Talking to the Angels
Genesis 16: 7-12 Hagar –runs away and talks to the Angel(s)
All about Angels – this is the first place where an angel speaks to a person...
Malach Hashem
Greek for Angel = messenger
The same word is used for human and spiritual messengers
Thinking about angels evolved in Biblical times as well as contemporary.
Jewish Angels - messenger of God / human messengers - prophets
Confusing in how they are presented – is it a person or is it God?
Before the 6th century BCE - Angels did not have any 'personality' they were sent by God to do a specific job.
the line is blurry - Angels and God get mixed up so it is confusing.
Usually in human form in the Bible – 3 strangers later to Abraham, wife of Noma, Samson story
Sometimes seem as a ‘subordinate God’, The ”Host of Heaven”
Thought that angels only can do one task so there are many angels (no article to indicated if one of more)
Differences between angels and cherubim
Different theories:
Cherubs and Seraphim appear later.
Not until the Apocrypha do ‘fallen angels’ appear
The relationship between God and earth
Kabala the notion of Emanations - can know the energies of God
“Chariots of God” the term to describe how God moves from place to place.
Humans are those chariots...
Rambam sees this episode as a dream.
v8 – Hagar is trying to return to Egypt
Angel asks ‘where from’ ‘where to’?
But an angel should know the answer.... Same reason to ask as when God asks Adam where he is in the garden.
Rashi – to give an opening for conversation.
Sforno – consider where you are coming from – a holy place – and going to – a wicked place.
Hagar responds
Rashi – notes how quickly Hagar respond – maybe she saw angels all the time at Abram’s home.
The relations hip between Hagar and Sari – explored – Sari the mistress - but Hagar was feeling that she was higher.
Quotes:
saying of the Talmud
"If your neighbor calls you an ass, put a saddle on your back."
Old English proverb
"If three people say you are an ass, put on a bridle."
All about Angels – this is the first place where an angel speaks to a person...
Malach Hashem
Greek for Angel = messenger
The same word is used for human and spiritual messengers
Thinking about angels evolved in Biblical times as well as contemporary.
Jewish Angels - messenger of God / human messengers - prophets
Confusing in how they are presented – is it a person or is it God?
Before the 6th century BCE - Angels did not have any 'personality' they were sent by God to do a specific job.
the line is blurry - Angels and God get mixed up so it is confusing.
Usually in human form in the Bible – 3 strangers later to Abraham, wife of Noma, Samson story
Sometimes seem as a ‘subordinate God’, The ”Host of Heaven”
Thought that angels only can do one task so there are many angels (no article to indicated if one of more)
Differences between angels and cherubim
Different theories:
- like “bike” messengers from God
- Temporary manifestations of God in human form
- the ‘editors’ made them angels so not to say that God was human.
Cherubs and Seraphim appear later.
Not until the Apocrypha do ‘fallen angels’ appear
The relationship between God and earth
Kabala the notion of Emanations - can know the energies of God
“Chariots of God” the term to describe how God moves from place to place.
Humans are those chariots...
Rambam sees this episode as a dream.
v8 – Hagar is trying to return to Egypt
Angel asks ‘where from’ ‘where to’?
But an angel should know the answer.... Same reason to ask as when God asks Adam where he is in the garden.
Rashi – to give an opening for conversation.
Sforno – consider where you are coming from – a holy place – and going to – a wicked place.
Hagar responds
Rashi – notes how quickly Hagar respond – maybe she saw angels all the time at Abram’s home.
The relations hip between Hagar and Sari – explored – Sari the mistress - but Hagar was feeling that she was higher.
Quotes:
saying of the Talmud
"If your neighbor calls you an ass, put a saddle on your back."
Old English proverb
"If three people say you are an ass, put on a bridle."
posted by Chavarah @ 6:52 AM
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