Еврейская мысль к Йехезкэля 37:19

(Ez. 37:19) the wood of Yosef -- This refers to Mashiach ben Yosef for the entire Redemption depends on the unification of the two pieces of wood: the wood of Yosef and the wood of Judah (as it states in this chapter). They are the two meshichim: Mashiach ben Yosef and Mashiach ben David, who at first, i.e., when the Redemption starts naturally from below, will be separate individuals in “your hand” [Ez. 37:17]. Afterwards, they will become one in “My hand” [Ez. 37:19], the hand of God--that is, miraculously, with the help of the clouds from Heaven.

For this reason, the Talmud does not challenge Rabbi Akiva’s statements by citing this prophecy, which indicates that the Ten Tribes will return to Eretz Yisrael, or by citing a previous prophecy of Yechezkel:¹⁷Yechezkel 37:19. “Behold, I will take the staff of Yosef, that is in the hand of Ephraim and the tribes of Israel, his companions, and I will place them together with the staff of Yehudah, and I will make them one staff.” This prophecy implies that the Ten Tribes will return to the kingdom of Yehudah, and become one with the other tribes. In this verse, the word עץ, is translated as “staff,” and refers to a staff of leadership. The verse implies that all the people will return, and thus the Jewish nation will be fit to accept the sovereignty of the House of David. This concept is also reflected in a later verse in that same prophecy:¹⁸Ibid.:21-22. “Behold, I will take the Children of Israel from among the nations to which they have sojourned…. I will make them into one nation in the land with one king…. They will no longer be two nations… two kingdoms.” This prophecy was not fulfilled in the era of the Second Beis HaMikdash when many rebelled against their rulers and sought the kingship for themselves. True, the Jews were not divided into two nations, but they were divided into many factions.¹⁹By citing these verses, Tosafos Yom Tov is emphasizing that this prophecy was not fulfilled in the era of the Second Beis HaMikdash, but rather will be fulfilled in the future with the coming of Mashiach.