Taking Stock of Law One - Chapter 11

  The Laws of Kings and Their Wars

     from Maimonides' Code - The Book of Judges

• The King Messiah, during his lifetime, will restore the observance of all the Torah's commandments as they had been observed in the generations after the Exodus from Egypt.


• "All the commandments" include worship in the new Holy Temple in Jerusalem.


• Life in the Land of Israel – the Holy Land – will be peaceful.  King Messiah's domain will be free from outside interference.


• Belief in the Messiah and the Messianic Era are embedded in Hebrew Scriptures.


• King David was the first Messiah.  The anticipated King Messiah will accomplish in his era and on a larger scale what King David accomplished in his time.

World history has mileposts.  In this ruling, Maimonides teaches us that the Torah attests to a milepost of restoration when all its laws will be observed again as they had been during the reigns of King David and his son King Solomon.  This restoration is the farthest milepost that we can imagine.

Restoration includes rebuilding the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.

In Law 4 we will learn that a flesh and blood human being will lead the world into this state of restoration.  One of King David's descendants will be recognized for his wisdom and leadership.  It is he who will conduct peaceful national independence in the Land of Israel because of his wisdom.

will be peaceful - by pacifying neighboring nations.

free from outside interference - by rebuffing outside political and economic interference.

embedded in Scripture - Also see the Thirteen Principles of Faith concerning the belief in the Messiah.