B”H

Likutei Sichos vol. 18 Balak 2

3 General Introductions

A. Rambam is very precise in his wording.
B. Rambam’s book is a book of Jewish law.
C. Rambam is extremely organized.

Rambam Hilchos Moshiach

Simple Meaning

Chapter 11

Halacha Alef

Statement # 1:

A description of Moshiach’s accomplishments in the future.

King 👑 Moshiach will do 3 things.

1)Return malchus Dovid to the way it was
2)Build the Beis Hamikdash
3)Ingather the yidden into eretz yisroel

As a result:

1)All the laws in the Torah will return including;
A) Bringing korbanos.
B)Fulfilling shmita and yovel properly.


Statement #2:

Whoever doesn’t believe in or await the coming of Moshiach is denying what is clearly stated in the Torah, as proof number one:
ושב השם את שבותך וגו’

This verse tells us that there will be a time when all the Jewish people will be redeemed and we will be able to serve Hashem properly in the Land of Israel. This verse includes all the prophecies about Moshiach made by the prophets..

Statement #3:

Proof number 2 that the Torah speaks about Moshiach is from parshas Bilaam.

Over there it speaks about TWO Moshiachs. The FIRST is Dovid Hamelech who saved the yidden from their oppressors and the LAST one who will arise from among his descendants and will save the yidden in the end of days.

He brings 2 psukim divided into four parts and details which part goes on FIRST Moshiach  and which part on LAST Moshiach.

The Necessity for 2 Proofs

Proof 1: It says in parshas Nitzavim that Hashem will redeem ALL the yidden from exile at the end of days and then we’ll be able to serve Hashem properly in Eretz Yisroel.

Advantage: Clear mention of geula and ingathering of exiles

Disadvantage: Doesn’t mention a PERSON, Moshiach (Melech Hamoshiach).

Proof 2:The allusions in Bilaam’s prophecy where it speaks about the TWO anointed kings Dovid and Moshiach.

Advantage: speaks about a PERSON Moshiach (Melech Hamoshiach).

Disadvantage: proof only valid when supported by interpretation of these pesukim in Torah shebaal peh. NOT explicitly stated in Torah.

Questions on statement #1

If the Rambam is listing ALL the things Moshiach will do, why doesn’t he mention that Moshiach will revive the dead and all the other things we were taught as kids about what Moshiach will do?
Or if they’re not what Moshiach will be doing then what is the MAIN accomplishment of Moshiach?

Questions on statement #2

Why does the Rambam speak about the laws of HERETICS in the middle of the explanation of what Moshiach will do?

Questions on statement #3

Why does the Rambam choose Dovid Hamelech as the FIRST Moshiach if we know that Dovid Hamelech did NOT take the yidden out of golus?
What does knowing about a FIRST Moshiach have to do with the proof that Moshiach is written in the Torah?
The Rambam is a book of halachos why does he explain the whole passage of Bilaam. What halacha do we learn from there?

Halacha Beis

proof number 3 is brought that Moshiach is written about clearly in the Torah from ערי מקלט.

There will be a time(when Moshiach comes) that Hashem will expand the borders of eretz yisroel and he will add 3 more ערי מקלט which hasn’t happened yet.

Question

The division of halachos of the Rambam is very precise. Why didn’t he put ערי מקלט together with the other 2 proofs of Moshiach coming?
Why does the Rambam not mention where the passage of ערי מקלט is in the Torah?

Halacha gimmel

Do NOT think that Moshiach needs to make signs or wonders or make new things in the world in order to be called Moshiach because we see Rabbi Akiva and all the chachamim of their generation said that Bar Kochva was Moshiach(and was his arms bearer) and did NOT ask him to perform signs and wonders before calling him Moshiach. What do you need to know? That the Torah is everlasting and can’t be changed.

Question

What is the connection between thinking that Moshiach NEEDS to make signs or wonders or make new things in the world with the fact that Torah is everlasting?

Halacha daled

1)If a king arises to power from the kingdom of Dovid that;
A) Studies diligently Torah and observes mitvos according to the written and oral Torah.
B) Compels ALL of the yidden to go in the Torah’s ways.
C) Repairs the breaches of Jewish observance.
D) Fights the wars of Hashem.

He gets the status of chezkas Moshiach(presumed Moshiach)

If he
Finishes winning the wars of Hashem.
Builds the Beis Hamikdash in its place.
Ingathers ALL the Yidden into eretz yisroel.

He gets the status of Moshiach vadei( for sure Moshiach) and he will finish the job.

Question

Why does the Rambam seem to skip in this halacha and throughout the perek about the WONDROUS other qualities of Moshiach, his level of chochma, and nevuah?



Through answering these questions the Rebbe will show us how if we have a different understanding of the perek the whole perek will flow.

Final introduction

Why did the Rambam put hilchos melachim at the end of his sefer if the yidden are obligated in having a king RIGHT when they enter eretz yisroel.
Should have been before hilchos korbanos etc.
Why is hilchos Moshiach in the last two chapters of the entire book of the Rambam?