 However, Matthias Henze suggest that this figure is not a reference to the Messiah ben Joseph who he believes is a later development but rather a pseudonym for the Messiah ben David and that Ephraim is simple a metonym in reference to Israel; Israel Knohl disagrees.The text seems to be based on a Jewish revolt recorded by Josephus dating from 4 BCE.Both Josephus and Gabriel's Revelation describe three messianic leaders.