What did ancient rabbis teach about a suffering messiah and a ruling messiah?
Some ancient rabbis, pondering Jacob's naming of Benjamin in Genesis 35, suggested the two names pictured two messiahs: a suffering messiah, Ben-Oni, and a ruling messiah, Ben-Jamin. Many therefore taught that two distinct messiahs would come, because they could not envision both roles embodied in one and only messiah.
Les explains that the ancient rabbis took the Genesis 35 account of Rachel's death and Jacob's naming of Benjamin and mulled over it for centuries. Rachel, dying in hard labor, named the child Ben-Oni, meaning “the son of my suffering,” “sorrow,” or “heartbreak.” Jacob then renamed him Ben-Jamin, meaning “the son of my right hand,” “strength,” or “power.” From these two names, some rabbis developed the idea that this was a picture of two messiahs. Many taught that there would be a suffering messiah, Ben-Oni, and also a ruling messiah, Ben-Jamin, and so many thought there would be two messiahs. They could not picture at all that both of these would be embodied in the one and only messiah.
And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; thou shalt have this son also.
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