Torah's Government Program - by EliMaimon

Here is a brief outline of what the Torah's government program commands:

The first thing we have to do on entering the land is to name a King, whose main function is to unite the 12 tribes under one government. Whereas each tribe has to conquer and settle its own part of the land which makes eliminating the seven Canaanite nations an individual commandment, the King is to eliminate Amalek which is a national commandment. The King is also the one who will build the Temple when his rule is established – and Jerusalem is not part of any tribe's territory but belongs to all of Israel (and of course to no other nation).

We know the success of King David and Solomon, and also the failures which eventually led to our dispersion amongst the nations. Now that we returned to our land, our prospect is a government that will not fail in its task of eliminating Amalek and building the Third Temple that will not be destroyed again. This is a gigantic task and that is where Meshiach comes in (being understood that "meshiach" just means an anointed King).

His task will be gigantic because he will have to bring home all the exiles, restore and implement all the Torah laws as they were in days of old, enforce them and see to it that the people observe them (which means that the death penalty will also be restored). Under his rule, we will again bring the sacrifices. We will again observe the Shmita year when the land is not toiled. We will again sound the horns of liberation of the Yovel year when land and estate property are returned to their original owners, and Jewish slaves are set free. Only after we have established Jewish sovereignty over our land, will we be able to implement the Bnei Noah jurisdiction and accept them as Resident Strangers.

Any one of any tribe of Israel can be named King but if this King is of the House of David, if he is victorious over the enemy nations surrounding Israel, if he succeeds in all his other tasks, and if he is in all his ways a faithful servant of God like David his ancestor, we will know for sure he is the Meshiach announced by God. Obviously, his success is the only condition to world peace.

If we really want Meshiach, we have to know what it is we are looking forward to, as Gideon said to the people the first time they expressed the desire for a regent and offered him the crown: "I will not reign over you, neither will my son – God will reign over you".

Gideon understood the time was not ripe for a King because he saw that the people were divided and weak, that they still worshiped idols, that all they wanted is a strong man who has the courage to do for them what they dare not do, someone who will bring success and prosperity to the land and protect them from their enemies. They expected from a King what they expected from their idols, someone with the power to perform miracles. Gideon's answer to them was simple and clear: "Be men!"

So too, we have to be men before Meshiach can come.