The Mysterious Prophet

Who is the mysterious "prophet like Moses" that God promised to raise up in the future? What does a prophet like Moses look like?

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Shoftim (שופטים | Judges)

Torah: Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9

Haftarah: Isaiah 51:12-52:12

Gospel: Matthew 26:47-27:10

The Mysterious Prophet

Moses told the children of Israel that the LORD would one day raise a prophet "like me from among you, from your own countrymen" (Deuteronomy 18:15). This promise can be understood in two ways.

According to Rashi it refers to the succession of prophets who would speak to Israel. Rashi explained that God would raise prophets like Moses "from prophet to prophet." God did not leave Israel without a prophetic voice. He raised a line of prophets, beginning with Joshua, the servant of Moses and extending all the way to John the Immerser, as Scripture says, "For all the prophets and the Torah prophesied until John" (Matthew 11:13).

On the other hand, the passage does not literally speak of a succession of many prophets. Deuteronomy 34:9-10 proves that the promise of a prophet like Moses excludes Joshua. Even after Joshua was filled with the prophetic spirit, the Torah still says that no prophet like Moses had yet arisen:

Now Joshua the son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him; and the sons of Israel listened to him and did as the LORD had commanded Moses. Since that time no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face. (Deuteronomy 34:9-10)

From that perspective, the prophecy in Deuteronomy 18 could not have been referring to Joshua or any of the prophets who followed him. Instead, it refers to a single prophet whom God would raise up in the future. That man would be a prophet like Moses "whom the LORD knew face to face" (Deuteronomy 34:10).

What would a prophet like Moses look like? He would need to be a prophet who heard directly from God, like Moses did. He would need to be a redeemer of Israel, like Moses was. He would need to be a man of unsurpassed humility, like Moses was. Who is this mysterious prophet? The prophet like Moses is none other than the Messiah. The apostles understood the prophecy of the prophet like Moses to refer directly to Yeshua.

Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Yeshua, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession; He was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was in all His house. For He has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses. (Hebrews 3:1-3)

Endnotes

1. Rashi on Deuteronomy 18:15. To learn about Rashi, see the introduction.

-First Fruits of Zion