What did many Jews hope a messiah would do?

Many Jews hoped that a messiah would be a divinely appointed leader who would restore Israel, gather all Jews back to their homeland, and bring about an era of peace and justice. This figure was expected to liberate them from oppression, establish God's kingdom on earth, and fulfill the prophetic promises found in the Hebrew Scriptures. Ultimately, the messiah was envisioned as a transformative figure who would bring spiritual and political redemption to the Jewish people.