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The gemarah (Yerushalmi succa 5:1) and midrash (yalkut shimoni Yona, remez 550) indicate that the prophet Yona ben Amitai descended from Zevulun (father) and Asher (mother). However other sources indicate that he was the 'ben tzarfatit' that Eliyahu brought back to life and was in fact supposed to be Moshiach ben Yosef (see Pirkei D'Rebbi Eliezer 33, tosafos bava metzia 114a-b s.v. Mahu).

So, what exactly is the real lineage of Yona ben Amitai? Is he from Zevulun or from Yosef (Ephraim)?

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Why are you assuming that Mashiach ben Yosef cannot be from Zevulun? – jake Aug 8 '12 at 15:53
@jake the same reason I'm assuming Moshiach ben Dovid cannot come from Zevulun. – not-vram Aug 10 '12 at 20:49
Mashiach ben David must be from the Davidic dynasty a la "ויצא חטר מגזע ישי", but there are no pesukim regarding Mashiach ben Yosef; he could be anyone or no one. The fact that he is called "ben Yosef" by the gemara can be interpreted however you like. Would you be satisfied with a source that claims his lineage being not necessarily from Yosef as an answer to this question? – jake Aug 12 '12 at 7:37
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@jake If you can thoroughly explain why Moshiach ben Yosef is called that if he does not have to descend from Yosef I think that would be enough of an answer. – not-vram Aug 12 '12 at 17:42

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