Rambam (Mishneh Torah, Kings and Wars 11:1):
“I will see him, but not now,(Numbers 24:17)”–that’s David. “I
will behold him, but not nearby,”–that’s the King Messiah. “A star will come from Jacob”–that’s David.“And a scepter- bearer will arise out of Israel”–that’s the King Messiah. “He will strike the corners of Moab”–that’s David.”
Ramban who sees it ultimately as a reference to Moshiach:
There shall step forth a star out of Jacob.Because the Messiah will gather together the dispersed of Israel from all the corners of the earth, Balaam compares him
[metaphorically] to a star that passes through the firmament
from the ends of heaven, just as it is said about [the Messiah]: and behold, there came with the clouds of heaven, one like unto a son of man etc. Balaam thus said that he saw that at a distant time a star would pass from the ends of heaven, and there would rise out of it the sceptre of a ruler,
and he shall smite through the corners of Moab, and break
down all the sons of Seth, the son of Adam, who was the father of all the nations. He mentioned the corners of Moab in order to inform Balak that his people would not fall into the hand of Israel now, but in the end of days Moab will not be saved from the hand of the ruling king [in Israel]. And the meaning of ‘the corners’ of Moab is that this ruler [in Israel] will break down all the sons of Seth, and they [Moab] will not be saved, even though they are cut off on ‘the corner,’ and
have no name among the nations, and will not fight against Israel. (Translation from Sefaria my emphasis)
Like Rambam (already mentioned) numerous commentators point to it being a reference to Dovid HaMelech. Rashi notes the Targum who showcases the chronology of events:
I see it but not now, I perceive it but not in the near future; a star [king] has gone forth from Yaakov, and a staff has arisen
[the Moshiach will be magnified by] from Yisroel, which will smash the corners [kill the leaders] of Moav, and impale all of the sons of Sheis [will rule over mankind].
Likewise the Malbim writes expressly that it is a reference to
Dovid HaMelech.
Rabbeinu Bachaye provides greater details to fill in the gaps:
I can see it — but not now.” The prophecy“ ,עתה ולא אראנו being introduced refers to David who four hundred years from
כל וקרקר this date would smash the nobles of Moav.The words
and undermine the children of Sheis,” is a reference“ ,שת בני
to mankind as such which is descended in the main from the
descendants of Sheth, Adam’s third son Noach being one of
them. (Compare Shmuel II 8:2where Dovid’s victory over
Moav is documented.) Another way of understanding the reference by Bilam to the “descendants of Sheis.” The word
may not refer to a human being but to “foundation.” We שת
meaning “the foundations of the earth” in שתין find the word
Talmudic language, a reference to the “navel” of the earth under the Holy Temple. Bileam foresaw that Dovid’s victories would create havoc among the existing world order in the countries surrounding the land of Israel. The words “and we know from Kings I 11:16 that Edom”s males were wiped
מיעקב ויר. out by David’s general Yoav. The words (verse 19)
mean that someone descended from Yaakov will arise and
destroy the remnants of all the cities of Edom. This may be a
also מיעקב וירד veiled reference to Rome. Finally, the words mean that the messiah will be descended from Israel. The
no remnant will remain of“ ,עשו לבית שריד יהיה ולא words Esau,” in Ovadiah 18 are the logical conclusion of Bilam’s
.prophecy here Bilaam was the greatest prophet to the non-Jewish nations at his time. This section of Bilaam’s prophecy from BaMidbar 24:17 says:
אראנו ולא עתה אשורנו ולא קרוב דרך כוכב מיעקב וקם שבט
מישראל ומחץ פאתי מואב וקרקר כל בני שת
The opening words of his prophecy are about the (future,
from his perspective then,) final redemption and establish that
there are two general sequential stages to the process, one
that happens first (עתה ולא אראנו (followed later by the second
.(אשורנו ולא קרוב) stage This is in keeping with the teaching of Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzato in his הגאולה מאמר, second chapter. The earlier stage is called the Pekidah פקידה and the later stage is called the
.זכירה Zachirah
In continuation of this sequential pattern, the first half of the
language of Bilaam’s prophecy is a direct reference to the two
part prophetic dream that was said by Yosef HaTzaddik when
he was a seventeen year old boy prior to his being sold into
slavery by his brothers. A number 17 which is the gematria of the word, goodטוב, and continuing the numerical sequence from 17 leads to 18, which is the gematria, life חי and which in small sum gematria (קטן מספר (is משיח) Moshiach). Like it says in Ezekiel 14:20-23:
חי אני נאום אדני יהוה גו׳
The second half of Yosef’s two part dream is recorded in
Bereshit 37:9-10, which says: ויחלם עוד חלום אחר ויספר אתו לאחיו ויאמר הנה חלמתי חלום עוד והנה
השמש והירח ואחד עשר כוכבים משתחוים לי
ויספר אל אביו ואל אחיו ויגער בו אביו ויאמר לו מה החלום הזה אשר
חלמת הבוא נבוא אני ואמך ואחיך להשתחות לך ארצה
In the original prophecy of Yosef, it connects the eleven stars with the eleven brothers of Yosef, who were also sons of Yaacov.
This reference to the number eleven is reminiscent of the
eleven ingredients of the incense that was burned by the Kohanim in the Temple service each day. This incense was burned by Aharon the High Priest to stop the plague from the Angel of Death which was killing the Jewish people at a time of great public rejection of G-d’s commandments like is seen in BaMidbar 17:11-14.
It is emphasized in the Torah that this incense is only valid when every single one of its ingredients are included together and in their proper proportion. Failure to include all theingredients together properly obligates the one attempting this improper mixture to death. This is a sign of the importance and meaning of Jewish unity and is also the
unique sign of Kingship connected with Moshiach ben Yosef.
That the 11 sons, together with their Mother and Father, would bow to Yosef at some point in the future is a sign of Yosef’s future Kingship, that he was למלך משנה like it says in Bereshit 41:41-44.
Their bowing is a sign that they are loyal, willing and faithful subjects and servants to the King.
An important detail that should be noted in order to understand all of Yosef’s second dream is its context with the first prophetic dream that he had, which preceded it and is mentioned in Bereshit 37:5-8.
That in the first dream, both Yosef and his eleven brothers are
included in the same dream category. In the first dream, they
are all bundled sheaves of grain.
The bundled sheaves illustrate that unity first begins in small,
similar groups, like husband and wife, family or tribal groups.
Then those smaller groups find unity of purpose with each other, cooperating and working for the common good which leads to an increase in and diversification of life.
This increase and diversification of life is the first commandment of G-d in the Torah, to be fruitful and multiply(Bereshit 1:22), meaning to reproduce the species,
increase their numbers and diversify, forming variations (like
the Hebrew expression סגולה has a connotation of adaptability or flexibilityמסוגל (within the species. (That diversity within a species, meaning successfully adapting to
multiple environments, adds resilience and increased vitality
to that species.) This commandment applies to all living things. Accepting and fulfilling it is the revelation of G-d’s Kingship as it pertains to Yosef (who like Moshe Rabbeinu,
earns and attains the Chaya aspect of soul חיה See the description in Sefer Ohr HaChamah of Zohar, parshat
Shemot 7b).
This essential commandment for life was then repeated a second time specifically to the beginning of the human species (Bereshit 1:26-28), who are to serve as the
representative of the King למלך משנה and behave similar to G-d above (לעליון דומה (in preserving and protecting (Bereshit
2:15) ולשמרה לעבדה themselves and all life, and consequently
meaning all of His creations. These are the two aspects or
signs of Kingship.
In Yosef’s second dream, his eleven brothers are eleven
stars. So too, from the context of his first dreams, Yosef is also in the category of a star like his brothers. The significance of this is that in the context of Yosef’s
dreams, the star that arises from Yaacov (מיעקב כוכב דרך (is associated with Yosef, meaning Moshiach ben Yosef. Bilaam’s prophecy also indicates that one of those
eleven would also be associated with the scepter of Kingship,
(מישראל שבט וקם (the sign of a second aspect of Kingship.
This scepter, the second sign of Kingship is reminiscent of the Lulav(which is built upon the foundation of Jewish unity like the incense, because the commandment of Lulav
requires the unity of all 4 species, representing all types of Jews, religiously observant and otherwise, being held together) but which additionally is taken up by Jews on Sukkot and waved in all four directions of the compass,
south, north, east and west, above and below. This additional
dimension is the second aspect of Malchut, which is a sign revealing G-d’s Kingship over the whole world, meaning the whole universe and at all times, past, present and future. This second aspect pertains to Moshiach ben David, or as Rambam describes, Moshiach with certainty.
This idea, that there are two distinct aspects to Kingship, that
from Yosef (Moshiach ben Yosef) and the other from Yehudah
(Moshiach ben David) is also what is expressed by Rambam in chapter 11 of the Mishneh Torah, Laws of Kings and their Wars, Halacha 4 in the context of Presumed to be Moshiach and Moshiach with Certainty.
In regard to the terminology used by Rambam, meaning his
particular and distinct categorizations, it should be
emphasized that these changes in nomenclature are innovations by Rambam which were not used prior to his time. The traditional teaching on the subject of Moshiach uses only the terms and names that pertain to Moshiach ben Yosef, also called “Ephraim, My Righteous Moshiach” (like
Ephraim was the son of Yosef HaTzaddik in Egypt) and
Moshiach ben David.
The language of the second half of that original prophecy by Bilaam was established by the prophetic blessing by Yaacov.
Yaacov, who after so many years of sadness would again be called Yisroel in Egypt with the return of his son, Yosef to him.
That to receive prophecy requires the Prophet to be in a state
of joy. So when Yosef was sold into slavery and went missing, Yisroel reverted to his non-prophetic name of Yaacov because of his sadness.
In his last 17 years, when his son Yosef had been returned to him from his captivity, Yaacov’s sadness was transformed into
joy and his prophetic name of Yisroel was renewed.
At the end of Yaacov’s life, he assembled all his sons to give
each of them a unique, prophetic blessing. The blessing for Yehudah appears in parshat VaYechi, Bereshit 49:8-12, which
says:
י ְהוּדָ֗ה אַתָּה֙ יוֹד֣וָּך אַחֶ֔יָך י ָדְ ָך֖ בְּעֹ ֣רֶ ף אֹ י ְבֶ֑יָך י ִשְׁתַּחֲו֥וּ לְָך֖ בְּנ ֵ֥י אָבִֽיָך׃ גּ֤וּר אַרְ י ֵה֙
י ְהוּדָ֔ה מִטֶּ֖רֶ ף בְּנ ִ֣י עָלִ֑יתָ כָּרַ ֨ע רָ בַ֧ץ כְּאַרְ י ֵ֛ה וּכְלָבִ֖יא מִ ֥י י ְקִ ימֶֽנּוּ׃ לֹֽא־י ָס֥וּר שֵׁ֙בֶט֙
מִ ֽיהוּדָ֔ה וּמְ חֹ קֵ֖ק מִבֵּ֣ין רַ גְלָ֑יו עַ֚ד כִּֽי־י ָבֹ֣א שִׁילֹ֔ה ו ְל֖וֹ י ִקְּהַ֥ת עַמִּ ֽים׃ אֹ סְרִ ֤י לַגֶּ֙פֶן֙
עִירֹ֔ה ו ְלַשֹּׂרֵ קָ֖ה בְּנ ִ֣י אֲתֹ נ֑וֹ כִּבֵּ֤ס בַּיַּ֙י ִן֙ לְבֻשׁ֔וֹ וּבְדַם־עֲנ ָבִ֖ים סוּתֹ ֽה׃ חַכְלִילִ֥י עֵינ ַ֖י ִם
מִיָּ֑י ִן וּלְבֶן־שִׁנּ ַ֖י ִם מֵחָלָֽב׃
It is here that Kingship is established for Yehudah and his
tribe with the same sign that indicated Kingship for Yosef.
That Yaacov states his brothers would bow to him. This sign is referring to Kingship like Yosef’s in Egypt, meaning Moshiach ben Yosef.
It should be noted that immediately after Yaacov mentions the sign of bowing, it applies three different terms for the three stages in the maturation and development of a lion, that of a cub אריה גור, that of a mature adult אריה, and when it becomes the leader of the pride and King לביא. This term refers to when the lion develops its full mane, much like a crown surrounding its head.
This last term combines two aspects, לב, that the King is called the Heart, and יא, like the 11 other sons of Yaacov and the 11 ingredients in the incense. That the King is the heart of the whole nation, like Rambam says in Mishneh Torah, Laws of Kings, chapter 3, Law 6.
It is also in that blessing that mention of the Scepter of of sign second This .)לֹֽא־י ָס֥וּר שֵׁ֙בֶט֙ מִ ֽיהוּדָ֔ה)made is Kingship Kingship, different from the sign of Kingship of Yosef, refers to
Moshiach ben David who, like King David, his ancestor will be
descended from the tribe of Yehudah.
This emphasizes that the qualities of Kingship found in Moshiach ben Yosef and Moshiach ben David are ultimately manifest in the same single individual. They arise from Yaacov and Yisroel who are one and the same person (דרך of prophecy the follows This .)כוכב מיעקב וקם שבט מישראל
Yechezkel, like is found in chapter 37:19, which says:
דבר אלהם כה אמר אדני יהוה הנה אני לקח את עץ יוסף אשר ביד
אפרים ושבטי ישראל חבריו ונתתי אותם עליו את עץ יהודה ועשיתם לעץ
אחד והיו אחד בידי
That this unification of these two qualities of Kingship into the
single individual is done specifically by the hand of G-d, which is a reference to resurrection like is found in the prophecy of Isaiah 60:21 which says:
ו ְעַמְֵּך֙ כֻּלָּ֣ם צַדִּיקִ ֔ים לְעוֹלָ֖ם י ִ֣ירְ שׁוּ אָ֑רֶ ץ נ ֵ֧צֶר מטעו [מַטָּעַ֛י] מַעֲשֵׂ֥ה י ָדַ֖י
לְהִתְפָּאֵֽר׃
The prophetic blessing of Yaacov to Yehudah also emphasizes that this second type of Kingship will stay with his descendants until the coming of Shilo.
That the phrase, שילה יבא כי is gematria 388 which refers to
the word אלבשנה from Shir HaShirim 5:3, which says:
פָּשַׁ֙טְתִּי֙ אֶת־כֻּתׇּ נ ְתִּ ֔י אֵיכָ֖כָה אֶלְבָּשֶׁ֑נּ ָה רָ חַ֥צְתִּי אֶת־רַ גְלַ֖י אֵיכָ֥כָה אֲטַנּ ְפֵֽם׃
I have removed my coat, how shall I put it (back) on? The coat is a reference to the special coat of many colors worn by Yosef and which was given to him by his father Yaacov like is mentioned in Bereshit 37:3. The removal of this
garment, mentioned in Shir HaShirim is referring to the
prophetic requirement that Moshiach ben Yosef will die. He
will remove his garment, meaning his body, from his soul.
This incredible statement follows the traditional teaching brought by Rabbi Hoshaia the Great, who was also known as Rabbi Oshaya, (the Father of the Mishnah) that is found in Shemot Rabbah, chapter 35 which says:
אָמַר רַבִּי הוֹשְׁעְי ָא, עַל שׁוּם שֶׁהוּא עוֹמֵד לְמַשְׁכֵּן, שֶׁאִם נ ִתְ חַי ְבוּ שׂוֹנ ְאֵיהֶם
שֶׁל י ִשְׂרָ אֵל כְּלָי ָה, י ְהֵא מִ תְ מַשְׁכֵּן עֲלֵיהֶן. אָמַר משֶׁה לִפְנ ֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוְּך הוּא
ו ַהֲלוֹא עֲתִ ידִ ים הֵם שֶׁלֹא י ִהְי ֶה לָהֶם לֹא מִשְׁכָּן ו ְלֹא מִ קְדָּשׁ, וּמַה תְּהֵא
עֲלֵיהֶם, אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוְּך הוּא אֲנ ִי נוֹטֵל מֵהֶם צַדִּיק אֶחָד וּמְ מַשְׁכְּנוֹ בַּעֲדָם,
וּמְ כַפֵּר אֲנ ִי עֲלֵיהֶם עַל כָּל עֲווֹנוֹתֵיהֶם, ו ְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (איכה ב, ד): ו ַיַּהֲרֹג כֹּל
The posuk from Eicha 2:4 and also Eicha 3:12, which Rabbi Hoshaia brings as support for his teaching parallels the language from the prophecy of Bilaam (BaMidbar 24:17), דרך
גו׳ מיעקב כוכ. which is actually referring to Moshiach ben
Yosef who is destined to either be murdered or simply die in payment of whatever debt the nation of Israel has accumulated over time. That משכון is in the sense of someone who acquires the debt owed by others like is used in Mishnah Bava Metzia 6:7. This debt transfer is possible because the King represents the whole nation, meaning the concept of
צבור.) That ציון-בת meaning ציון mentioned in Eicha 2:4 is
gematria Yosef יוסף, meaning Moshiach ben Yosef.) That his
death serves as an atonement for the transgressions of
everyone. The continuation of the posuk , “מישראל שבט וקם “refers to
Moshiach ben David. Shlomo HaMelech asks the question, once the garment is removed, how is one able to put it back on? This is alluding to the resurrection of the dead, meaning that Moshiach will at some point die and ultimately be resurrected. This follows the
text found in Sukkah 52b, that among the first 15 to be resurrected will be Eliyahu the Prophet, Moshiach ben David
and (all those who had been in previous generations) Moshiach ben Yosef.
So the language of Bilaam’s prophecy is confirming and
restating the prophetic blessing of Yisroel.