SPOILER
SPOILER
SPOILER
Some people say he looks like Alvar Hanso.
What about the ring of dust around the house? Usually it's used to keep spirits either trapped in or away. In this case ("help me") I guess Jacob is held prisoner inside the hut for whatever reason. I guess he's dangerous or bad.
And now Locke will set him free and all hell will break loose.
It makes sense that he wont die because of the kidney thing. Nice.
But what about Richard? The dude hasn't aged a day since Ben was little. Perhaps the "hostiles" have always been on the island. If it's like hell or something. And they're luring innocent people over there.
Or his pirate clothes would suggest he came on the island on the Black Rock. Perhaps the hostiles are cursed to live forever on the Island ala Pirates of the Caribbean and they have to lure enough people over there to die before they are set free? Dunno.