Njacob wrestles with angel jewish commentary on the books

By asking jacob his name, his wrestling adversary challenges him to examine himself. The angel in question is referred to as man and god in genesis, while hosea references an angel. Rabbi arthur waskow founded 1983 and directs the shalom center. The twofold wrestlegods with jacob and jacob s with god and jacob said, 0 god of my father abraham, and god of my father isaac, the lord which saidst unto me, return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and i will deal well with thee. The most recent, coauthored with rabbi phyllis berman, is freedom journeys. The story of jacob s struggle with an angel provides the source for the prohibition of eating the sciatic nerve of an animal. He receives the name israel, for he strives with god. Jacob, fearing esau, sent him very rich presents, but at the same time made plans to escape from his brothers fury in case the latter should reject them. Wrestling with jacobs story and our own consciences torah. Angels in jewish tradition rabbi david wolpe beliefnet. A commentary the jewish commentary for bible readers.

Jacob wrestles with god genesis 32 commentary jacob went on his way, and the angels of god met him. Then a man came and wrestled with him until just before daybreak. The angel who wrestled with jacob was the second person in the sacred trinity, who was afterwards god manifest in the flesh, and who, dwelling in human nature, is called immanuel, ho 12. Oct 31, 2014 then the angel endeavors to escape from him, and he tugs and strives. Angels are used to give god distance from the action. Why didnt jacob just ignore these seemingly unimportant items. The publication and distribution of the jts commentary are made. Wrestling with god and jewish tradition jewish womens. Genesis 32 commentary matthew henrys complete commentary.

Bible study online jacob wrestles with an angel hes. To best answer this question, it helps to know, among other things, that deepseated family hostilities characterized jacobs life. Books by jewish publication society author of the jps torah. Wrestling the angels and the demons within us jewish. The night before he meets his brother, jacob wrestles with the angel who changes his name to israel.

Jacob had helped his wives and children over the river, and he desired to be private, and was left alone, that he might again spread his cares and fears before god in prayer. Bible study online jacob wrestles with an angel hes now. Strikes just the perfect balance between academia and the yeshiva world in its approach. The night before he meets his brother, jacob wrestles with the angel who. Feb 17, 2020 the story of jacobs struggle with an angel provides the source for the prohibition of eating the sciatic nerve of an animal. I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant. The passage that recurs in my life is that of jacob wrestling the angel. I cant recommend it highly enough for anyone who wants to understand how each meforash operates pshat vs. Jeffrey enoch feinberg is the author of walk genesis. He therefore struck jacobs thigh, the place where the evil inclination. As morning was approaching, the angel knew that he had to act fast, for soon the nightthe time when he has powerwould be gone, and he would be powerless.

Ultimately, to fulfill the prophecy, and as a result of jacob s activities, god puts jacob through the ordeal of wrestling, eventually transforming the crafty jacob into the upright israel. Jacob holds on until he can reach some understanding of the moment. In the first, which is represented as transacted in unbroken silence, a man wrestles with jacob, and does not prevail. Jacob wrestles with the angel jewish history chabad. A commentary the jewish commentary for bible readers honor, dr. Why the angel asks jacob his name my jewish learning. Jacob struggled with god, but he struggled with the angel. The twofold wrestlegods with jacob and jacobs commentary. Alshich adds the thoughts of the angel in his commentary. He wrestles with an angel of god all night at the ford of the jabbok river.

The story of jacobs wrestling match with an unnamed adversary, alone at night, is surely one of the most enigmatic in the entire torah. Now jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until the rise of dawn. At the beginning of this weeks torah portion, jacob sends messengers ahead to his estranged brother esau, who has a large assembly of men coming toward jacob and his family. Jacob will let his thigh go, and all his limbs go, but will not let the angel go. Since then, wrestling with god has been at the core of jewish identity.

Jun 15, 2015 the passage that recurs in my life is that of jacob wrestling the angel. He called the place of the encounter peniel, because i. This commentary states that the man with whom jacob wrestled was an angel no doubt based on the passage found in hosea 12. Jewish publication societys most popular book is tanakh.

For many artists, it is a metaphor for the struggle to subdue ones talent so that it collaborates with ones ambitions. If you spread your teachings in this land, the angel warned him, i will personally make sure that all the jews here become hasidim. Jacob wrestles the angel international journal of transpersonal studies 107 strack and stemberger 1996 have written extensively on the history of this form of commentary and analysis. The torah is full of stories of bloodshed and warfare. But only one of our forefathers engaged in handtohand combat. At this, shmelke stopped, realizing that it would radically alter the nature of the movement, thus hasidism remained an eastern european jewish phenomenon. Jacob wrestling with the angel is described in genesis the angel in question is referred to as. At last, the angel falls from ordinary wrestling to wounding him in the very seat of his strength.

Was this episode a spiritual struggle, with god attempting to wrestle the crookedness from our patriarchs character. The biblical figure of jacob is also called israel, the one who wrestled with god genesis 35. While thus employed, one in the likeness of a man wrestled with him. Many years after his marriages to rachel and leah, jacob received word from god that it was time to return home. The ancient rabbis believed the wrestler was an angel of god who was sent to frighten jacob, and because jacob was courageous, he was. Appears in 285 books from 18032008 page 95 and i will establish my covenant with thee. I have argued in previous years of covenant and conversation that the episode in which the jewish people acquired its name when jacob wrestled with an unnamed adversary at night and received the name israel is essential to an understanding of what it is to be a jew. Esau was born first with jacob holding onto his heel as if trying to stop his brother.

Only in the scene of jacob wrestling the stranger does god appear again. More specifically, as rabbi chama bar chanina said, it was the prince of esau breishit rabbah 77. The covenant angel is there, and jacob wants a blessing from him. Jacob, who wrestled with an angel and went on to start a nation. The purpose of their visit is not explained, but jacob was encouraged by their presence, and probably needed to be so after his confrontation with laban. Robert alter on jacobs wrestling till dawn messianic. Jacob has stayed for many years at his uncle labans house, where he married his four wives, rachel, leah, bilhah and zilpah. Jacob wrestling with the angel is described in genesis 32. Dec 04, 2009 robert alter on jacobs wrestling till dawn posted on december 4, 2009 by derek leman i get so much every week out of following the cycle of torah, reading commentators old and new, and seeing connections in ideas and events to the readings. Immediately after this jacob was informed that his brother esau was coming to meet him, accompanied by 400 men.

The story of jacob s wrestling match with an unnamed adversary, alone at night, is surely one of the most enigmatic in the entire torah. Midrash aggada is a literary, rather than legal, form of exegesis, freer and more characterized by a playful element p. The zohar 14 describes jacobs battle with the angel as symbolic of mans struggle with his darker side. The text says this figure is a man, but most of the commentators assume it was some kind of angel or a holy vision. Jacobs struggle is our struggle jewish theological seminary. Bible study online article jacob wrestles with an angel of the lord he wont give up until god answers his prayer because of jacob s efforts the angel yields and gives him the new name israel. Jacob wrestling with the angel is an episode from genesis 32. Jewish publication society has 48 books on goodreads with 6738 ratings. Isaacs introduces readers to the fascinating jewish world of angels, from earliest times to the. The account includes the renaming of jacob as israel etymologized as contendswithgod. Since it is too anthropomorphic that is, giving god human characteristics to have god wrestle with jacob, an angel serves the purpose gen. Tell him that his servant jacob has been with laban until now. The torah of esau and jacob, gaza and israel the shalom center.

Funeral based on forgiveness for a fractured family. As the children of israel, the jewish community has carried on this legacy of wrestling with god and tradition in our attempts to create meaning in our lives. My favorite torah story when i work with people facing the uncertainty of a grave illness or death is the story of jacob wrestling with the angel. The mysterious mans refusal to share his own name and his urgency to be set free before daybreak seem to indicate that he was more angel than human. Professor geller also notes that the story of jacobs struggle is often. Jacob had reached the wadi jabbok on his return home after an absence. It becomes those whom god honours, to admire his grace towards them. Jacob wrestles with god genesis 32 commentary the book.

Jewish views of angels, demons, and evil spirits, rabbi ronald h. Charles spurgeon on jacob wrestling the angel a promised hope. The cunning jacob manages to wrest a blessing from the night stranger before he departs. He seems to put him off, but no putoffs will do for jacob. Other commentaries treat the expression of jacobs having seen god face to face as. But now its time to return home to the land of israel. He is the author of about twenty books on jewish thought and practice and on public policy. In this class, other complicated issues involving the preparation of kosher meat are also discussed. Who was the angel that jacob wrestled with at jabbok. A great while before day, jacob being alone, more fully spread his fears before god in prayer. Jacob sent messengers ahead to meet his brother esau.