Problem: The Quran claims that Muhammad was predicted in the Hebrew Bible (Surah 7:157). Thus Muslim apologists argue that this passage is predicting Muhammad as the future prophet that would come after Moses.
Solution: This passage in Deuteronomy 18:15 specifically predicts a Jewish person (“…from your countrymen…”). This must refer to the Jewish people—not the Arabs. In context, Moses uses the term “countrymen” to refer specifically to the Levites (18:2) and the tribes of Israel (18:5). In fact, earlier, Moses contrasts the countryman with the “foreigner” (17:15). Instead, this prediction finds its fulfillment in Jesus of Nazareth (see comments on Deut. 18:15).
“The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken; According to all that thou desiredst of the Lord thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not. And the Lord said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken. I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.
(Deut 18:15-18)
