Angels A. What is an Angel? 1. [Balak king of Moab] sent messengers to summon Balaam son of Beor Numbers 22:5 2. There is no blade of grass which does not have an angel which strikes it and commands it to grow Midrash Bereishis Rabbah 10:6 3. How bad and injurious is the blindness of ignorance! Say to a person who is believed to belong to the wise men of Israel that the Almighty sends His angel to enter the womb of a woman and to form there the fetus, he will be satisfied with the account: he will believe it, and even find in it a description of the greatness of G-d s might and wisdom; although he believes that the angel consists of burning fire, and is as big as a third part of the Universe, yet he considers it possible as a divine miracle. But tell him that G-d gave the seed a formative power which produces and shapes the limbs, and that this power is called angel, or that all forms are the result of the influence of the Active Intellect, and that the latter is the angel, the Prince of the world, frequently mentioned by our Sages, and he will turn away; because he cannot comprehend the true greatness and power of creating forces that act in a body without being perceived by our senses. Our Sages have already stated-for him who has understanding-that all forces that reside in a body are angels, much more the forces that are active in the Universe. Maimonides - Guide to the Perplexed Part II, Ch. 6 4. And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I beg you, your name. And he said, Why is it that you ask after my name? And he blessed him there. Genesis 32:30 5. Our Rabbis explained that this man was the Angel of (the nation of) Esav. Rashi Ibid. 6. Why is it that you ask after my name? - You can t call on me because all power is in the hands of G-d. If you call me I will not respond nor will I save you from trouble.. Nachmanides Ibid. 7. They act only according to the powers invested in them by the creator, and exert influence only within the bounds of what they receive from G-d, for He is the source of all power. Ramchal Daas Tevunos pg 145 8. And their legs were one straight leg. Ezekiel 1:7 1
B. Man vs. Angel There is a dispute as to whether humans are above angels. The answer is that it is both, but each in its own way. An angel s perception and inherent being is higher than man in that it is entirely spiritual. On the other hand, an angel has no effect in the upper worlds, it is simply a product of the upper worlds. The same is true for the human soul until it is bound into a physical body. Nefesh Hachaim Chap. 10 C. Limitations of Angels 1. The L-rd appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground. Genesis 18:1-2 2. The two angels arrived at Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gateway of the city. When he saw them, he got up to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground. Genesis 19:1 3. And behold three men: One to foretell to Sarah (about Isaac s birth) and one to overturn Sodom and one to heal Abraham, because one angel cannot accomplish two missions. Be aware that this is so, because in the entire parashah they are mentioned in the plural and they ate and they said to him However when the good tidings [of Sarah s birth] are delivered, it says And he said I will return And at the overturning of Sodom it says: For I can do nothing. I will not overturn... Raphael, who healed Abraham went from there to rescue Lot. As it says: When they brought them out, he said Escape for your life. Which teaches you that (only) one was involved in the rescue. Rashi - Genesis 18:2 4. Where is your wife Sarah? they asked him. There, in the tent, he said.then he said, I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son. Gen 18:9-10 5. The theory that each force acts only in one particular way, is expressed in Bereshit Rabba (chap. 1.) as follows: One angel does not perform two things, and two angels do not perform one thing ; this is exactly the property of all forces. Maimonides - Guide to the Perplexed Part II, Ch. 6 2
SATAN D. Who and what is Satan 1. Again the anger of the L-RD burned against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, Go and take a census of Israel and Judah. So the king said to Joab and the army commanders with him, Go throughout the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and enrol the fighting men, so that I may know how many there are. But Joab replied to the king, May the L-RD your G-d multiply the troops a hundred times over, and may the eyes of my L-rd the king see it. But why does my L-rd the king want to do such a thing? The king s word, however, overruled Joab and the army commanders; so they left the presence of the king to enrol the fighting men of Israel. 2 Samuel 24:1 2. Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel. So David said to Joab and the commanders of the troops, Go and count the Israelites from Beersheba to Dan. Then report back to me so that I may know how many there are. But Joab replied, May the L-RD multiply his troops a hundred times over. My L-rd the king, are they not all my L-rd s subjects? Why does my L-rd want to do this? Why should he bring guilt on Israel? The king s word, however, overruled Joab; so Joab left and went throughout Israel and then came back to Jerusalem. Chronicles 21:1 3. One day the angels came to present themselves before the L-RD, and Satan also came with them. The L-RD said to Satan, Where have you come from? Satan answered the L-RD, From roaming through the earth and going to and for in it. Then the L-RD said to Satan, Have you considered my servant Job? There is no-one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears G-d and shuns evil. Does Job fear G-d for nothing? Satan replied. Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face. The L-RD said to Satan, Very well, then, everything he has is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger. Then Satan went out from the presence of the L-RD. Job 1:6-12 4. And G-d s anger was kindled because he went; and the angel of the L-rd stood in the way as an adversary (Satan) against him. Now he was riding upon his donkey, and his two servants were with him. Numbers 22:22 5. [Satan] comes down to earth and seduces, then ascends to heaven and awakens wrath; permission is granted to him and he takes away the soul...the Satan is the evil urge and the angel of death Bava Basra 16a 3
E. Satan as Yetzer Hara - Evil Urge 1. It is like a king who had an only son, and he loved him exceedingly. And he commanded him with love not to come close to an evil woman, because anyone who approaches her is not worthy to enter the king s palace. That son promised that he would lovingly do the will of his father. Outside of the king s palace was a harlot who was very beautiful to behold. After a few days, the king said: I want to see the wishes of my son toward me. He called that harlot and told her: Go and entice my son, in order to test the wishes of my son toward me. What did that harlot do? She went after the king s son and started to embrace him and kiss him and entice him with all kinds of enticements. If that son is proper and observes the commands of his father, he scolds her and does not listen to her and thrusts her away from him. Then the father rejoices with his son, brings him into the inner sanctum of his palace, and gives him presents and gifts and great honor. Who caused all this honor for that son? We must say that it was the harlot. Does that harlot deserve praise for this or not? Certainly she deserves praise from all aspects, for she did the king s command and she brought that son all the good, all this love of the king toward him. Therefore, it is written: And, behold, it was very good (Beresheet 1:31). And, behold, it was good refers to the Angel of Life, while very refers to the Angel of Death, The evil inclination, who is certainly very good, for he who fulfills the command of his master. Come and see: if there would not be this enticer, then the righteous would not inherit those supernal treasures that are their share in the World to Come. Zohar Terumah 2. R. Levi said: Both Satan and Peninah had a pious purpose [in acting as adversaries] Talmud Bava Basra 16a 3. Abaye once heard a fellow tell a woman come lets go for a walk. So Abaye decided to follow them in order to prevent them from sinning. When they reached their destination he heard them say we must part ways now, but it s a pity because it was so nice to be together. When Abaye saw this he said: If it would have been me I would not have been able to withhold myself from sin. He went and leaned against a doorway and was very sad. An elderly man came along and taught him: Whoever is greater than his fellow has a greater evil urge. Talmud Sukkah 52b 4. R. Levi b. Hama says in the name of R. Simeon b. Lakish: A man should always incite the good impulse [in his soul] to fight against the evil impulse.... If he subdues it, well and good. If not, let him study the Torah....If he subdues it, well and good. If not, let him recite the Shema.... If he subdues it, well and good. If not, let him remind himself of the day of death... Talmud Berachos 5a 5. He who is born under Mars will be a shedder of blood. R. Ashi observed: Either a surgeon, a thief, a slaughterer, or a circumciser. Talmud Shabbos 156a 4
6. What does it mean when it says that (Ex. 22) And the nation saw that Moses had delayed in coming down [from Mt. Sinai]? Do not read it Boshesh [delayed], but rather Ba-u shesh which means coming in the sixth This refers to the fact that when Moses went up the mountain he told the Jews I am returning on the fortieth day at the sixth hour. (The day of his return was meant to be the 17 th of Tammuz because the day he went up wasn t a full day including the night before. Therefore on the 16 th ) The Satan came and confused them [Rashi he made it a very stormy and nasty day] in order to make them think that Moshe had died. He tried to convince them that it was already the sixth hour, but it didn t work, he tried to make them think that Moshe died, but it didn t work, until he made an image of Moshe s death bed which finally fooled them as it says For THIS MAN Moshe. Talmud Shabbos 89a F. Satan as Accuser 1. Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the L-RD, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. Zechariah 3:1 2. G-d said to Gavriel. Go place a Tav in ink on the foreheads of the righteous so that they are not harmed, and a Tav of blood on the foreheads of the wicked so that they are destroyed. The attribute of strict justice (Satan) came before him and said: G-d what is the difference between these two? G-d responded, These are righteous andthese are wicked - Yes, (satan) replied, but they should have protested the behavior of the wicked. True, replied G-d, but I personally can attest that it would not have helped Perhaps, replied the Satan, you knew that, but they did not Talmud Shabbos 55a G. Satan as Angel of Death 1. For the L-rd will pass through to strike the Egyptians; and when he sees the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the L-rd will pass over the door, and will not let the destroyer come into your houses to strike you. Exodus 12:23 2. Now, every Sabbath day he (king David) would sit and study all day. On the day that he was meant to die, the Angel of death stood before him but could not prevail against him, because learning did not cease from his mouth. What shall I do to him? he said. Now, there was a garden before his house; so the Angel of death went, ascended and rustled in the trees. He [David] went out to see: as he was ascending the ladder, it broke under him. Thus he became silent [from his studies] and he died. Talmud Shabbos 30b 5