Sunday, June 28, 2009
Reuniting two brothers. Who was the ish(man) Yaakov wrestled with?
Genesis 32:24-30
24And Jacob was left alone. And a man(ish) wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. 25When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. 26Then he said, "Let me go, for the day has broken." But Jacob said "I will not let you go unless you bless me." 27And he said to him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Jacob." 28Then he said, "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed." 29Then Jacob asked him, "Please tell me your name." But he said, "Why is it that you ask my name?" And there he blessed him. 30So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying, "For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered."
This is got to be one of the most fascinating passages in all the Torah. For thousands of years Jews and later Christians have pondered over the identity of this mysterious man.
General consensus holds that it was an angel that Yaakov wrestled primarily due to Hosea's oracle;
"In the womb he took his brother by the heel, and in his manhood he strove with God. He strove with the angel and prevailed..."
Hosea 12:3,4
Many Christians hold that it was a christophany(preincarnate appearance of Jesus).
Jewish interpretation holds, for the most part, that the ish was Eisav's Gardian Angel or sar in Hebrew. Every nation has an angel attached to it such as Daniel's "Prince of Persia". Eisav is the founder/father of the Edomites. Jewish legend holds that the Edomites are the early ancestors of Rome(Midrash HaGadol) which is represented as Christianity by many medieval and modern commentators.
In any case the struggle with the "man" is directly connected to the struggle he has with his brother. but through out history Esav has been making amends.
It was the Edomites after converting to Judaism(the only coersed conversion in Jewish history) During Khoshmonaim Period that they come to rule Judea. They built "Herod's Temple". Remember as well that it was Itzchaks intention that Esav be the physical leader of the family/nation(see earlier post). The same temple that Jews to this day daven/pray at its western wall. And Edom in the form of Christianity and the Christian west that gave them the freedom to worship and helped to give them back their homeland.
So the Ish, you could say, was the Guardian Angel of the Church... And now we look forward to a true reconciliation of the two brothers.
For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery, lest you be wise in your own estimation, that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fulness of the Gentiles has come in; and thus all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, "THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION, HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB." "AND THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM, WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS." From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God's choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers; for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
-Romans 11:25-29
24And Jacob was left alone. And a man(ish) wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. 25When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. 26Then he said, "Let me go, for the day has broken." But Jacob said "I will not let you go unless you bless me." 27And he said to him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Jacob." 28Then he said, "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed." 29Then Jacob asked him, "Please tell me your name." But he said, "Why is it that you ask my name?" And there he blessed him. 30So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying, "For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered."
This is got to be one of the most fascinating passages in all the Torah. For thousands of years Jews and later Christians have pondered over the identity of this mysterious man.
General consensus holds that it was an angel that Yaakov wrestled primarily due to Hosea's oracle;
"In the womb he took his brother by the heel, and in his manhood he strove with God. He strove with the angel and prevailed..."
Hosea 12:3,4
Many Christians hold that it was a christophany(preincarnate appearance of Jesus).
Jewish interpretation holds, for the most part, that the ish was Eisav's Gardian Angel or sar in Hebrew. Every nation has an angel attached to it such as Daniel's "Prince of Persia". Eisav is the founder/father of the Edomites. Jewish legend holds that the Edomites are the early ancestors of Rome(Midrash HaGadol) which is represented as Christianity by many medieval and modern commentators.
In any case the struggle with the "man" is directly connected to the struggle he has with his brother. but through out history Esav has been making amends.
It was the Edomites after converting to Judaism(the only coersed conversion in Jewish history) During Khoshmonaim Period that they come to rule Judea. They built "Herod's Temple". Remember as well that it was Itzchaks intention that Esav be the physical leader of the family/nation(see earlier post). The same temple that Jews to this day daven/pray at its western wall. And Edom in the form of Christianity and the Christian west that gave them the freedom to worship and helped to give them back their homeland.
So the Ish, you could say, was the Guardian Angel of the Church... And now we look forward to a true reconciliation of the two brothers.
For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery, lest you be wise in your own estimation, that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fulness of the Gentiles has come in; and thus all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, "THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION, HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB." "AND THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM, WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS." From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God's choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers; for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
-Romans 11:25-29
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Thursday, June 11, 2009
יְדִיד נֶפֶש
Lover of the soul, Compassionate Father, draw Your servant to Your will. Then Your servant will hurry like a hart to bow before Your majesty. To him Your friendship will be sweeter than the dripping of the honeycomb and all taste.
Majestic, beautiful, radiance of the universe my soul is sick for your love. Please O G-d, heal her now by showing her the pleasantness of Your radiance. Then she will be strengthened and healed and eternal gladness will be hers.
All worthy One -- may Your mercy be aroused and please take pity on the son of Your beloved, because it is so very long that I have yearned intensely to see the splendor of Your strength, only these my heart desired, so please take pity and do not conceal Yourself.
Please be revealed and spread upon me, my Beloved, the shelter of Your peace that we may rejoice and be glad with You. Hasten, be loved, for the time has come, and show us grace as in days of old.
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