(c) 2000 Dr Hendel; 1st appeared in Torah Forum (c) 1996-2000 Project Genesis

Re: Wrestling with an Angel

Russell Hendel (rhendel@mcs.drexel.edu)
Mon, 7 Jul 1997 19:11:56 -0400

Laura Elizabet Adelman asked:
>Which patriarch wrestled with the angle (Gabriel?) in order to receive his
>blessing?

The answer is Jacob in Gen 32.

Laura states <<I looked all over but couldn't find it>>

Well the following juxtaposition of verses may help:

Gen 32:24 And a MAN wrestled with him...
Gen 32:28 ..for you have fought with ANGELS and men...
Gen 32:30 ..for I have seen an ANGEL face to face

The same Hebrew word can be used for Judge, Angel and G-d--however a scribe
when writing the word in the Torah scroll must only have a proper intention
if the word refers to G-d himself and not if it refers to a Judge or Angel.

Hope this helps.

Russell Jay Hendel; Ph.d., A.S.A; RHendel @ Mcs . Drexel . Edu