Concept

Mashiach משיח

The awaited king of David's line, with whom exile ends and the world is set right.

Mashiach means "anointed": the title of kings and high priests, and the promise of an eternal dynasty given to David by the prophet Natan underlies the whole idea. The prophets describe the messianic age as an ingathering of exiles, a rebuilt Temple, peace between nations—swords beaten into ploughshares—and knowledge filling the earth.

The Rambam states it soberly and includes it among the thirteen principles: "I await him every day". He insists the laws of nature will not change and that no miracles need be expected: the Mashiach is a king of David's line who studies Torah, gathers the people and rebuilds the Temple. And he warns against calculating dates.

History shows the cost of error: Rabbi Akiva saw Mashiach in Bar Kochba, and the revolt ended at Betar; Shabtai Tzvi swept the Jewish world and converted to Islam.

On the timeline

2883 · 878 BCEThe Anointing of David and the Duel with Goliath 2900 · 861 BCEDavid and the House of God: Nathan's Promise and the Purchase of Araunah's Threshing Floor 3892 · 132 CEThe Bar Kokhba Revolt and the Fall of Betar 5426 · 1666 CEShabbetai Zevi and the False Messiah 6000 · 2240 CEThe Sixth Millennium and the Awaiting of Redemption 5283 · 1523 CEThe Molcho and Reubeni affair: nine years and a stake at Mantua

King David Rabbi Akiva Rambam Shabbetai Tzvi Ruth Exile and redemption Resurrection of the dead Daniel Isaiah Solomon Molcho David Reubeni Olam haba—the world to come The Thirteen Principles of Faith

Sources

Tanakh

Shmuel II 7 — the promise to the house of David
Yeshayahu 2:1–4 — “they shall beat their swords into ploughshares”
Yeshayahu 11 — “the wolf shall dwell with the lamb”

Chazal: Mishnah, Talmud, midrash, Zohar

Sanhedrin 97a–99a — the appointed times, the birth pangs, and the dispute over calculations

Rishonim

Rambam, Hilchot Melachim 11–12 — the sober account of the days of the Messiah

Basis: tradition.