Mishpatim: Chapter 18

Two Messiahs

Synopsis

This section begins by telling of the Messiah son of Ephraim. Later it says that the verse, "May He has dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth," will be fulfilled in the Messiah. The flag of the Messiah son of David will come, and the flag of the Messiah son of Joseph will come; the flag of Moses will be in the middle or central column. The Messiah son of Joseph will consume the ministers of world nations, and Messiah son of David will divide the spoils for the children of Yisrael. At that time, no more converts will be accepted. Yisrael is compared to the five grains, crushed during the exile; once they are sorted from the straw, i.e. the other nations, they will assemble at the place called Jerusalem. After leaving exile they are compared to apples and other fragrant things.