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Jewish tradition actually refers to two redeemers, each being called Mashiach (Messiah). Both of these redeemers are involved in delivering the Jewish people from galut (exile) and ushering in the long-awaited Messianic era. These two Mashiachs are called Mashiach ben David (Messiah the descendant of David) and Mashiach ben Yosef (Messiah the descendant of Joseph), respectively.
When Jews typically think of “the” Messiah, however, they generally have in mind Mashiach ben David of the tribe of Judah who shall rule in the Messianic age. Mashiach ben Yosef is said to be of the tribe of Ephraim (son of Joseph), and is also sometimes called Mashiach ben Ephraim (Bavl'i Sukah 52b). Mashiach ben Yosef will come first, before the advent of Mashiach ben David, to prepare the world for the coming of the kingdom of the LORD. He will fight God's wars (against “Edom,” collectively understood as the enemies of Israel) in a time preceding the fulfillment of the Messianic Kingdom (this is sometimes referred to as Ikvot Mashiach, the Footsteps of the Messiah).
The Rabbis derive this understanding of Mashiach ben Yosef from their exegesis of Obadiah 1:18: “The house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau stubble; they shall burn them and consume them, and there shall be no survivor for the house of Esau, for the LORD has spoken.” Moreover, they understand the confrontation between Joseph and Esau to be prefigured in the birth of Joseph himself, where Rachel indicated that God would add a son (ben acher) who would be anointed for battle in the end of days (midrash on Gen 30:23).
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However, Mashiach ben Yosef will be killed during the war against evil, as described in the prophecy of Zechariah, who says of this tragedy that “they shall mourn him as one mourns for an only child.” (Zech 12:10, Bavl'i Suk. 52a). His death would be followed by a period of great calamities and tribulations for Israel, and shortly following this Mashiach ben David would appear to avenge his death and inaugurate the Messianic kingdom on earth (yemot hamashiach).
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Fascinatingly, R’ Saadiah Gaon (among other sages) has said that the Jewish people may be redeemed immediately if they simply repent - even before the appearance of Mashiach ben David. But if they do not repent, Chevlei Mashiach (Great Tribulation) will come upon them: “The Holy One, blessed be He, will set up a ruler over them, whose decrees shall be as cruel as Haman’s, thus causing Israel to repent, and thereby bringing them back to the right path” (Sanhedrin 97b).
As for Rambam’s view of Mashiach ben David (i.e., the traditional Jewish view), it is said that he will restore the Bet Hamikdash (Temple), regather the exiles of Israel, cause all goyim (nations) of the earth to be united in peace, put an end to sin and evil, raise the dead (techiyat hametim), and set up a blissful utopia headquartered in Jerusalem. In that day, 'the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea' (Habakkuk 2:14)
Two Messiahs or One?
Does the Tanakh give evidence of two Mashiachs or one? Is it possible that the portrayal of the Mashiach as riding a donkey, lowly and humble (Zechariah 9:9) and the portrayal as one coming in great triumph "in the clouds" (Daniel 7:13) refer to the same person? Could it be that one Mashiach would come twice: first as ben Yosef to atone for the sins of Israel and the nations (the Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53), and second as ben David to bring judgment upon the unjust and to 'restore the kingdom back to Israel'?
Yeshua as ben Yosef indeed came first and suffered and died for the sake of Israel (and the nations) in the war against ultimate evil. Moreover, after his death, great calamity and tribulation indeed broke out in Israel, as the Second Temple was destroyed and the nation was forced into the long period of galut (exile). In fact, ever since he was pierced for Israel, no Temple has ever stood on Moriah, the place where he was offered up to make atonement for their sins.
Yet Yeshua as ben David will completely fulfill the Messianic expectation as espoused by Rambam and the other Jewish sages. He will come again to restore the Bet Hamikdash (Temple) and set up his kingdom upon the earth. Moreover, he will unite all the goyim (nations) in peace, raise the dead (techiyat hametim), and set up his throne in Jerusalem. In that day, 'the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea' (Habakkuk 2:14).
As Messianic Jews, we believe that Yeshua is both Mashiach Ben Yosef (the suffering servant - at His first coming) and Mashiach Ben David (the reigning King - at His second coming) [see Isaiah 52:13-15 - 53:12, Psalm 22]). He is also the Anointed Prophet, Priest, and King as foreshadowed by other m’shichim in the Tanakh. Like so many other prophecies given in the Scriptures, the prophecies concerning the Mashiach are “dual aspect” - with both a near and a far meaning, an “already but not-yet” fulfillment.
David Brown writes:
It is very common for Jewish objectors to point that “Jesus has not fulfilled all the prophecies,” and to scorn the suggestion that some prophecies are for a later time and are to be fulfilled at the “second coming.” The fact is, however, that prophecies about Messiah are of two seemingly mutually-exclusive types, as though they were talking about two different Messiahs. Jewish scholarship refers to Messiah ben-David and Messiah ben-Yosef. One is the positive, victorious Messiah who ushers in a kingdom of peace, the other is a suffering servant (as in Isaiah 53). The popular tendency is to think only of ben-David and ignore ben-Yosef, but the Messianic/Christian view accounts for both in one person. Interestingly, these two prophetic strains are named for David and Joseph, both of which suffered first and emerged victorious in the end. Joseph is introduced to us with dreams of grandeur, but he was lost to Israel – actually considered dead – before his dreams came true. Eventually however, he had a “second coming” when he came back into the lives of his brothers who once rejected him. Then they bowed down to him and he became the savior of his people by providing for them in a time of famine. David also, though anointed as King in his youth as far as God was concerned, was rejected by the current King and lived as a fugitive for many years before he finally became the quintessential King of Israel. Both of these historic figures, which Jewish tradition has recognized as being prototypes of Messiah, arrive amid promises, are pushed down, and finally emerge in glory. Shouldn’t the ultimate Messiah follow the same pattern?
Joseph Prefigures the Suffering Savior
In this connection, it is helpful to consider the life of Joseph as the archetypical pattern for the “other son” (ben acher) who would be the fulfillment of Mashiach ben Yosef:
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Tsofnat Paneach means "Decipherer of Secrets" (Gen 41:45)
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Jesus (Yeshua) revealed the Father (John 1:18); Revealer of parables (Matt 13:10-13)
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Was a shepherd (Gen 37:2)
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Jesus is the Good Shepherd (John 10:11)
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Beloved of his father (Gen 37:3)
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"This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matt 3:17; 17:5)
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Anointed by his father (coat of many colors) Gen 37:3
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Jesus anointed as Mashiach ben David
(Heb 1:9; Psalm 45:7; see below)
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Sent forth by his father (Gen 37:12-14)
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Jesus sent by His Father (John 5:30-6)
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Brothers hated him (Gen 37:4)
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Jesus hated without a cause (John 15:25)
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Brothers disbelieved in him
(Gen 37:19-20)
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Jesus’ brothers did not believe in Him
(John 1:11; 3: 18, John 3:36, etc.)
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Brothers refused his rule (Gen 37:8)
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We do not want this man to rule over us (Luke 19:14)
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Brothers jealous of him (Gen 37:11)
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It was out of jealousy that the chief priests had handed him over (Mark 15:10)
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Brothers conspired to kill him (Gen 37:18)
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The chief priests and the elders of the people conferred together against Jesus in order to bring about his death (Matt 27:1)
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Stripped him of his robe (Gen 37:23)
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They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him (Matt 27:28)
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Cast into a pit (Gen 37:24)
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Zech 9:11; Matt 12:40; Matt 27:59-60
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Sold for pieces of silver (Gen 37:28)
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They paid him thirty pieces of silver
(Matt 26:15)
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Brothers ate a meal while he was in the pit (Gen 37:25)
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His people ate a meal while He was in the pit (Pesach). (John 13:1)
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Raised from the pit (Gen 37:28)
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John 20; etc.
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Made a slave (Gen 37:28)
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Matt 26:15; Phil 2:7
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Taken into Egypt to avoid being killed (Gen 37:28)
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Matt 2:13
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Covered his robe with blood
(Gen 37:31)
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His robe was covered with blood.
(Mark 15:17)
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Filled with the Spirit of God (Gen. 41:38)
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Luke 4:1; etc.
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Made overseer (Gen 39:4)
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The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in his hands (John 3:35; Matt 28:18)
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Falsely accused (Gen 40:15)
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One who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin (Heb 4:15; Matt 27:23; Mark 15:11-15; Luke 23:21-23).
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Made no defense (Gen 39:19)
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Isa 53:7; Luke 23:9; etc.
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Imprisoned with two (Gen 40:2-3)
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Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him.
(Luke 23:32)
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Exalted over the world (Gen 41:30-40)
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1 Peter 3:22; Matt 26:64; Eph 1:18-20
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Given a Gentile Bride (Gen 41:45)
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Eph 5:23; 1 Cor 11:3; 2 Cor 11:2;
Rev 21:9; etc.
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Bread giver to the world (Gen 41:55)
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Jesus is the Bread of Life (John 6:35)
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Thirty years old before service to Pharaoh
(Gen 41:46)
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Jesus was about thirty years old when he began his work (Luke 3:23)
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Joseph made himself known to his brothers (Gen 45:1)
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Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him (Luke 24:31); also eschatological (acharit hayamim)
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Revealed to his bothers the 2nd time
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Israel will receive Jesus at His 2nd coming;
(Zech. 12:10; John 19:37)
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Savior of the World (Gen 45:7)
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God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him (John 4:42; 1 John 4:14).
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Alive from the dead (Gen 45:26-28)
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Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.
(Luke 24:5)
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Redeemer of Israel (Gen 47:23)
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For you were bought with a price
(1 Cor 6:19-20; Acts 5:31)
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Later crowned with glory and honor
(Gen 41:39-45)
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Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death (Heb 2:9)
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Just as Joseph was finally revealed to the Jewish people as a type of mashiach and savior (though they had initially betrayed him and rejected him), so will Yeshua be revealed as both Mashiach ben Yosef and Mashiach ben David in the acharit haymim (end of days). Then will come true the hope of Rav Sha’ul (the Apostle Paul) who wrote, “And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer who shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob” (Romans 11:30).
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