Rabbinical Commentary on the Messiah son of Joseph
Contents:
1. Introduction. Excerpts from Some Rabbinical Appreciations.
2. 'Sfat Emet,' We all have something of MBD and MBJ with us!
3. "Shem Me-Shmuel." MBJ will defeat Edom. MBJ overcomes Sexual Impurities. Gentiles submit to MBJ. The Ten-Horned Beast of Daniel is Edom.
Yehonath son of Saul as Prototype.
4. Rabbi Tsadok HaCohen.
Oral Law developed Thanks to the Hasmonean Victories over Greece.
First Mention in the Bible Encapsulates its Essence.
Saul as MBJ?
MBJ will Subdue all Peoples of the Earth.
MBJ and Jacob.
MBJ and Joshua.
Joseph is More Accesible for the Gentiles.
Gentiles will Obey Joseph.
MBJ goes to War with his Horns.
The Tribe of Dan will Rule Together with MBJ and Help Rebuild the Temple.
Joseph and Oral Tradition and Wordly Wisdom.
5. S. R. Hirsch.
The Ten Tribes and Messiah ben Yosef converge. They are the Weapons of War of Israel.
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1. Introduction. Excerpts from Some Rabbinical Appreciations.
Below are excerpts from relatively recent Rabbinical sources concerning Messiah ben Yosef (MBJ). In this literature the concepts of Joseph, the Lost Ten Tribes (LTTs), and Messiah son of Joseph (MBJ) all intertwine and overlap each other. From the one we may learn about the other.
A good portion of these sources were brought to our attention by Rabbi David of Beitar Ilit, Israel, who carried out the necessary research on our behalf.
We have previously dedicated to this subject notes in our publications, articles on our Web-Sites, and Video Clips on YouTube.
All these are complemented by the present extracts.
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2. 'Sfat Emet,' We all have something of MBD and MBJ within us!
'Sfat Emet,' [also pronounced as "Sfas Emes"] is the name of a Commentary written by Rabbi Yehudah Aryeh Leib Alter (1847 - 1905), who was the Rebbe (Rabbinical Leader) of the Gerrer Hasidim in Poland.
"Sfat Emet," Breishit, VaYchi, 255.
The issue of Joseph and Judah comprises a general rule applicable to all the Tribes. Yosef is the head, leader, of the Tribes. Joseph emerges from the other Tribes as well as being above them. For this reason Joseph has an extra blessing of his own (Genesis 48:15) in addition to the one he receives together with the brothers (Genesis 49:22-24). Judah is an entity in the midst of all the Tribes and therefore the verse (cf. 1-Chronicles (NKJV) 5:2 YET JUDAH PREVAILED OVER HIS BROTHERS, AND FROM HIM CAME A RULER, ALTHOUGH THE BIRTHRIGHT WAS JOSEPHS) in the Hebrew translated MORE CORRECTLY it says that Judah prevailed AMONG his brothers and not over his brothers. So too, Deuteronomy 33: 7 AND THIS HE SAID OF JUDAH: HEAR, LORD, THE VOICE OF JUDAH, AND BRING HIM TO HIS PEOPLE. The Midrash says that all the Israelites (in certain situations) are referred to as "Yehudim," i.e. Jews. Judah (like Joseph) was given his own portion and also a portion together with his brothers. Each Tribe has something of the quality of Judah within it. Likewise, Joseph raises up all the Tribes. Both Joseph and Judah have their own internal Tribal Aspect and an all-Tribes encompassing one. This is also reflected in the Messiah ben Yosef and the Messiah ben David.
Genesis (NKJV) 48:
15 AND HE BLESSED JOSEPH, AND SAID:
GOD, BEFORE WHOM MY FATHERS ABRAHAM AND ISAAC WALKED,
THE GOD WHO HAS FED ME ALL MY LIFE LONG TO THIS DAY,
16 THE ANGEL WHO HAS REDEEMED ME FROM ALL EVIL,
BLESS THE LADS;
LET MY NAME BE NAMED UPON THEM,
AND THE NAME OF MY FATHERS ABRAHAM AND ISAAC;
AND LET THEM GROW INTO A MULTITUDE IN THE MIDST OF THE EARTH.
Genesis (NKJV) 49:
22 JOSEPH IS A FRUITFUL BOUGH,
A FRUITFUL BOUGH BY A WELL;
HIS BRANCHES RUN OVER THE WALL.
23 THE ARCHERS HAVE BITTERLY GRIEVED HIM,
SHOT AT HIM AND HATED HIM.
24 BUT HIS BOW REMAINED IN STRENGTH,
AND THE ARMS OF HIS HANDS WERE MADE STRONG
BY THE HANDS OF THE MIGHTY GOD OF JACOB
(FROM THERE IS THE SHEPHERD, THE STONE OF ISRAEL),
25 BY THE GOD OF YOUR FATHER WHO WILL HELP YOU,
AND BY THE ALMIGHTY WHO WILL BLESS YOU
WITH BLESSINGS OF HEAVEN ABOVE,
BLESSINGS OF THE DEEP THAT LIES BENEATH,
BLESSINGS OF THE BREASTS AND OF THE WOMB.
26 THE BLESSINGS OF YOUR FATHER
HAVE EXCELLED THE BLESSINGS OF MY ANCESTORS,
UP TO THE UTMOST BOUND OF THE EVERLASTING HILLS.
THEY SHALL BE ON THE HEAD OF JOSEPH,
AND ON THE CROWN OF THE HEAD OF HIM WHO WAS SEPARATE FROM HIS BROTHERS.
Brit-Am Note: The above freely paraphrased extract is typical of much of the Literature concerning MBD and MBJ. A discussion of the symbolic significance and historical importance of the Tribes, Judah and Joseph, uses the personalities MBD and MBJ to illustrate the case.
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"Shem Me-Shmuel" is the name of a Commentary on the Torah by
Rabbi Shmuel Bornsztain (1855 -1926). He was the second Rebbe of the Sochatchov Hasidic dynasty. He was a leading Hasidic thinker in the early 1900s Europe and a Rebbe to thousands of Hasidim in the Polish cities of Sochatchov and Lodz.
MBJ will defeat Edom
MBJ will defeat Edom in War. Subsequently (or parallel to that) a portion of Edom will repent and attach itself to Israel. This seems to be connected to MBJ (VaYishlach 672).
BAM: Edom means certain European nations such as Germany, Austria, Hungary, along with elements from Poland and Russia, and others scattered throughout the Gentile nations.
MBJ overcomes Sexual Impurities.
Sexual irregularities (including masturbation) disturb clarity of thought, weakening the intelligence. MBJ represents the ability to overcome sexual lust. This can be done.
Gentiles submit to MBJ.
Most of the non-Israelite nations will willingly submit (after being defeated by MBJ) to Israel and serve them,
cf.
Isaiah 61: 5 Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks,
And the sons of the foreigner, Shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.
The Ten-Horned Beast of Daniel is Edom.
The ten-horned beast of Daniel is Edom.
Yehonath son of Saul as Prototype.
Yehonath son of Saul the friend of David parallels MBJ with MBD.
1-Samuel (NKJV) 23:
16 Then Jonathan, Sauls son, arose and went to David in the woods and strengthened his hand in God. 17 And he said to him, Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you. You shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you. Even my father Saul knows that.
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4. Rabbi Tsadok HaCohen.
Rabbi Tsadok HaCohen MeLublin, also known as Rabbi Zadok ha-Kohen Rabinowitz (1823 - 1900), was a significant Jewish thinker and Hasidic leader.
Rabbi Zadok was a prolific writer in all areas of Judaism, halakhah, Hasidut, Kabbalah, and ethics. He also wrote scholarly essays on astronomy, geometry, and algebra.
He said: "One does not squelch the evil inclination but rather helps channel its energies positively."
Oral Law developed Thanks to the Hasmonean Victories over Greece.
Zadok HaKohen said that the Oral Law developed to its full potential after the victory of the Hasmoneans over the Greek culture, a culture characterized by deep analysis and hair-splitting argument. These virtues were converted to a holy nature with the victory of Israel over Greece. This was the fulfillment of the verse "God will give beauty to Yefet and this beauty will dwell in the tents of Shem" (Genesis 9:27, as per Talmud, Megillah 9b). After the victory, Jews could begin the successful integration of natural science, logic, and philosophy into the world of the Written Law. Only then could the Oral Law truly begin to flourish.
First Mention in the Bible Encapsulates its Essence.
Rabbi Tsadok HaCohen from Lublin, "Yisroel Kedoshm," pp.66-67, that the first time someone or some thing is mentioned in the Bible there is to be found an encapsulation of its essential nature.
One of the lone surviving students (after the Holocaust) of Rabbi Tsadok was Rabbi Michael Mokotovsky, whose son was Rabbi Avraham Eliyahu Mokotovsky, better known by his penname Eliyahu Kitov. Kitov wrote important well-known books in our age on domestic tranquility in Judaism and similar matters.
Rabbi Tsadok often spoke of the Lost Ten Tribes and of the Messiah son of Joseph who will lead them in the End Times.
Saul as MBJ?
https://hebrewnations.com/articles/tribes/project/asses3.html
In the future tradition says there will be two Messiahs: Messiah son of David (MBD), and Messiah son of Joseph (MBJ).
Messiah son of Joseph will appear first. He will be a leader from the Ten Tribes, and descended from Ephraim. He will defeat the enemies of Israel, help the Jews of Judah return and rebuild the Land, and possibly initiate a return of the Ten Tribes.
Messiah son of David will be from the Tribe of Judah. He will cause the Jews to repent and keep the Torah, defeat the enemies of Israel, complete reunification with the 10 Tribes, initiate a process enabling every Israelite know to what Tribe they belong, and eventually fulfill the Prophecies concerning the End Times.
MBJ will Subdue all Peoples of the earth
The War of Gog and Magog may have happened. MBJ may not be killed.
MBJ and Jacob.
MBJ is linked with the soul of Jacob the Patriarch.
MBJ and Joshua.
MBJ is descended from Joshua the son of Nun who succeeded Moses and distributed the Land to the Tribes of Israel, as described in the Biblical Book of Joshua.
Joseph is More Accesible for the Gentiles.
The Rulership of Joseph (in Egypt) was before the giving of the Torah. The initial reign of MBJ is also without the Torah. This makes it easier for the Gentiles to accept but lowers the respect and necessary distancing they accord it.
Gentiles will Obey Joseph.
MBJ will defeat the Gentiles who will then mostly follow after him.
MBJ goes to War with his Horns.
MBJ goes to war with his horns. [Joseph is liked unto a "raem"- unicorn-wild bull who with his horn(s) butts the Gentiles until the Ends of the Earth.These are accoutrements exterior to his body.
The Tribe of Dan will Rule Together with MBJ and Help Rebuild the Temple.
[Chanuccha 24; Quotes from the Zohar part 3, 194;b,]
The Tribe of Dan will rule together with MBJ. TheTribe of Dan will participate in building the Third Temple just as it was a partner in building the Tabernacle and the Temple of Solomon.
Joseph and Oral Tradition and Wordly Wisdom.
Joseph is also connected in his own way to the Oral Tradition (Torah shel ball peh).
MBJ merits to receive all the wisdom of the world.
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Rabbi Shimson Rafael Hirsch (1808-1888) was a German Orthodox Rabbi best known for his intellectual approach to the Modern World, occasionally termed "Neo-Orthodoxy." Hirsch was Rabbi in Oldenburg, Emden, Germany, and was subsequently appointed Chief Rabbi of Moravia. He wrote a number of influential books that have become Classics of Jew Thought. He was a vocal opponent of Reform Judaism, Zionism, and similarly opposed early forms of Conservative Judaism.
The Ten Tribes and Messiah ben Yosef converge. They are the Weaponse of War of Israel.
Genesis 48:
19 BUT HIS FATHER [JACOB] REFUSED, AND SAID, I KNOW, MY SON, I KNOW; HE [MANASSEH] ALSO SHALL BECOME A PEOPLE, AND HE ALSO SHALL BE GREAT. NEVERTHELESS, HIS YOUNGER BROTHER [EPHRAIM] SHALL BE GREATER THAN HE, AND HIS OFFSPRING SHALL FILL THE NATIONS.
S.R. Hirsch says:
The descendants of Ephraim will complement the Tribes of Israel. They shall be their weapons of war towards outsiders... His descendants will supplement what is lacking in the external affairs of the other Tribes. The dreaded awe of Ephraim shall be on the other nations. The Ephraimites shall intensify the power of the Tribes and be their Force of Arms against foreigners...
The Kingdom of Ephraim was similar in its characteristics to a non-Jewish polity. ..
Genesis 49:
26 THE BLESSINGS OF YOUR FATHER
ARE STRONGER THAN THE BLESSINGS OF THE ETERNAL MOUNTAINS,
THE BOUNDARIES OF THE EVERLASTING HILLS;
MAY THEY BE ON THE HEAD OF JOSEPH,
ON THE BROW OF HIM WHO WAS SET APART FROM HIS BROTHERS.
S.R. Hirsch says:
Judah and Joseph are the two central points in the blessing of Jacob. .. this would continue till the last generation in the Latter Days. ..
The House of Joseph and the House of Judah, according to the Prophets, encompass all the Israelite People...
We have a tradition that in the Last days there shall arise an heir to the House of Joseph to prepare the ground for a chosen scion from the House of Judah :
The Messiah son of Joseph and the Messiah son of David... The relationship between the two is not clear...
Nevertheless, there is certainly reason for the emphasis of Jacob that Future hope and Blessings would converge on Joseph, no less than on Judah.
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See:
Two Messiahs?
Messiah son of David, Messiah son of Joseph, and the Ten Tribes
https://hebrewnations.com/articles/bible/mbjtoday/2messiahs.html#a2
For a list of Brit-Am Sources on Messiah ben Yosef, see:
Messiah son of Joseph
https://hebrewnations.com/articles/bible/mbjtoday.html
The Turteldove.
Reply to a Query on Mashiach ben Yoseph and Kol HaTor
https://hebrewnations.com/articles/messiah/turtledove.html