King and Viceroy
At first glance it would appear certain that King David himself is not the King Mashiach who will be [29] "a Nasi for them forever" - because the activity of the King Mashiach will begin before the Redemption, as explained by Rambam, [32] and certainly before the Resurrection of the Dead.
The Talmud Yerushalmi, [36] however, makes the following statement concerning the King Mashiach: [The standard commentary entitled Pnei Moshe explains]: "If he is one of those alive, his name will be David; if he is one of the dead, he will be David himself." Likewise, the hymn entitled Ometz Yishacha (which is read on Hoshana Rabbah) [37] includes the following line: "The voice of the herald [i.e., Eliyahu HaNavi] proclaims: 'There has appeared a man, his name is Tzemach, [38] ]it is David himself!'" [39]
This may be understood to mean that the soul of King David will be garbed in the King Mashiach.
Similarly, the Sages teach that [40] "the first redeemer is also the last redeemer" (even though Moshe Rabbeinu was a Levite whereas Mashiach stems from the tribe of Yehudah), which means that the soul of Moshe Rabbeinu will be garbed in the soul of the King Mashiach. [41]
Likkutei Sichos, Parshas Vayigash, 5751 [1990]
Footnotes:
- (Back to text) Yechezkel 37:25.
- (Back to text) Rambam, Hilchos Melachim 11:4.
- (Back to text) Berachos 2:4.
- (Back to text) Siddur Tehillat HaShem, p. 334.
- (Back to text) Cf. Zechariah 3:8 and 6:12-13, and Targum there; Talmud
Yerushalmi, Berachos 4:4.
- (Back to text) See: Commentary on the Siddur by R. Yeshayahu Horowitz (the
Shelah); Commentary on the Siddur by R. Yaakov Emden; cf.
Yirmeyahu 33:15; Zohar I, 82b; II, 332b.
- (Back to text) Shmos Rabbah 2:6.
- (Back to text) Or HaChaim, Parshas Vayechi 49:11.
