Jews Who Claimed to Be the Messiah

Over the last two thousand years there have been at least thirty-eight Jewish men, and one Jewish woman, who have claimed to be the promised Messiah.  Christians, of course, regard Jesus of Nazareth as the Holy One.

Jesus of Nazareth is believed by Christians to have been the Jewish Messiah.

The best-known Messiah claimant is Simon bar Kokhba, seen below: the others are:

The first recorded self-proclaimed Messiah was Simon of Peraea (fl. 4 BC/BCE), a former slave of Herod the Great.   Simon was followed by Athronges (fl. 4-2BC/BCE).  Both Simon and Athronges led rebellions which were put down by the Romans and both messiahs were killed.

Judas of Galilee (6AD/CE)

Menahem of Judah, a grandson of Judah of Galilee.

Theudas (d.46)

Vespasian (ca. 70)

John of Gischala, (after 70)

Simon bar Kokhba (d ca 135). Simon’s rebellion ended with the Romans destroying the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem.

Luluas (115)

Moses of Crete (5^th century)

(Name unknown) in Khusistan  (7^th century)

Ishak ben Ya’kub Obadiah Abu ‘Isa al-Isfahani of Ispahan (8^th century)

Yudghan (8^th century, in Persia)

(Name unknown), in France, (ca. 1087)

(Name unknown), in Cordoba, Spain, (ca. 1117)

Moses al-Dari  in Morocco (1127)David Alroy, from Kurdistan, led a revolt in Persia in 1160.

The Yemenite Messiah (12^th century)

Abraham ben Samuel Abulafia (b. 1240-d. after 1291)

Nissim ben Abraham (fl. In Avila, Spain (ca. 1295)

Moses Botarel of Cisneros, fl ca. 1413.

Asher Lammlein, fl. 1502 near Venice.

Isaac Luria (1534-1572) in Palestine.

Hayyim Vital (1543-1620) in Palestine.

David Reubeni (1490-1541?)

Solomon Molcho (1500-1532)

Sabbatai Zevi (1626-1676) An Ottoman Jew who converted to Islam.  Many of his followers declared themselves to be the Messiah.

Barukhia Russo

Mordecai Mokia (1650-1729)

Jacob Querido (d. 1690)  Converted to Islam.

Miguel Cardoso (1630-1706)

Lobele Prossnitz (d. 1750)

Jacob Joseph Frank (1726-1791)  A convert to Christianity.

Eve Frank (1754 – ca 1817)

Shukr Kushayl I, in Yemen (19^th century)

Judah ben Shalom (Shukr Kuhayl II) in Yemen (19^th century)

Moses Guibbory (1899-1985)

Menachem Mendel Schneerson (1902-1994)

Biblical Coins

The earliest known coins minted during the rule of Herod Antipas (d. after 40 AD/CE), Tetrarch of Galilee ($ BC/BCE - 40 AD/CE), were issued in 19-20 AD/CE.  The words "Herod," "Tetrarch," and "Tiberias" appear on the coins.  Antipas, a son of Herod the Great, was the ruler of Judea at the time of Jesus' crucifixion.  He was banished in 40 AD/CE to Lugdunum (Lyons, France).

Surprisingly, many coins from the biblical period are available to modern collectors.  Below are links to several commercial sites which sell coins from ancient times.  The Forum site is especially interesting.  If you place your cursor on a picture of a coin, a box pops up which gives a description of the coin and its modern value.

One of the coins on the Forum site is a denarius, mentioned in Matthew 22:20-21.  It is valued at $900.00 (US).

Forvm Ancient Coins 

RomanCoins.net  

BiblicalMites.com 

Imperial Coins and Artifacts