[Avodah] The Rambam and Eliyahu haNavi

[Joel C. Salomon]

On 06/24/2011 12:45 AM, Ben Waxman wrote:
> From: Joel C. Salomon <mailto:joelcsalomon at gmail.com>
>> Put it this way:  Our /nevi’im/ have prophesied about the
>> re-establishment of /malchus beis dovid/ and the coming of Eliyahu
>> haNavi.  We also have a very obscure /masora/ about someone called
>> “Mashiach ben Yosef”.  Rambam gives the rules for identifying a
>> /navi/ and Mashiach ben David, but how would you /possibly/
>> positively identify Mashiach ben Yosef, and what halachic
>> significance would this identification have?
> 
> To tie this discussion with another, this is exactly my point. We have
> an obscure midrash about MbY. The Rambam is clear about taking midrashim
> literally (he doesn't). So take that idea, his silence in Hilchot
> Milachim regarding MbY, and I come to the conclusion that the Rambam
> doesn't hold that one has to believe that this person will ever come.

No, no, I was disagreeing with you.  Here’s the gist of what I meant to say:

Assume (for the purpose of argument) that Rambam held that there would
*definitely* be a “Mashiach ben Yosef”.  What could he possibly have
said on the subject of identifying such a person, or what this person
would do, or any halachic ramifications of this fact?  I can think of
nothing, beyond a vague, “such a character will appear on the world
stage, do unspecified things, and possibly get himself killed.”

If you think Rambam should have said that (I don’t), only then is his
silence on the matter telling.

--Chesky