But what if the Messianic role is actually a team effort? What if, as this radical idea from Deuteronomy Rabbah (3:17) suggests, the Messiah is actually two figures, coming together as one?
This isn't just any duo, mind you. We're talking about Moses and Elijah.
Now, you might be thinking, "Moses? Isn't he the guy who led the Israelites out of Egypt and received the Torah?" Absolutely! But consider this: God makes a powerful promise to Moses. As Deuteronomy Rabbah (3:17) recounts, God says, "Moses, I swear to you, in the future to come, when I bring the prophet Elijah to herald the End of Days, the two of you will come as one. In that hour the Messiah will come and bring comfort to Israel." It's a stunning image.
And there’s something deeply resonant about Moses embodying Messianic qualities. In fact, the Samaritans virtually regarded Moses as a messianic figure! It makes you wonder, doesn’t it? Perhaps rabbinic authorities were concerned that Moses's role might overshadow that of a mere prophet, taking on messianic attributes. Byron Sherwin even suggests that this concern might be why Moses's role in the Exodus is almost entirely omitted from the Passover Seder—perhaps triggered by early Christians describing Jesus as the “new Moses.” Food for thought!
But what about Elijah? Ah, Elijah the prophet. His messianic role is more explicit. We often hear that he will herald the coming of the Messiah. And get this: he’s said to blow the shofar (ram’s horn) from the very ram that Abraham sacrificed on Mount Moriah in place of Isaac. Talk about a powerful symbol of redemption! (Moses, by the way, is said to have blown the ram's other horn at Mount Sinai.)
So, there you have it. Moses, the lawgiver, the liberator. And Elijah, the fiery prophet, the herald of redemption. Together, they embody the attributes we associate with the Messiah. And according to Deuteronomy Rabbah, they will come together as one, perhaps even reincarnated as a single figure.
What does this all mean? Maybe it's about balance. Perhaps the Messianic ideal isn't about one perfect person, but about the perfect combination of qualities: law and grace, justice and mercy, leadership and prophecy. It challenges us to consider that maybe, just maybe, the ultimate redemption isn't about a single savior, but about the collective power of different strengths coming together for a common good. And isn’t that a powerful idea to carry with us?