VAIYISHLACH וַיִּשְׁלַ֨ח (And he sent) GENESIS 32:4-36:43

PROPHETS: HOSEA 11:7-12:12, OBADIAH 1:1-21 | GOSPEL: MATTHEW 2:13-23

TORAH:

The word “he” here refers to Jacob. Who did he send? Most Bibles read messengers, yet the Tanach says angels. Angels are messengers from YaHVaH, but here it should be simple human messengers. Jacob makes a 3-part preparation for the meeting:  prayer 🙏,  gifts 🎁, and sends the weak away in case of war. It is here that Jacob struggles with the Divine and overcame to receive a blessing and his name changed to Israel (Yis’ra’el יִשְׂרָאֵֽל in Hebrew).

In Chapter 35, Elohiym (God) speaks to Jacob telling him to go to Beth-el (the House of God) and build an altar. Jacob obeys and calls the place of the altar El-beth-el (God in the House of God, or as Rashi says, God makes His Presence felt in Beth-el). In verses 9 and 10, God appears to Jacob and says, “Your name is Jacob יַעֲקֹ֑ב (Ya’acov). Your name shall not always be called Jacob יַעֲקֹ֑ב, but Israel יִשְׂרָאֵֽל (Yis’ra’el) shall be your name.” Thus He called his name Israel. In verse 11, God says, “I am El Shaddai אֵ֤ל שַׁדַּי֙ (God Almighty). Be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a congregation of nations shall descend from from you, and kings shall issue from your loins.” (Tanach, Stone edition). It is this blessing from YaHVaH Himself that establishes the Nation of Israel, along with the 12 tribes becoming nations of their own.

© Copyright 2023, Odon Obadyah Ministries, Inc. and Min. Donald H. Garrett

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