Nathan

Nathan was the son of King David and Bathsheba, the older brother of Solomon. He was David's third son born in Jerusalem [1 Chronicles 3:5]. According to the Zohar (Shlach 173b), The Messiah (known to Jews as Moshiach) will descend from the wife of Nathan. Since Joash was the only descendant left from the house of David (1 Kings 2:11), it would seem that the view of The Zohar is that Yo'ash (the great grandfather of The Messiah) descended from Na... more

Nathan was the son of King David and Bathsheba, the older brother of Solomon. He was David's third son born in Jerusalem [1 Chronicles 3:5]. According to the Zohar (Shlach 173b), The Messiah (known to Jews as Moshiach) will descend from the wife of Nathan. Since Joash was the only descendant left from the house of David (1 Kings 2:11), it would seem that the view of The Zohar is that Yo'ash (the great grandfather of The Messiah) descended from Nathan. In fact, this is also the opinion of Philo as quoted in Seder Hadoros. The error of this interpretation of the Zohar is evidenced by the view of the Talmud (Horayot 11b), that Joash was born to Ahaziah of Judah, who was a descendant of King Solomon as clearly stipulated in 1 Chronicles 3:10. A similar remark has been made with regard to the final opinion of Maimonides. In his first writings (Epistle to Yemen, Chapter 3 and Sefer Hamitzvos Loi Sa'asei, #362), he stated that the Messiah would descend from King Solomon. In Mishneh Torah ... less