Yehuda and Yosef accompany the Jewish people from the earliest days of their existence until the time of redemption. In the era of the tribes, Yehuda was the leader, but later Yosef rose above him, and Yehuda and his brothers bowed to him. In the days of the kings, the kingdom split into the Kingdom of Yehuda and the Kingdom of Yisrael (Yosef). Even in the time of redemption, there is expected to appear Moshiach ben David and Moshiach ben Yosef.
When we speak of the Moshiach we usually mean Moshiach ben David, who will restore the Davidic kingdom and perfect the entire world. This is the Moshiach whose coming we all await.
Moshiach ben Yosef
However, in the Talmud, Midrashim, and Zohar, a second Moshiach is mentioned—Moshiach ben Yosef. According to these sources, he appears before Moshiach ben David, fights the nations, and is killed by them. Interestingly, Moshiach ben Yosef is not mentioned at all in Maimonides’ writings, so his figure is largely shrouded in mystery.
Rabbi Saadia Gaon (in his book, Emunot ve-Deot, on Redemption) states that it is not necessary for Moshiach ben Yosef to appear in practice; it depends on the Jewish people. If the Jewish people repent, Moshiach ben David will immediately be revealed, and there will be no need for wars or the actions of Moshiach ben Yosef. Even if Moshiach ben Yosef does appear, he will merely be Moshiach ben David’s emissary, preparing the way for him.
Some interpret Moshiach ben Yosef more broadly as representing all the righteous and leaders of the Jewish people who died sanctifying Hashem during the exile. All of these are considered Moshiach ben Yosef who was killed.
The Unity of Yehuda and Yosef
The Maharal (Netzach Yisrael, ch. 37) explains that Yehuda and Yosef correspond to the mind and heart—two central organs of the human body. Yehuda corresponds to the mind, representing intellect and knowledge; Yosef corresponds to the heart, representing character traits and emotion. Therefore, Yehuda and Yosef are leaders of the Jewish nation.
Among them, however, true leadership belongs to Yehuda, since the mind is supreme over all other organs, which must follow its guidance. Yosef’s leadership represents a lesser state, when the Jewish people are not ready or worthy of Yehuda’s guidance, and follows the heart (Yosef) rather than the mind (Yehuda).
Accordingly, Moshiach ben Yosef refers to the leaders of the Jewish people during the exile, when the Jewish people are not functioning at their true level. Then, most of the Jewish people follow the heart, and only a minority follow the mind.
Moshiach ben David represents the true and complete leadership of the Jewish people, which even the nations cannot challenge. When the right time comes, Moshiach ben David will be revealed, the people will follow him and his kingdom will last forever.
In Chassidic teachings it is explained that Moshiach will also include Moshiach ben Yosef. As it says (Ezekiel 37), G-d will join the “tree of Yosef” and the “tree of Yehuda” into “one tree,” and “My servant David shall be their prince forever.”
This world hides the Divine light; it hides the Divine power which at every instant gives every created thing renewed life and continued existence ex nihilo. Indeed, the Hebrew word olam (world) shares a root with the Hebrew word he’elem (concealment). In the days of Moshiach the truth will surface, that the real existence of the world is no more than a vessel for the Divine light that animates it. It will become apparent that “there is nothing else apart from Him”, nothing else in the world has any real existence.
(based on the teachings of the Rebbe, From Exile to Redemption, reprinted with permission from Sichos in English)
