Chapter 17 ˙ Commentary and Notes

Verse 10 "The talmudim (disciples) asked him, 'Why then do the teachers of the Torah say that Elijah must come first?'"


The "then" in the talmudim's question refers to Yehoshua having just told them not to tell anyone what they had just seen until he was raised from the dead.  This indicates that at this point they thought that when he said that he would be raised from the dead it meant that he would then reveal himself openly to all Israel and to all the world in the same power and glory that they had just seen him transformed.

This is the nature of the question that the two comings of Mashiach presented for the minds of the talmudim.  It was from observing his glorious transformation that they came to their thought that he would at this time restore the kingdom to Israel.  Why then did the teachers of the Torah say that Elijah must come first?

That is, if he would suddenly be revealed in power and glory to all Israel, where would the place of the coming of Elijah be?  Seeing the transformation of Yehoshua transformed the talmudim's idea of the redemption.  Any notion that they may still have had that Mashiach would be a military king like David, or a king who would dominate the nations and establish Israel by political means like Solomon, was taken away from them by seeing the power of his transfiguration, where he appeared in the glory of the new creation.  He had the power and the glory to make all Israel a new creation.  Why then did the teachers of the Torah say that Elijah must come first?

They saw his transfiguration and they imagined his power.  It was his powerless suffering that they could not imagine.  The Mashiach was there in their midst.  They knew it.  If they had not been sure of it before, they were sure now.  How could anything other than the redemption of all Israel from the power of Rome and from the power of the nations be expected now?  It was the nature and power of the atonement that still needed to be revealed to them.  How, then, does Yehoshua teach them?

He answers them, "It is correct.  Elijah comes and restores all things.  But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did recognize him, but have done to him everything that they wished.  In the same way the Son of Adam is going to suffer at their hands."


"Then the talmudim understood that he was talking to them about Yochanan (John) the Immerser."


The transformation of all Israel into the eternal creation will come through the power and glory of Mashiach which the talmudim witnessed but neither Israel nor the world will be ready for this.  Therefore Elijah had come to prepare Israel, but they were not even ready to receive Elijah.  This preparation must therefore yet be accomplished.