Varying understandings as to who the Messiah ben Yosef really is.
Contents:
1. MBD and MBY.
2. Messiah, Son of David (MBD).
3. Messiah, Son of Joseph (MBJ).
Overall View. General Understandings. A Summary from Chabad.
4. Messiah, Son of Joseph (MBJ). Different Schools of Thought.
5. Bringing it all Together.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. MBD and MBY.
Messiah ben Yosef (MBY) is a figure in Jewish Rabbinical Thought. He comes to supplement understandings concerning the Messiah son of David (MBD).
Messiah son of David is expressly referred to by the Prophets. Belief in his coming is considered an Article of Faith.
On the other hand the Messiah ben (son of) Yosef is more of a tradition that should be respected but does not necessarily require adherence.
MBJ is both a real and a symbolic figure at one and the same time.
The term "Messiah" is from the Hebrew "anointed" meaning a person or thing dedicated to a holy purpose.
MBJ prepares the way for MBD and in some ways takes on characteristics otherwise credited to Elijah or to MBD. Whether we beleive in MBJ or not studying what was said of him may help us understand the destinated roles of the Lost ten trbies and especially those of Joseph.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
2. Messiah, Son of David (MBD).
A Messiah son of King David is referred to frequently in the Bible e.g. Genesis 49:12 Isaiah chs. 9,11, Hosea 3:4-5, Ezekiel 37:24, Daniel 7, Isaiah 2:4, 11, 24:23 Zechariah 8, Joel 3:1, Jeremiah 31, Micah 4, Zephaniah 3, Daniel 12, etc.
A more detailed description of the future Messiah, Son of David, is found in Isaiah 11: 1-10.
Maimonides (1135-1204) and others based on the Bible been understood to say that The Messiah son of David will:
Bring the Jews back to keeping the Torah. Anyone who helps bring Jews closer to the Torah may be fulfilling an aspect of MBD.
Regather the exiles of Judah.
Reunite the Ten Tribes with Judah.
The Temple will be rebuilt in his time or shortly before it.
Sources indicate that many of the Ten Tribes will be brought back to the Land of Israel and receive their portion within it. Countries that the Ten Tribes were once dominant in will be considered as part of Israel and united with it.
In the time of MBD a war (or three wars) will be fought against Gog and Magog. Gog and Magog will have united most heathen nations of the earth. Even now, the UN has united most peoples of the world in regularly condemning Israel. That seems to be one of their major activities.
MBD will extend his rule over all the earth. He will complete the civilization of humanity. People will change for the better. The world will change and o will human nature.
MBD will be a descendent through his father of David.
Messiah will purify the priesthood and Levites and also enable all Israelite to each know what Tribe they pertain to.
Concerning they who live among Israelites and identify with them,cf.
Ezekiel (NKJV) 47:21 THUS YOU SHALL DIVIDE THIS LAND AMONG YOURSELVES ACCORDING TO THE TRIBES OF ISRAEL. 22 IT SHALL BE THAT YOU WILL DIVIDE IT BY LOT AS AN INHERITANCE FOR YOURSELVES, AND FOR THE STRANGERS WHO DWELL AMONG YOU AND WHO BEAR CHILDREN AMONG YOU. THEY SHALL BE TO YOU AS NATIVE-BORN AMONG THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL; THEY SHALL HAVE AN INHERITANCE WITH YOU AMONG THE TRIBES OF ISRAEL. 23 AND IT SHALL BE THAT IN WHATEVER TRIBE THE STRANGER DWELLS, THERE YOU SHALL GIVE HIM HIS INHERITANCE, SAYS THE LORD GOD.
See:
Messiah, Son of David. The Anointed One in the Bible.
https://hebrewnations.com/articles/bible/messiah/messiah1.html
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
3. Messiah, Son of Joseph (MBJ).
Overall View. General Understandings. A Summary from Chabad.
The excerpts below are from a Chabad site but are based on Jewish Religious Sources in general.
https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/101747/jewish/Mashiach-ben-Yossef.htm
The essential task of Mashiach ben Yossef is to act as precursor to Mashiach ben David: he will prepare the world for the coming of the final redeemer. Different sources attribute to him different functions, some even charging him with tasks traditionally associated with Mashiach ben David (such as the ingathering of the exiles, the rebuilding of the Bet Hamikdash, and so forth).
The principal and final function ascribed to Mashiach ben Yossef is of political and military nature. He shall wage war against the forces of evil that oppress Israel. More specifically, he will do battle against Edom, the descendants of Esau.5 Edom is the comprehensive designation of the enemies of Israel,6 and it will be crushed through the progeny of Joseph. Thus it was prophesied of old, "The House of Jacob will be a fire and the House of Joseph a flame, and the House of Esau for stubble.." (Obadiah 1:18): "the progeny of Esau shall be delivered only into the hands of the progeny of Joseph."7
R. Chasdai Crescas who states that "no certain knowledge can be derived from the interpretations of the prophecies about Mashiach ben Yossef, nor from the statements about him by some of the Geonim;" there is no point, therefore, in elaborating on the subject.20
6. Edom is the perpetual enemy of Israel (see Sifre, Beha'alotecha, par. 69, cited by Rashi on Genesis 33:4; and see also Megilah 6a) and its final foe: the present galut (Exile) is referred to as the Galut of Edom (see Bereishit Rabba 44:17; Vayikra Rabba 13:5; and parallel passages) and Edom will be defeated ultimately by Mashiach (Obadiah; Yoma 10a; Midrash Tehilim 6:2; and cf. Tanchuma, Bo:4).
Interestingly enough, according to Pirkei deR. Eliezer ch. 28 (in non-censored versions), the Ishmaelites (Arabs) will be the final kingdom to be defeated by Mashiach. Other sources state "Edom and Ishmael" (see Torah Shelemah on Genesis 15:12, note 130). Note, however, Pirkei deR. Eliezer, ch. 44 (and cf. Midrash Tehilim 2:6 and 83:3) that Edom and Ishmael have become intermingled. See also Mayanei Hayeshu'ah, Mayan 11:8.
https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/1108919/jewish/Gog-and-Magog.htm
Apparently, though, the death of Moshiach ben Yosef is not inevitable. The master-kabbalist Rabbi Isaac Luria, known as the Arizal, said that when saying in the Amidah the words, "speedily establish the throne of Your servant David," one should beseech G-d that Moshiach ben Yosef should not die in the course of his struggles.
According to certain sources, Moshiach ben Yosef will serve as Moshiach ben David's viceroy. Thus finally bringing to an end the schism between the northern Ten Tribes, which were ruled by Joseph's descendants, and the Kingdom of Judea, which was ruled by the Davidic dynasty.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
4. MBJ. Different Schools of Thought.
On the whole we may say that MBJ preceded MBD and helps prepare the way for him.
Some Rabbinical Sources link MBJ with the Ten Tribes whereas others do not note a connection between the two.
In other words,
Some Rabbinical Sources say MBJ is more concerned with the non-Religious aspects of preparing the world for MBD.
Present Different Trends of Thought concerning MBJ.
(1. Zionist MBJ.
MBJ is often connected with ingathering the Jewish exiles and building up the Land of Israel. Rabbi Elyahu of Vilna ("The Vilna Gaon, 1720-1797") often referred to MBJ.
This seems to be what most recent literature is concerned with. Modern Religious Zionists and believers in the book "Kol HaTor" ("Voice of the Turtledove") are especially associated with this approach though it also refers to other ones.
Rabbi Avraham Isaac HaCohen Kook (1865-1935). also contributed to thought along those lines as well as the one delineated below, no. 2. Assimilated Jewish MBJ.
(2. Assimilated Jewish MBJ.
This is associated with the figure of Joseph who was taken into exile to Egypt.
Rabbi Kook compared Theodor Herzl the founder of Modern Political Zionism with MBJ. MBJ is symbolized by his ancestor, Joseph, who represents the Jew who assimilates among the Gentiles but still manages to help his fellow Jews from within the Gentile Civilization.
He also contributes to the reform of Gentile Civilization.
(3. MBJ and the Ten Tribes.
Rabbi Moseh David Valle (1697-1777) held a similar concept to no.2 above, but connected it more to the Lost Ten Tribes (LTTs) in general.
See;
Rabbi Valle, "Ephraim to Return!"
https://hebrewnations.com/articles/bible/hosea/valle.html
Valle: # It is a known matter that Israel did not descend into the Realms of Pollution other than for the Need to Clarify his Destiny. He needed to fulfill the will of God and reform the world through redirecting its forces. When this is done they shall return to their Source. There will be no need to remain in that situation any more. This is the meaning of, 'Ephraim shall say, 'What have I to do anymore with idols?'" (Hosea 14:8). #
According to the context of his commentary on the Book of Hosea Rabbi Valle is applying this principle to the Ten Tribes when they went into Exile.
Ephraim is a power in the world. Rabbi Valle says that all mankind is influenced through Ephraim. When Ephraim transgresses in his deeds and opinions he engenders division and contention to themselves and to all of Israel. This is what is meant by the expression "trembling" (Hosea 13:1). In Hebrew the word is "retet." It connotes "reverbation." When Ephraim speaks or acts it has a resonating effect on the rest of Israel.
Rabbi Manasseh ben Israel described the Messiah son of Joseph as leading the Ten Tribes in the End Times and waging wars against the Enemies of Israel.
The Malbim (Rabbi Meir Leibush ben Yehiel Michel Wisser, 1809 - 1879) said that same.
Rabbi Shimsho Rafael Hirsch also referred to this.
Related notes by the Malbim of interest include:
ARE THEY UNTO WHOM THE INHABITANTS OF JERUSALEM HAVE SAID, GET YOU FAR FROM THE LORD: UNTO US IS THIS LAND GIVEN IN POSSESSION: Malbim understands this to mean, Not that the inhabitants of Jerusalem rejected the other exiles and said that they could not inherit with them but RATHER the people of Jerusalem thought that was the reality. They considered the other exiles to be irretrievably lost and not about to return.
Malbim: "ALL THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL WHOLLY. These were the rest of the tribes who were exiled at first by [the Assyrians represented by] Sancherib for from they too will emerge a remnant [to be saved]. Even though these were not redeemed in the redemption of the Second Temple [led by Ezra] they will return in the Last Days." In Rabbinical Literature Sancherib represents all the Kings of Assyria and the Exile of Sancherib means the Exile of the Lost Ten Tribes.
(4. MBJ as Joseph.
MBJ is not always mentioned expressly. His significance and future importance may also be delineated through the symbolic figure of Joseph in the Bible. Joseph in spiritual terms came to represent the principle of self-control especially in sexual matters, and also of Material Support of other Israelites.
(5. MBJ as the Great General and Warrior. The Book of Obadiah speaks of Joseph taking vengeance on Edom the arch-enemy of Israel.
Obadiah (NKJV) 1:
18 The house of Jacob shall be a fire,
And the house of Joseph a flame;
But the house of Esau shall be stubble;
They shall kindle them and devour them,
And no survivor shall remain of the house of Esau,'
For the LORD has spoken. ....
21 Then saviors shall come to Mount Zion
To judge the mountains of Esau,
And the kingdom shall be the LORD's.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
5. Bringing it all Together.
A continuation article gives further insights and explanations on this matters, see: More MBJ Sources (in preparation).
At all events, the Brit-Am approach is consistent with the sources themselves.
MBJ as well as MBD represent real people who will one day appear as well as symbolizing historical processes that will precede them and enable their appearance.
MBJ will lead the Ten Tribes and Joseph. They will have become like the Gentiles but have also uplifted and improved them. MBJ will continues this process by reforming both TTs and much of the Gentle World.
MBJ will help the Jews resettle the Holy land and rebuild the country. The Tribes of Joseph (whom MBJ will lead) through Britain and the USA have done that with help on occasion fro some of the other Tribes.
This incidentally helps confirm our identification of these polities with descendants of Joseph. So too, with the other points.
MBJ leading the forces of Joseph is destined to wage war against Edom. Esau-Edom could be anyone of a number of entities among whom descendants of Edom settled. Germany appears to be the most certain in this regard the descendants of Joseph have already fought two World Wars against Germany and Austria and their allies.