Nathan (son of David)

Nathan was the son of King David and Bathsheba, the older brother of Solomon. He was David's third son born in Jerusalem [1 Chronicles 3:5].

Father of the Messiah

According to the Zohar (Shlach 173b), The Messiah (known to Jews as Moshiach) will descend from the wife of Nathan. Since Joash was the only descendant left from the house of David (1 Kings 2:11), it would seem that the view of The Zohar is that Yo'ash (the great grandfather of The Messiah) descended from Nathan. In fact, this is also the opinion of Philo as quoted in Seder Hadoros. The error of this interpretation of the Zohar is evidenced by the view of the Talmud (Horayot 11b), that Joash was born to Ahaziah of Judah, who was a descendant of King Solomon and as clearly stipulated in 1 Chronicles 3:10.

A similar remark has been made with regard to the final opinion of Maimonides. In his first writings (Epistle to Yemen, Chapter 3 and Sefer Hamitzvos Loi Sa'asei, #362), he stated that the Messiah would descend from King Solomon. In Mishneh Torah (Laws of Kings 11,4), however, Maimonides only mentions King David as the Messiah's prerequisite ancestor; King Solomon is not mentioned, which some take to imply that Nathan could very well be the ancestor of the Messiah. From this the leap is made to assert that Maimonides' final ruling accords with this interpretation of the Zohar, the most important work of Kabbalah and Jewish mysticism. Some have even gone so far as to consolidate both teachings by suggesting that in Mishneh Torah the Rambam is referring to the paternal ancestry of the Messiah - which is why king Solomon is not mentioned - whilst in Maimonides's first writings, he chose to include the Messiah's maternal ancestry, and hence the mention of king Solomon. This could make sense if one of king Solomon's female descendants married a male descendant of Nathan and it continued from there.

In truth however, this assertion is baseless as is the original assumption regarding the genealogy of the Messiah according to the Zohar. A close look into the wording of the Zohar will reveal that The Messiah will emanate from the wife of Nathan, not Nathan himself. See Nitzutzei Hazohar by R' Reuven Margolios (ibid) who proves that Solomon married Nathan's wife and begot the (ancestor of the) Messiah. Similarly, the "implication" made from the wording (or lack thereof) of Maimonides in Mishneh Torah (Laws of Kings 11,4) is contradicted by his explicit teaching in Laws of Kings 1,7 (ibid) that David's Kingdom will be transmitted through the patrilineal line, which continued through king Solomon (1 Kings 11:13, 1 Chronicles 22:10 and 2 Chronicles 7:18.). Therefore, the assumption that Maimonides believed at some stage that The Messiah would be a direct paternal descendant of King David whilst only a maternal descendant of King Solomon, is impossible.

The above interpretation contradicts Jesus's genealogy as given in the Gospel of Luke. Additionally, many inconsistencies are found within the New Testament itself which are merely patched up with newer, additional inconsistencies. For example, in the Christian tradition, the lineage of Jesus (considered by the Christians as the Messiah) is counted through Nathan (Luke 3:31 states "...the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David,") while the gospel of Matthew records Jesus as having descended from Solomon son of David, not Nathan (Matthew 1:6 "...and Jesse the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah's wife,...."). The various explanations given to consolidate the many inconsistencies are rarely accepted by non-believers, and have contributed to the labeling of Christianity as a "Blind Faith" religion. According to Abarbanel and the Malbim, two major commentators on the Book of Daniel, Christianity is a fulfillment of Daniel's Prophesy in Daniel 11:36 "And about the God of gods he will speak fantastic things" - He will establish principles about the nature of God which will be wondrous - i.e. unfathomable to the rational mind, passing them off as wonders or mysteries. [This refers to the dogmas of the trinity, the virgin birth, the incarnation of G-d and transubstantiation. These doctrines received their final formulation and acceptance at the council of Nicaea (325 C.E.) which was convoked and influenced by Constantine.] "He will succeed until the wrath is terminated" - The religion furthered by him will succeed until the wrath of God against His people is terminated by the coming of the Messiah.