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kindly, attended to his bodily wants, and the next morning, on parting with him, gave him some money besides. Touched by his kind-heartedness, Elijah revealed his identity and the purpose of his disguise, and told him that, as he had borne the trial so well, he would be rewarded by the birth of a son who should " enlighten the eyes of Israel." "*
Forerunner of the Messiah Many-sided though Elijah's participation in the course of historical events is, it cannot be compared with what he is expected to do in the days of the Messiah. He is charged with the mission of ordering the coming time aright and restoring the tribes of Jacob.105 His Messianic activity thus is to be twofold : he is to be the forerunner of the Messiah, yet in part he will himself realize the promised scheme of salvation. His first task will be to induce Israel to repent when the Messiah is about to come,108 and to establish peace and harmony in the world.101 Hence he will have to settle all legal difficulties, and solve all legal problems, that have accumulated since days immemorial,108 and decide vexed questions of ritual concerning which authors entertain con- tradictory views. In short, all differences of opinion must be removed from the path of the Messiah.108 This office of expounder of the law Elijah will continue to occupy even after the reign of peace has been established on earth, and his relation to Moses will be the same Aaron once held.110
Elijah's preparatory work will be begun three days before the advent of the Messiah. Then he will appear in Pales- tine, and will utter a lament over the devastation of the Holy Land, and his wail will be heard throughout the world.
