{"id":3474,"date":"2014-11-23T14:25:29","date_gmt":"2014-11-23T14:25:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.matsati.com\/?p=3474"},"modified":"2014-11-23T14:25:29","modified_gmt":"2014-11-23T14:25:29","slug":"bits-of-torah-truths-parashat-vayetze-a-vision-of-angels","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/bits-of-torah-truths-parashat-vayetze-a-vision-of-angels\/","title":{"rendered":"Bits of Torah Truths, Parashat Vayetze, A Vision of Angels"},"content":{"rendered":"

In this week\u2019s reading from Parashat Vayetze (Shemot \/ Genesis 28:10-32:2<\/span><\/em>) Jacob flees from his brother Esau.\u00a0 While traveling, he lays down and falls asleep.\u00a0 The Lord speaks to him in a dream (\u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b7\u05d7\u05b2\u05dc\u05b9\u05dd) reaffirming the covenant He made with his fathers (Bereshit \/ Genesis 28:10-19<\/span><\/em>).\u00a0 Jacob travels to Haran and meets Laban his mother\u2019s brother (29:9-14<\/span><\/em>) and also meets Rachel, Laban\u2019s daughter (29:6-8<\/span><\/em>).\u00a0 He falls in love and makes a deal with Laban to work seven years for Rachel to be his wife (29:18-21<\/span><\/em>).\u00a0 Laban tricks Jacob and gives the older daughter Leah instead and as a result, he must work another seven years for Rachel (29:22-28<\/span><\/em>).\u00a0 We are told the twelve tribes of Israel are born to Leah, Rachel, Zilpah, and Bilhah, (29:31-30:27<\/span><\/em>).\u00a0 Jacob and Laban agree on wages (30:28-43<\/span><\/em>) however, Laban and his sons are upset that Jacob has become so wealthy (31:1-3<\/span><\/em>).\u00a0 The Lord then speaks to Jacob to take his family, and all he owns, back to the land of Canaan (31:4-21<\/span><\/em>).\u00a0 Jacob makes a covenant with Laban to do no harm to one another (31:22-32:2<\/span>).
\nIn the opening verses of this week\u2019s portion, the Lord speaks by a dream and Jacob has a vision of angels ascending and descending upon a ladder.\u00a0 According to the biblical text, this is the first time that God has revealed Himself to Jacob.\u00a0 As the Lord reveals Himself to Jacob, He reiterates the covenant that He made with his fathers Abraham and Isaac and promises to be with him too.\u00a0 As a result Jacob renames the place as \u201cBeit-El\u201d<\/span><\/em> (\u05d1\u05bc\u05b5\u05d9\u05ea-\u05d0\u05b5\u05dc, Bethel) meaning \u201cHouse of God\u201d<\/span><\/em> because God was in this place and He did not know it.<\/p>\n

\n

\u05e1\u05e4\u05e8 \u05d1\u05e8\u05d0\u05e9\u05d9\u05ea \u05e4\u05e8\u05e7 \u05db\u05d7<\/strong>
\n\u05d9\u05d0\u00a0 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b4\u05e4\u05b0\u05d2\u05bc\u05b7\u05e2 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b7\u05de\u05bc\u05b8\u05e7\u05d5\u05b9\u05dd \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b8\u05dc\u05b6\u05df \u05e9\u05c1\u05b8\u05dd \u05db\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9-\u05d1\u05b8\u05d0 \u05d4\u05b7\u05e9\u05bc\u05c1\u05b6\u05de\u05b6\u05e9\u05c1 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b4\u05e7\u05bc\u05b7\u05d7 \u05de\u05b5\u05d0\u05b7\u05d1\u05b0\u05e0\u05b5\u05d9 \u05d4\u05b7\u05de\u05bc\u05b8\u05e7\u05d5\u05b9\u05dd \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b8\u05e9\u05b6\u05b9\u05dd \u05de\u05b0\u05e8\u05b7\u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05c1\u05b9\u05ea\u05b8\u05d9\u05d5 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b4\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05db\u05bc\u05b7\u05d1 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b7\u05de\u05bc\u05b8\u05e7\u05d5\u05b9\u05dd \u05d4\u05b7\u05d4\u05d5\u05bc\u05d0: \u05d9\u05d1\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b7\u05d7\u05b2\u05dc\u05b9\u05dd \u05d5\u05b0\u05d4\u05b4\u05e0\u05bc\u05b5\u05d4 \u05e1\u05bb\u05dc\u05bc\u05b8\u05dd \u05de\u05bb\u05e6\u05bc\u05b8\u05d1 \u05d0\u05b7\u05e8\u05b0\u05e6\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d5\u05b0\u05e8\u05b9\u05d0\u05e9\u05c1\u05d5\u05b9 \u05de\u05b7\u05d2\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9\u05e2\u05b7 \u05d4\u05b7\u05e9\u05bc\u05c1\u05b8\u05de\u05b8\u05d9\u05b0\u05de\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d4\u05b4\u05e0\u05bc\u05b5\u05d4 \u05de\u05b7\u05dc\u05b0\u05d0\u05b2\u05db\u05b5\u05d9 \u05d0\u05b1\u05dc\u05b9\u05d4\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05e2\u05b9\u05dc\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05d5\u05b0\u05d9\u05b9\u05e8\u05b0\u05d3\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05d1\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9: \u05d9\u05d2\u00a0 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d4\u05b4\u05e0\u05bc\u05b5\u05d4 \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05b9\u05d5\u05b8\u05d4 \u05e0\u05b4\u05e6\u05bc\u05b8\u05d1 \u05e2\u05b8\u05dc\u05b8\u05d9\u05d5 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b9\u05d0\u05de\u05b7\u05e8 \u05d0\u05b2\u05e0\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05b9\u05d5\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b1\u05dc\u05b9\u05d4\u05b5\u05d9 \u05d0\u05b7\u05d1\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u05d4\u05b8\u05dd \u05d0\u05b8\u05d1\u05b4\u05d9\u05da\u05b8 \u05d5\u05b5\u05d0\u05dc\u05b9\u05d4\u05b5\u05d9 \u05d9\u05b4\u05e6\u05b0\u05d7\u05b8\u05e7 \u05d4\u05b8\u05d0\u05b8\u05e8\u05b6\u05e5 \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05e8 \u05d0\u05b7\u05ea\u05bc\u05b8\u05d4 \u05e9\u05c1\u05b9\u05db\u05b5\u05d1 \u05e2\u05b8\u05dc\u05b6\u05d9\u05d4\u05b8 \u05dc\u05b0\u05da\u05b8 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea\u05bc\u05b0\u05e0\u05b6\u05e0\u05bc\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d5\u05bc\u05dc\u05b0\u05d6\u05b7\u05e8\u05b0\u05e2\u05b6\u05da\u05b8:<\/p>\n

Bereshit \/ Genesis 28:11-13<\/span><\/em><\/strong>
\n 28:11 He came to a certain place and spent the night there, because the sun had set; and he took one of the stones of the place and put it under his head, and lay down in that place. 28:12 He had a dream, and behold, a ladder was set on the earth with its top reaching to heaven; and behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. 28:13 And behold, the Lord stood above it and said, \u2018I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie, I will give it to you and to your descendants. (NASB)<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In Jacob\u2019s dream of the ladder with angels ascending and descending, the Scriptures say, \u05d9\u05d2\u00a0 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d4\u05b4\u05e0\u05bc\u05b5\u05d4 \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05b9\u05d5\u05b8\u05d4 \u05e0\u05b4\u05e6\u05bc\u05b8\u05d1 \u05e2\u05b8\u05dc\u05b8\u05d9\u05d5 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b9\u05d0\u05de\u05b7\u05e8 \u05d0\u05b2\u05e0\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05b9\u05d5\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b1\u05dc\u05b9\u05d4\u05b5\u05d9 \u05d0\u05b7\u05d1\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u05d4\u05b8\u05dd \u05d0\u05b8\u05d1\u05b4\u05d9\u05da\u05b8 \u05d5\u05b5\u05d0\u05dc\u05b9\u05d4\u05b5\u05d9 \u05d9\u05b4\u05e6\u05b0\u05d7\u05b8\u05e7 \u05d4\u05b8\u05d0\u05b8\u05e8\u05b6\u05e5 \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05e8 \u05d0\u05b7\u05ea\u05bc\u05b8\u05d4 \u05e9\u05c1\u05b9\u05db\u05b5\u05d1 \u05e2\u05b8\u05dc\u05b6\u05d9\u05d4\u05b8 \u05dc\u05b0\u05da\u05b8 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea\u05bc\u05b0\u05e0\u05b6\u05e0\u05bc\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d5\u05bc\u05dc\u05b0\u05d6\u05b7\u05e8\u05b0\u05e2\u05b6\u05da\u05b8 28:13 And behold, the Lord stood above it and said, \u2018I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie, I will give it to you and to your descendants. (NASB)<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 The MT is interesting by the use of the words \u05d5\u05b0\u05d4\u05b4\u05e0\u05bc\u05b5\u05d4 \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05b9\u05d5\u05b8\u05d4 \u05e0\u05b4\u05e6\u05bc\u05b8\u05d1 \u05e2\u05b8\u05dc\u05b8\u05d9\u05d5 that describe God standing above \u201cit.\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 The word that is written here is \u05e2\u05dc used as a preposition means \u201con, upon, above, over, about, on top, atop,\u201d<\/span><\/em> and we recognize that this word has a type two pronominal suffix \u05e2\u05b8\u05dc\u05b8\u05d9\u05d5 meaning \u201chim\u201d<\/span><\/em> or \u201cit.\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 The English translation says \u201cAnd behold, the Lord stood above it,\u201d<\/span><\/em> where the pronoun him refers to it (the ladder) since the dream is focusing upon the ladder that Jacob is seeing with angels ascending and descending from heaven to earth.\u00a0 The vision of the ladder and the angels ascending and descending has been discussed at length by commentators in an attempt to understand its significance.\u00a0 Even Yeshua spoke about this ladder according to John 1:51<\/span><\/em>.\u00a0 Based upon the MT rendition of Jacob\u2019s ladder, commentators have asked questions such as: \u201cWhat was the purpose of the dream for Jacob?\u201d<\/span> \u201cTo whom do \u2018angels of God\u2019 refer?\u201d \u201cWhat does \u2018going up and down\u2019 signify?\u201d<\/span><\/em> and based on our analysis of the MT, \u201cWas the Lord standing beside Jacob, above Jacob, or upon the ladder?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

One interpretation on these verses is found in Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Parashat 68, Part 12<\/span><\/em> which cites Rashi saying the ladder stood on the boundary between the Land of Israel and the Diaspora.\u00a0 Rashi comments saying, \u201cThe angels who escorted him in the Land of Israel do not leave the Land but ascend to Heaven, and angels whose domain is outside of Israel descend to accompany him [further].\u201d\u00a0 Here Rashi says that God\u2019s holy angels go about accompanying the children of God.\u00a0 In a similar way, Midrash Tehillim 55, Part 3<\/span> which opens with the Dibur Hamathil (\u05d3\u05d9\u05d1\u05d5\u05e8 \u05d4\u05de\u05ea\u05d7\u05d9\u05dc) saying, \u201cHe has delivered my soul in peace so that none came near to me (Tehillim \/ Psalms 55:10).\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 The homiletic introduction to the Midrash says \u201cRabbi Joshua son of Levi taught, What do the words, He has delivered my soul in peace, etc. mean?\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 Rabbi Joshua continues, answering his question, by saying the following:<\/p>\n

That a company of angels goes before a man, and these heavenly beings cry out saying, Make way for the likeness of the Lord.\u00a0 What need is there for a company of angels?\u00a0 Rabbi Yudan explained in the name of rabbi Levi, in the wide space of the universe there is no place, even one so small that it holds no more than a fourth of a kab of seed, that is without nine kab of demons. (Midrash Tehillim 55, Part 3)<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\u05d0\u05dc\u05d0 \u05d0\u05d9\u05e7\u05d5\u05e0\u05d9\u05d9\u05d0 \u05de\u05d4\u05dc\u05db\u05ea \u05dc\u05e4\u05e0\u05d9 \u05d4\u05d0\u05d3\u05dd \u05d5\u05d4\u05d1\u05e8\u05d9\u05d5\u05ea \u05de\u05db\u05e8\u05d9\u05d6\u05d5\u05ea \u05d5\u05d0\u05d5\u05de\u05e8\u05d5\u05ea \u05ea\u05e0\u05d5 \u05de\u05e7\u05d5\u05dd \u05dc\u05d0\u05d9\u05e7\u05d5\u05e0\u05d9\u05df \u05e9\u05dc \u05de\u05e7\u05d5\u05dd, \u05dc\u05de\u05d4 \u05d0\u05de\u05e8 \u05e8\u05f3 \u05d9\u05d5\u05d3\u05df \u05d1\u05e9\u05dd \u05e8\u05f3 \u05dc\u05d5\u05d9 \u05d0\u05d9\u05df \u05d1\u05d9\u05ea \u05e8\u05d5\u05d1\u05e2 \u05d1\u05d7\u05dc\u05dc\u05d5 \u05e9\u05dc \u05e2\u05d5\u05dc\u05dd \u05e9\u05d0\u05d9\u05df \u05d1\u05d5 \u05ea\u05e9\u05e2\u05d4 \u05e7\u05d1\u05d9\u05df \u05e9\u05dc \u05de\u05d6\u05d9\u05e7\u05d9\u05df<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The idea is that the Lord delivered David\u2019s soul in peace so that none come near is explained by drawing a parallel to the angels who go before man and declare \u201cMake way for the likeness of the Lord.\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 Mankind is given great honor and respect by the angels because the Scriptures say that we are made in the likeness of God, and it is in this way the glory of God is placed upon man.\u00a0 Remember, man is only able to see the glory of God and not God Himself.\u00a0 With this in mind, being made in the likeness of God, the Lord has given us His glory having made us in His image and therefore the concept here is that a company of angels go before a man and declare that we have been made in His likeness.\u00a0 Rabbi Yudan says that \u201cin the wide space of the universe there is no place, even one so small that it holds no more than a fourth of a kab of seed, that is without nine kab of demons.\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 Note the Aramaic states \u05e7\u05d1\u05d9\u05df \u05e9\u05dc \u05de\u05d6\u05d9\u05e7\u05d9 a \u201ccab of insects\u201d<\/span><\/em> where insects are translated as demons.\u00a0 A \u05e7\u05d1\u05d9\u05df, cab, kab is a measure of capacity of a small quantity.\u00a0 The concept here is that seed contains insects, and if man has a company of angels declaring the glory of God, then seed has its company of insects.\u00a0 Demons are paralleled to the insects associated with the seed.\u00a0 Seed has the capacity of producing good fruit, and so does man have the capacity to produce good works.\u00a0 The insects however inhibit the amount of good fruit that are produced by the seed, and in a similar manner, demons inhibit the good works of a man on this earth.\u00a0 The insects are paralleled to Demons in this translation of the midrash to illustrate these concepts.<\/p>\n

The midrash continues saying the following:<\/p>\n

And blindfolds are fastened over the eyes of each of these demons as over the eyes of millers\u2019 asses.\u00a0 Why?\u00a0 That the demons may not injure mortals.\u00a0 But when a man\u2019s sins bring it about, the blindfolds are removed from the demon\u2019s face, so that as he looks upon the man, he injures him.\u00a0 Hence, the Heavenly beings cry out before a man, Make way, etc. in order that the demons may not injure him.\u00a0 Accordingly, He has delivered my soul in peace, and the words which follow, so that none came near to me mean that David said, None of the demons came near me.\u00a0 And why not? (Midrash Tehillim 55, Part 3)<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Here we find the rabbis developing their understanding of the angels who go before a man declaring God\u2019s glory for the purpose of dispersing the demons who are bent on injuring the man.\u00a0 Blinders are placed upon the demon so he is unable to injure a man.\u00a0 One\u2019s sins however cause the blindfolds to come off giving demons the ability to injure the man.\u00a0 All of these interpretations appear to come out of this dream that Jacob had according to this week\u2019s Torah portion.<\/p>\n

Another interpretation from Midrash Rabbah Bereshit, Parashat 69, Part 3<\/span><\/em> (\u05de\u05d3\u05e8\u05e9 \u05e8\u05d1\u05d4 \u05d1\u05e8\u05d0\u05e9\u05d9\u05ea \u05e4\u05e8\u05e9\u05d4 \u05e1\u05d8 \u05e1\u05d9\u05de\u05df \u05d2) states the following:<\/p>\n

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit, Parashat 69, Part 3<\/span><\/em><\/strong>
\n What precedes this text?\u00a0 And, behold, the angels of God ascending and descending on it.\u00a0 Rabbi Abbahu said, It may be compared to an infant prince sleeping in his cot on whom flies were settling; when his nurse came she bent over and suckled him, and they flew away.\u00a0 Similarly, at first, And behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it; but when the Holy One blessed be He revealed Himself to him, they fled from him.\u00a0 This is the meaning of And behold, the Lord stood by Him.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

And behold, the Lord stood Alav.\u00a0 Rabbi Chiyya and rabbi Jannai disagree.\u00a0 One maintains that Alav means on the ladder; while the other says that Alav means on or over Jacob.\u00a0 The view that Alav means on the ladder presents no difficulty; on the view that it refers to Jacob, it means that He stood (protectively) over him.\u00a0 Rabbi Johanan said, The wicked stand over their gods, as\u00a0 it says, And Pharaoh dreamed, and, behold, he stood over the river (Bereshit \/ Genesis 41:1); but the God of the righteous stands over them, as it says, And, behold, the Lord stood over him, etc.\u00a0 Rabbi Simeon son of Lakish said, The Patriarchs are the Chariot of God, as it says, And God went up from Abraham (Bereshit \/ Genesis 18:22); and God went up from upon him (Bereshit \/ Genesis 35:13); And, behold, the Lord stood upon him.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\u05de\u05d3\u05e8\u05e9 \u05e8\u05d1\u05d4 \u05d1\u05e8\u05d0\u05e9\u05d9\u05ea \u05e4\u05e8\u05e9\u05d4 \u05e1\u05d8 \u05e1\u05d9\u05de\u05df \u05d2<\/strong>
\n\u05d2 \u05d0\u05f4\u05e8 \u05d0\u05d1\u05d4\u05d5 \u05de\u05e9\u05dc \u05dc\u05d1\u05df \u05de\u05dc\u05db\u05d9\u05dd \u05e9\u05d4\u05d9\u05d4 \u05d9\u05e9\u05df \u05e2\u05dc \u05d2\u05d1\u05d9 \u05e2\u05e8\u05d9\u05e1\u05d4 \u05d5\u05d4\u05d9\u05d5 \u05d6\u05d1\u05d5\u05d1\u05d9\u05dd \u05e9\u05d5\u05db\u05e0\u05d9\u05dd \u05e2\u05dc\u05d9\u05d5 \u05d5\u05db\u05d9\u05d5\u05df \u05e9\u05d1\u05d0 \u05de\u05e0\u05d9\u05e7\u05ea\u05d5 \u05e9\u05d7\u05d4 \u05e2\u05dc\u05d9\u05d5 \u05de\u05e0\u05d9\u05e7\u05ea\u05d5 \u05d5\u05d1\u05e8\u05d7\u05d5 \u05de\u05e2\u05dc\u05d9\u05d5, \u05db\u05da \u05d1\u05ea\u05d7\u05dc\u05d4 \u05d5\u05d4\u05e0\u05d4 \u05de\u05dc\u05d0\u05db\u05d9 \u05d0\u05dc\u05d4\u05d9\u05dd \u05e2\u05d5\u05dc\u05d9\u05dd \u05d5\u05d9\u05d5\u05e8\u05d3\u05d9\u05dd \u05d1\u05d5 \u05db\u05d9\u05d5\u05df \u05e9\u05e0\u05ea\u05d2\u05dc\u05d4 \u05e2\u05dc\u05d9\u05d5 \u05d4\u05e7\u05d1\u05f4\u05d4 \u05d1\u05e8\u05d7\u05d5 \u05de\u05e2\u05dc\u05d9\u05d5, \u05e8\u05f3 \u05d7\u05d9\u05d9\u05d0 \u05e8\u05d1\u05d4 \u05d5\u05e8\u05f3 \u05d9\u05e0\u05d0\u05d9, \u05d7\u05d3 \u05d0\u05de\u05e8 \u05e2\u05dc\u05d9\u05d5 \u05e2\u05dc \u05e1\u05d5\u05dc\u05dd, \u05d5\u05d7\u05f4\u05d0 \u05e2\u05dc\u05d9\u05d5 \u05e2\u05dc \u05d9\u05e2\u05e7\u05d1, \u05de\u05d0\u05df \u05d3\u05d0\u05de\u05e8 \u05e2\u05dc\u05d9\u05d5 \u05e2\u05dc \u05d4\u05e1\u05d5\u05dc\u05dd \u05e0\u05d9\u05d7\u05d0, \u05d0\u05dc\u05d0 \u05dc\u05de\u05f4\u05d3 \u05e2\u05dc\u05d9\u05d5 \u05e2\u05dc \u05d9\u05e2\u05e7\u05d1 \u05de\u05d9 \u05de\u05ea\u05e7\u05d9\u05d9\u05dd \u05e2\u05dc\u05d9\u05d5, \u05d0\u05f4\u05e8 \u05d9\u05d5\u05d7\u05e0\u05df \u05d4\u05e8\u05e9\u05e2\u05d9\u05dd \u05de\u05ea\u05e7\u05d9\u05d9\u05de\u05d9\u05df \u05e2\u05dc \u05d0\u05dc\u05d4\u05d9\u05d4\u05dd (\u05d1\u05e8\u05d0\u05e9\u05d9\u05ea \u05de\u05d0) \u05d5\u05e4\u05e8\u05e2\u05d4 \u05d7\u05d5\u05dc\u05dd \u05d5\u05d4\u05e0\u05d4 \u05e2\u05d5\u05de\u05d3 \u05e2\u05dc \u05d4\u05d9\u05d0\u05d5\u05e8, \u05d0\u05d1\u05dc \u05d4\u05e6\u05d3\u05d9\u05e7\u05d9\u05dd \u05d0\u05dc\u05d4\u05d9\u05d4\u05dd \u05de\u05ea\u05e7\u05d9\u05d9\u05dd \u05e2\u05dc\u05d9\u05d4\u05dd \u05e9\u05e0\u05d0\u05de\u05e8 \u05d5\u05d4\u05e0\u05d4 \u05d4\u05f3 \u05e0\u05e6\u05d1 \u05e2\u05dc\u05d9\u05d5 \u05d5\u05d9\u05d0\u05de\u05e8 \u05d0\u05e0\u05d9 \u05d4\u05f3 \u05d0\u05dc\u05d4\u05d9 \u05d0\u05d1\u05e8\u05d4\u05dd.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

In Midrash Rabbah, the rabbis begin by paralleling flies to the angels, flies are chased away from the baby\u2019s crib by the nurse, the angels flee in the presence of God.\u00a0 The rabbis continue with a discussion on the word \u05e2\u05b8\u05dc\u05b8\u05d9\u05d5 generating the same questions regarding this word and on whether the Lord stood over \u201chim\u201d<\/span><\/em> (Jacob) or \u201cit\u201d<\/span><\/em> (the ladder)?\u00a0 The rabbis say, \u201con the view that it refers to Jacob, it means that He stood (protectively) over him.\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 On the other hand, \u201cthe wicked stand over their gods\u201d providing the example of Pharaoh and his dream (Bereshit \/ Genesis 41:1<\/span><\/em>).\u00a0 The midrash continues saying, \u201cbut the God of the righteous stands over them, as it says, And, behold, the Lord stood over him, etc.\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 Midrash Rabbah concludes with an example from Abraham, the Lord God ascending from Abraham, concluding that the Lord God stood over Abraham and consequentially over Jacob as well.\u00a0 In addition to this, according to Maimonides (in his book Guide of the Perplexed), the purpose of the ladder is to explain the relationship between two realities, between existence on earth and existence in the \u201cworld of heavenly spheres,\u201d<\/span><\/em> both of which are set in motion by God.\u00a0 According to Maimonides, the dream is a representation of two worlds, the connection between the worlds,one which is in heaven, and the other which is on earth, pertains to the understanding of God and of His ways.\u00a0 We are able to understand just a little bit about the Lord God in heaven (the world in heaven), by understanding His ways (His commandments) according to the Torah on this earth.<\/p>\n

The point of this week\u2019s reading on Jacob\u2019s ladder and the midrashim, is that the Lord stands above the righteous.\u00a0 Note how this draws in the concept of a foundation that supports the structure above.\u00a0 However, in the midrash we learn the Lord standing above supports the righteous who are below.\u00a0 According to Tehillim \/ Psalms 1:6<\/span><\/em> we read \u201cFor the Lord knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the wicked will perish.\u201d (NASB)\u00a0<\/span><\/em> The Lord knows the way of the righteous because the righteous live and walk by faith.\u00a0 This is a very important concept in light of the midrash that states \u201cthe Lord stands above the righteous, whereas the wicked stand above their gods.\u201d\u00a0 Note how the way of the wicked is convoluted as compared to the way of God.\u00a0 The Lord God stands above His people protecting and providing for them.\u00a0 The idol gods do not stand over the wicked, the wicked stand over-top of their idol gods.\u00a0 If help proceeds from top down, (e.g. the Lord in heaven who helps his people<\/em>) then the function of the wicked is to help the gods of their own making.\u00a0 The wicked perish because their faith, trust, and hope are in the inanimate object.\u00a0 The righteous on the other hand will succeed because, faith, trust, and hope is in the Lord.\u00a0 In Jacob\u2019s dream the Lord God Almighty renewed His covenant with Jacob, making the same promises He had made to Abraham and Isaac, promising to always be with Jacob, and to not be afraid.\u00a0 Today, we stand in these promises, the Lord God, our Father in heaven, will remain with us because we trust and obey Him, His word, and have faith His Son Yeshua the Messiah.\u00a0 Halleluia! BTT_Parashat Vayetze-2014<\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In this week\u2019s reading from Parashat Vayetze (Shemot \/ Genesis 28:10-32:2) Jacob flees from his brother Esau.\u00a0 While traveling, he lays down and falls asleep.\u00a0 The Lord speaks to him in a dream (\u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b7\u05d7\u05b2\u05dc\u05b9\u05dd) reaffirming the covenant He made with his fathers (Bereshit \/ Genesis 28:10-19).\u00a0 Jacob travels to Haran and meets Laban his mother\u2019s […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3477,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-3474","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-bits-of-torah-truth"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3474","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3474"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3474\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3477"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3474"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3474"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3474"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}