The Rebbe's Rambam | Marking the completion of the entire set

Hilchos Melachim | Ch 12

mikln zekld

448

Any statements similar to the one mentioned above, written about Moshiach, are metaphors. And in the days of the King Moshiach, it will be known to all what each statement was a meta phor for, and what concept was alluded to within them. The Sages said: “There is no difference between this world in our present time and the days of Moshiach, except for the subjugation to king doms alone which will then cease .” It is apparent from the simple meaning of the words of the prophets that [149] at the beginning of the days of Moshiach, there will be the war of Gog and Magog. And that before the war of Gog and Magog, [150][151] a prophet for the Jews

ïéðòa íéáeúkä íéøácä elàa àöBik ìk Ÿ ¥ § ¥ © ¦ ¨ § © § © ¦ © § ¦ § Cìnä úBîéáe ;íä íéìLî ,çéLnä © ¦ ¨ © ¦ ¨ § ¥ ¦ ¤ ¤ © ,ìLî eéä øác äæéàì ìkì òãeé çéLnä © ¨¦ © ¦ ¨ © ¨ ¨ ¤ ¥ § Ÿ © ¨ ¨ ¨ .íäa æeîø ïéðò äîe ¨ ¨ ¨ § ¦ ¤ ¨

á äfä íìBòä ïéa ïéà' :íéîëç eøîà § ¨ ¦ ¨ £ ¥ ¥ ¨ ¨ ¤ © úBiëìî ãeaòL àlà ,çéLnä úBîéì ¦ © ¦ ¨ © ¨ ¤ § ¦ ª § © .'ãáìa © § ¦ ,íéàéápä éøác ìL íèeLtî äàøéå ¤ ¨¥§ § ¦ ¨ ¤ ¥ § ¦ ¦ ¦ § © úîçìî äéäz çéLnä úBîé úlçúaL § © ¦ § ¦ ¤ ¤ ¤ § ¦ ¤ § ¦ © ¦ ¨ © ,âBâîe âBâ úîçìî íãwLå ;âBâîe âBâ ¨ ¤Ÿ ¤ § ¤ ¤ § ¦ ¨ ïéëäìe ìàøNé øMéì ìàøNéì àéáð ãîòé Ÿ £© ¦ ¨ ¥ ¨ § ¦ ¥ © § ¥ ¨ § ¦ § ¦ ¨ §

 and Chassidus’s approach to these forecasts as literal matters, 485 that the Rambam indeed agrees that these prophecies will ultimately occur in a tangible sense. As explained in Segment 145, in the Rambam’s view, the days of Moshiach will be divided into two peri ods. 486 The Rambam here depicts the first era, when the natural order will continue, with the notable exceptions of Moshiach’s rule and the construction of the third Beis Hamikdash. Yet, with the arrival of the second era, the miraculous reality foretold by the prophets will be actualized. Alternatively, the Rambam here is depicting the era of Moshiach as it will occur if we are unmeritorious; in that case, the days of Moshiach will commence in a natural manner. If we are meritorious, however, and bring on the era of Moshiach before its set time, the miraculous events would start from the onset. 487 The Rambam, true to his charge of strictly writing the bare halachah, describes the experience which must occur, even if we are not meritorious. Acharei 5746. Toras Menachem vol. 3 pg. 188 Acharon Shel Pesach 5748. Sefer Hasichos vol. 2 pg. 392 fn. 76



Pardes Hamelech

149. “At the beginning of the days of Moshiach, there will be the war of Gog and Magog” Other commentators explain that this war will be waged by Moshiach ben Yosef, who will arrive before the coming of Moshiach ben David. It is notable, however, that the Rambam makes no mention of Moshiach ben Yosef at all, and seems to imply that this war — and all other aspects of redemption — will be carried out by Moshiach ben David alone. Likkutei Sichos vol. 32 pg. 184 150. “A prophet for the Jews will arise . . . Behold, I will send you Eliyahu” There are several difficulties in the Rambam’s words regarding Eliyahu Hanavi’s appearance: 1. The two opinions seem to argue only about the time of the appearance, but not about its purpose; if so, why does the Rambam write the second opinion later, only after he first elaborates on the purpose? 2. How can there be two opinions regarding a factual matter regarding the time of his arrival? 488

.486 æ"òú 'ò úåëìî ïééá "úåáåúë úëñî íåéñå í"áîøä ìò ïøãä" äàø .êìéàå .487 .à ,çñ ïéøãäðñ .488 .ãñ÷ ììë í"îä 'òî íéììë úëøòî ç"ãù äàø

.485 úåäâä íòå ,(çð 'ò àéðæàì êìäúà î"äñ) æ"äãàì äãô éë ä"ã äàø íéðéðò æ"äãà éøîàî .êìéàå á ,øúò íù äàøå .à ,øúò (â êøë) çð ú"äåàá ¯ ã"öô æ"ìøú äëëå êùîä .êìéàå á ,âìøú íù ú"äåàá úåäâä íòå ,æô 'ò .ãåòå .(êìéàå æëøú ò"ñ á"ç æ"ìøú î"äñ)