Messiah

18th Century

About This Entry

This poem claimed that its author was visited by a divine magid from whom he learned mysteries—it is among ten poems and prose works that scholar Isaiah Tishby discovered in a manuscript in the mid-twentieth century. These texts, which appear to have been written before Luzzatto was forced to leave Italy in 1735 (he subsequently settled in Amsterdam), reveal clear kabbalistic and messianic tendencies and provide new insights into Luzzatto and his writings. Scholars suggest that they may have been composed around the time of Luzzatto’s marriage to Zipporah (1731), which he saw as uniting the divine presence (shekhinah) with its divine partner and mirroring the marriage between the biblical Moses and his wife, Zipporah. Although this sonnet does not explicitly employ the term “Messiah,” it expresses great messianic excitement and joy, suggesting that the redemption is near. It is replete with mystical and messianic allusions and symbols, declaring that Messiah ben Joseph will soon overcome evil, paving the way for the coming of Messiah ben David and a time of peace.

Son of fruitful Joseph, precious Ephraim,

child of joy, lush grove of magnificence,

you will exult and rejoice—for, with a vengeance,

the Just will arise over the House of the Barren

when the time comes to crown the One who is righteous

with the blessing of mountains that bore you. The blessing of breasts.

The blessing of hills everlasting. Of the column’s greatness.

Of sweetness hidden for you. Heaven’s blessing.

His bullock’s majesty will rise as one with the lion.

Hordes of foes laid waste, he will grow calm.

Laughing at fear, he’ll sentence the serpent to oblivion.

You’ll crush the power of tyrants. The wind will scatter them.

Those at ease in their wealth you’ll bring to destruction—

and you will dwell assured of the peace to come.

Translated by Peter Cole.

Credits

Moses Ḥayim Luzzatto (attrib.), “Messiah,” from The Poetry of Kabbalah, ed. and trans. Peter Cole, co-ed. Aminadav Dykman (New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 2012), p. 228. Used with permission of Yale University Press.

Published in: The Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, vol. 5.