Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Ausra Pazeraite <akp AT centras.lt>]

Dear Damon, 



I'm not yet Jewish but I'm studying and teaching Judaism. I suppose that it 
would be helpful one article "Messianism reconsidered by  Rosenthal, Gilbert 
S. in "Judaism" Fall 1991, Vol 40, there the author give many references in 
rabbinic literature. On the basis of some of rabbinic writings, e.g. M. 
Eduyot VIII, 7; M. Bava Metia. I, 8; M Sotah IX, 15; Sanhedrin 48a; Menahot 
45a and passim, he makes  suggestion that "Those who maintained a personal 
messianic view followed the path of supernaturalism. They taught, for 
example, that Elijah, already connected with messianic redemption by the 
Prophet Malachi, as we have previously noted, will play a key role in 
announcing the coming of the savior. Along with Moses, he will serve at the 
messianic banquet; he will help restore the lost and exiled tribes; he will 
induce the people to repent, settle legal disputes, and introduce harmony and 
peace; he will trumpet the coming of messiah, and assist in resurrecting the 
dead. Some went so far as to identify Elijah with the messiah.[35] 

The school of personal messianists also expatiated on the notion of two 
messiahs: one, of the tribe of Joseph, who will prepare the way for the true 
messiah and die in battle; and the final messiah, the son of David, to follow 
and bring ultimate salvation. This curious belief persisted through the 
Middle Ages, and flowered in the personalities and missions of Abbu Isa, 
David Reuveni, Shlomo Molkho, and the grand charlatan of them all, Shabbetai 
Zvi...", and so on.. The articlereally is very interesting and helpfull to 
understand Jewish messinic vision from Jewish perspective.



Ausra Pazeraite

PhD student

Kaunas Vytautas Magnus University

akp AT centras.lt