Sundry Points concerning Messiah son of Joseph.
1. The Four craftsmen (Smiths) and the Messiahs.
2. Two Messiahs and the Appearance of Elijah.
3. The Future Death of MBJ? Annulled?
4. Nachmandiides (1194-1270).
5. Early Zionism as MBJ!
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1. The Four craftsmen (Smiths) and the Messiahs.
Wikipedia, Messiah ben Joseph, tells us:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messiah_ben_Joseph
Jewish tradition alludes to four messianic figures, called the Four Craftsmen, from a vision found in Book of Zechariah (Zechariah Hebrew text 2:1-4; traditional English texts 1:18-21). The four craftsmen are discussed in Babylonian Talmud Suk. 52b. Rav Hana bar Bizna, attributed to Rav Simeon Hasida, identifies these four craftsmen as Messiah ben David, Messiah ben Joseph, Elijah, and the Righteous Priest.[3] Each will be involved in ushering in the Messianic age. They are mentioned in the Talmud and the Book of Zechariah....
Rashi in his commentary on the Talmud gives more details. Rashi explains that Messiah ben Joseph is called a craftsman because he will help rebuild the temple.[4] Nahmanides also commented on Messiah ben Joseph's rebuilding of the temple.[5][6] The roles of the Four Craftsmen are as follows. Elijah will be the herald of the eschaton ( end of the world) [7] If necessary, Messiah ben Joseph will wage war against the evil forces and die in combat with the enemies of God and Israel.[8] According to Saadia Gaon the need for his appearance will depend on the spiritual condition of the Jewish people.[9]
Brit-Am Note:
Rashi in Talmud Succah 52 b says that both MBJ and MBD will help build the Temple.
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2. Two Messiahs and the Appearance of Elijah.
Rabbi Aryeh KAPLAN, 'Handbook of Jewish Thought,' volume 2, Israel, 1983.
Extracts:
24.28... There is also a tradition that there will be another Messiah, from the tribe of Ephraim, the son of Joseph, who will precede Machiah ben David.
n.56... There is an opinion... the period of Mashiach ben David will be characterized by revealed miracles... while the period of Mashiach ben Yosef will be characterized by divine concealment... besides the Two Messiahs being two great individuals, they are two periods, or more correctly, two aspects of one process.
24.29 ... there is a tradition that Israel's enemies will only succumb to a descendant of Joseph. Thus, Machiach ben Yosph will be the only one who will lead Israel to victory in the war of Gog and Magog....
24.30 ... Each Messiah will perform his appointed task without jealousy.
24.32 Before the appearance of the final Messiah, a prophet will arise to announce his coming and to draw the Jewish people back to God. This prophet is referred to as Eliyahu HaNavi (Elijah the Prophet). Ot is thus written, "Behold, I will send you Elijah the Prophet before the coming of the great and awesome day of GOd" (Malachi 3:23).....
24.33 There is a tradition that Elijah will reveal himself sometime after the War of Gog and Magog immediately before Mashiach ben David appears....
34.34 Some maintain that Elijah is a Cohen (hereditary priest ) who will serve as the Cohen Gadol (High priest) in the days of the Messiah, in the Third Temple.
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3. The Future Death of MBJ?
Jew for Judaism.
Who is the Moshiach ben Yosef?
https://jewsforjudaism.org/knowledge/articles/moshiach-ben-yosef/
Extracts:
# Zechariah 1-4; ... there are 4 horns, which represent the enemies of the Jewish people, who sent them into exile. Opposed to them are four craftsmen, who cut them down. These four seem to be important figures in the end-times. Who are they? Here is what the Rabbis teach[^13]: 'And the LORD showed me four craftsmen.' Who are these four craftsmen? Rav Chunah the son of Bizna said in the name of Rebbi Shimon, 'These are Moshiach ben Dovid, Moshiach ben Yosef, Elijah and the Righteous Priest.' #
Let me summarize the Rabbinic writings[^14] with regards to Moshiach ben Yosef:
There will be a period of about seven years of terrible famines and other troubles. The land of Israel will at that time be under Non-Jewish control, and a leader of the tribe of Ephraim, will arise to lead militarily against these nations who control Jerusalem. He will be successful, but after his initial victory he will die in battle. This will cause a great mourning and many will lose faith. At that time (still within the seven years) the Moshiach Ben David will be revealed, he shall finish the battle. After which, he will resurrect all the dead, starting with the Moshiach Ben Yosef. Both of them will go up to Mount Zion to fulfill the prophecy in Ovadiah verse 21: "And the saviors (plural - both Messiahs) shall go up onto Mount Tzion and judge Mount Esav, and the kingdom will be for Hashem." There is the fulfillment of ALL the major prophesies like an end to war and a world at peace with the Jewish people in a restored Jerusalem with the third Temple.
Saadiah Gaon, after a discussion of the end-times[^16] he makes the following comment:
If we do not repent, the events of Ben Joseph will come to pass. But if we repent, they will not, and Messiah ben David will appear to us suddenly.[^17]
Brit-Am Note:
Kaplan (quoted above) 24.31 n. 61 brings sources that "the decree of Mashiach ben Yoseph's death had been nullified."
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4. Nachmandiides (1194-1270).
Nachmanides on Deuteronomy 32.4 is believed to have indicated his belief in a future Messiah son of Joseph descendants of Joshua the son of Nun..
And he [Moses] said: Let my teaching fall like rain. For that which he brought from the heavens, and his speech on the earth, will fall upon Israel, and settle upon them like dew (Deut. 32.2). For I will proclaim the name of Ha-Shem in the heavens; come, declare the greatness of our God (Deut. 32.3) in the earth. [The Rock, his work is perfect, etc. (Deut. 32.4)].
And all Israel will say also the rock is Joshua, a sign about this land, for, From thence a Shepherd-Rock of Israel (Gen. 49.24). And it was interpreted long ago: The rock rejected by the builders has become the capstone; this is from Ha-Shem, etc. (Ps. 118.22-23). And that is why Joshua said, This rock will be a witness between us (Josh. 24.27). Also, For behold the rock which I have set before Joshua: upon one rock are seven eyes (Zech. 3.9). Let the wise understand.
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5. Early Zionism as MBJ!
Rabbi Yehudah Alkalai (1798 - 1878) , "Minchat Yehudah," 1843.
https://www.sefaria.org.il/sheets/74931?lang=he
The Redemption will begin with efforts by the Jews themselves; they must organize and unite, choose leaders, and leave the lands of exile. Since no community can exist without a governing body, the very first new ordinance must be the appointment of the elders of each district, men of piety and wisdom, to oversee all the affairs of the community. I humbly suggest that this chosen assembly, the assembly of the elders [a local Zionist Organization], is what is meant by the promise to us of the Messiah, the son of Joseph.