The Holman has both the New Testament and the Old Testament. For a list of all the books in that bible and links to them, you can go here: http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/Holman-Christian-Standard-Bible-HCSB/#books

Yes, you’re right about the Old Testament being written before the New Testament. The Old Testament was written about the covenant between God and the Jews before Christ was born, and the New Testament marks the new covenant, after Christ redeemed all who are willing to be redeemed by his death and resurrection. (We’ll be getting into that, though I’m happy to try to explain it here and now.)

If you’re interested, it might help you to read this explanation, which Ken wrote about the bible and studying it. It’s easy to read. http://kenanderson.net/bible/

Let me work on your first question now, and I’ll be back later on to tackle the others. Your question: “When the writing refers to “the prophet”, who is the prophet? I understand that this prophet is communicating God’s words , but was it a particular person? I had thought the prophet was Jesus.”

Although I suppose he technically he could be called a prophet, He was, more importantly, the Messiah that the Old Testament prophets talked about, and even more importantly than that, He is God.

When Matthew talks about the prophets here, he is referring to the Old Testament prophets who told the Jews who the Messiah would be and how they would know it was indeed him when he got here.

The first time I read through the bible, I didn’t understand why they Gospels felt I should know about “the begats,” and lining up the prophecies with the circumstances surrounding the lineage of Christ turned out to be one good reason.

When Matthew quotes “the prophet” saying, “Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive, have a son, and name him Immanuel,” he is quoting the prophet Isaiah, who wrote that in the Book of Isaiah, chapter 7, verse 14 about 800 years before Christ was born.

These are some of the prophecies Matthew is addressing in the first chapter:

Then a shoot will grow from the stump of Jesse,
and a branch from his roots will bear fruit. (Isaiah 11:1)

“The days are coming”—this is the Lord’s declaration—
“when I will raise up a Righteous Branch of David.
He will reign wisely as king
and administer justice and righteousness in the land. (Jeremiah 23:5)

The Lord said to Samuel, “How long are you going to mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem because I have selected a king from his sons.” (1 Samuel 16:1)

If you look in the bible I sent, I think you will find notations from the publisher in the margins. Do you see any?

And am I making sense to you?

Was King Herod the King of Jews? Is that why he felt so threatened by Jesus? Why is Jesus referred to as King of Jews? Was Jesus Jewish? At that time what did King of Jews mean? What area did Herod rule? Was it all of Israel?