When God Came as a Man to Jacob
Rabbi David Levine
Yom Shabbat, Saturday, December 13, 2008
Parsha Vishlach “He Sent”
Dec 12-18
Genesis 32:3-36:43
Haftarah: Obadiah
14 Sat - 2 Samuel 17, 18; Mark 8
15 Mon - 2 Samuel 19, 20; Mark 9
16 Tues - 2 Samuel 21, 22; Mark 10
17 Wed - 2 Samuel 23, 24; Mark 11
18 Thu - 1 Kings 1, 2: Mark 12
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December 20th, 2008 at 6:03 pm
Shalom Rabbi,
I was so glad to find your message. I am so relieved to know that their are some Jewish Rabbi’s who do understand that this according to Torah was not the Angel of Ya’akov but Elohim.
A few years ago, before I went to bed, I prayed ” L-rd teach me your commandments”. The next morning I heard the words “I will instruct you O Jacob”. I am not sure if the L-rd in calling me “Jacob” was telling me I am blood Jacob or not, but as far as I know I am a Gentile. As a Gentile I don’t know yet too much about who the “sages” are, but I noticed that according to Rabbi Richman of Israel National Radio, he presented this Man whom Jacob wrestled with as the angel of Ya’akov according to the sages.
This is a copy of a letter I recently sent to him;
I listened to your Temple Talk show on Torah portion Vayishlach. But I don’t quite see that this was speaking of the Angel of Esav. Genesis 32:29 says, “you have striven with G-d and with men.” I see here that it appears to be saying that Jacob wrestled with man (Esau) in the womb in order to receive the blessing of his earthly father (a man) and now Jacob wrestles with the Angel of G-d in order to receive the blessing from his heavenly father. In fact this Angel so much so represents G-d that Yaakov felt like he could even say he saw G-d face to face. How is it that it is thought that this was the Angel of Esav? Even In Hosea 12:4-5 it says, In the womb he took his brother by the heel, and in his manhood he strove with G-d. He strove with the angel and prevailed, he wept and sought his favor. He met G-d at Beit-El, and there G-d spoke with him – the L-rd of Host, the L-rd is his name.”
Rabbi Levine,
I love the Jews and I realize that there is a lot I can learn from Jewish Rabbi’s, but I am also realizing that the “sages” are not always correct in their interpretaion. Do you think the orthodox Rabbi’s would agree that the “sages” are not always right in their interpretation? Do you think it would still be worth my time to study what the sages have to say anyway?
By the way, I have learned some Hebrew so I also looked at the Hebrew in these verses.
Sandra
Genesis 32: And Jacob wrestled with a man
25 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man (ish) with him until the breaking of the day.
וַיֵּאָבֵק אִישׁ עִמּוֹ
26 And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was strained, as he wrestled with him.
27 And he said: ‘Let me go, for the day breaks.’ And he said: ‘I will not let you go, except you bless me.’
28 And he said unto him: ‘What is your name?’ And he said: ‘Jacob.’
29 And he said: ‘Your name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel; for you have striven with G-d (Elohim) and with men (anashim), and have prevailed.’
כִּי-שָׂרִיתָ עִם-אֱלֹהִים וְעִם-אֲנָשִׁים
30 And Jacob asked him, and said: ‘Tell me, I pray you, your name.’ And he said: ‘Why is it that you ask after my name?’ And he blessed him there.
31 And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: ‘for I have seen G-d (El) face to face, and my life is preserved.’
כִּי-רָאִיתִיאֱלֹהִים פָּנִים אֶל-פָּנִים
32 And the sun rose upon him as he passed over Peniel, and he limped upon his thigh.
33 Therefore the children of Israel eat not the sinew of the thigh-vein (sciatic nerve) which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day; because he touched the hollow of Jacob’s thigh, even in the sinew of the thigh-vein.