In the Prophet Hosea (3:4-5) there is an amazing prophecy that sheds light on our current situation in which there has been no elected government in Israel for a long time. The first elections did not produce a government and neither have the second ones. The consensus is that it is a dead end with no resolution in sight. This is an unprecedented situation that has never happened before in Israeli politics.

This situation is described well in the Prophet Hosea: “For the children of Israel shall remain for many days, having neither king, nor minister.”

The following verse 5 reads: “Afterwards shall the children of Israel return, and seek the Lord, their G-d and David, their king, and they shall come trembling to the Lord and to His goodness at the end of days.”

Rashi comments: “Afterwards, shall the children of Israel return and seek their Lord, their G-d,” which refers to the Kingdom of Heaven; “and David their king” is self explanatory, “and they shall come trembling to the Lord and to His goodness”, a reference to the Holy Temple, as it is written “that good Mount” (Deut. 3:7) (a reference to the Temple Mount [Midrash Samuel 13:4].

That is, according to Rashi, the meaning of the verses is that in addition to the days of Exile, prior to Salvation, the people of Israel will have neither a king nor ministers and then the people will again ask God to bless His Kingdom, the kingdom of David and the building of the Temple.

The Metzudas David comments on the expression: “This will be in the End of Days” as the future Redemption in the days of Moshiach.

We need to understand that we are indeed at the end of the Exile, we have no natural leadership (king) and no ministers, and we must ask for the Kingdom of G-d, the revelation of the Kingdom of the House of David — from whose seed comes our righteous Moshiach — the Lubavitcher Rebbe.

This theme is reflected in the Radak’s and Ibn Ezra’s commentary as well: “And it is King David who is the Moshiach and “David my servant is the sovereign of them to the world…”

Thus, based on the classical commentaries, we have a description of the situation of the people of Israel at the end of Exile where they have no leadership — “many days… no king and no minister.”

Then the people of Israel will ask for the kingdom of G-d and the King Moshiach, and the Temple, and they will be redeemed!