentary on Zechariah is considered a giant among expositions of this Old Testament book. In this work, Baron alerts readers where many in the Gentile church have spiritualized Scripture when if refers to Jerusalem or Israel. In his preface, Baron writes, “Almost all the existing works on this prophetic book are in one way or another defective, and some of them misleading. The older commentaries are commendable for their reverent spiritual tone…but they more of less are vitiated by the allegorizing principle of interpretation, by which all references to a concrete kingdom of God on earth, a literal, national restoration of Israel, and the visible appearing and reign of Messiah, are explained away.”
Baron further explains he set out to work only in the Hebrew text and to explain as much as possible the great messianic prophecies. Too, he attempted “to unfold . . . prophetic events which center around the land and the people of Israel - events the rapid fulfillment of which men may now begin to see with their own eyes.”
Baron published premillennial books such as The Servant of Jehovah and Types, Christ, and Israel. His classic Commentary on Zechariah is considered a giant among expositions of this Old Testament book. In this work, Baron alerts readers where many in the Gentile church have spiritualized Scripture when if refers to Jerusalem or Israel. In his preface, Baron writes, “Almost all the existing works on this prophetic book are in one way or another defective, and some of them misleading. The older commentaries are commendable for their reverent spiritual tone…but they more of less are vitiated by the allegorizing principle of interpretation, by which all references to a concrete kingdom of God on earth, a literal, national restoration of Israel, and the visible appearing and reign of Messiah, are explained away.”
Baron further explains he set out to work only in the Hebrew text and to explain as much as possible the great messianic prophecies. Too, he attempted “to unfold . . . prophetic events which center around the land and the people of Israel - events the rapid fulfillment of which men may now begin to see with their own eyes.”
