To complete the evidence, presented in the text, as to the essential difference between the teaching of the ancient Synagogue about 'the Forerunner of the Messiah' and the history and mission of John the Baptist, as described in the New Testaments, we subjoin a full, though condensed, account of the earlier Rabbinic traditions about Elijah.
Opinions differ as to the descent and birthplace of Elijah.
This is expressly stated in the Targum Pseudo-Jon. on Ex. From the pointed manner in which reference is made to the parallelism between the zeal of Phinehas and that of Elijah, and between their work in reconciling God and Israel, and bringing the latter to repentance, we may gather alike the origin of this tradition and its deeper meaning. This question is fully discussed in Ber. R. 71 towards the close. For fuller details we refer to our remarks on Gen. xlix.