Texts in Conversation
In the Ladder of Jacob, a voice appears that orders an angel to explain Jacob's dream. In the Apocalypse of Abraham, the voice has a similar presence, identifying itself as God and preparing Abraham to see the future through a sacrifice.
Share:
2500 BCE
1000+ CE
Ladder of Jacob 3:1
Pseudepigrapha, Hebrew Bible Expansions
1 And while I was still speaking my prayer, there appeared a voice before my face, saying: Sarekl, prince of those who rejoice, you who are over visions, go and make Jacob understand the interpretation of the dream which he saw, and show him everything he saw; but first bless him. 2 And the archangel Sarekl came to me, and I saw: it was a face […] terrifying; but I was not afraid of his look, for the face which I had seen in my dream […] was more than this, and I did not fear the face of an angel. 3 And the angel said to me, What is your name? And I said, Jacob.
Apocalypse of Abraham 9:1
Pseudepigrapha, Apocalypses
1 Then a voice came to me speaking twice: "Abraham, Abraham!" 2 And I said: "Here I am!" 3 And He said: "Behold, it is I; do not fear, for I am before the worlds, and a mighty God who has created the light of the world. 4 I am a shield over you, and I am your helper. 5 Go, take me a young heifer of three years old, and a she-goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove and a pigeon, and bring me a pure sacrifice. And in this sacrifice I will lay before you the ages (to come),
Search:
Notes and References
“... As in some of the other pseudepigrapha, the voice has ceased to be something heard and has become a hypostatic creature. In 2:2, we have the familiar concept of a voice; but in 3:1, we hear that “a voice came before my face” and, although he appears to be speaking to Jacob, he actually addresses words to Sariel. A hypostatic voice also appears in the Apocalypse of Abraham, chapter 9, and tells Abraham to sacrifice. In the History of the Rechabites, a voice comes to an individual (2:7) and even speaks to the traveler (3:1). The concept of a hypostatic voice appears also in the Apocalypse of Sedrach and some of the apocalypses preserved in the Mani Codex. ...”
Lunt, H. G.
"Ladder of Jacob: A New Translation and Introduction" in Charlesworth, James H. (ed.) The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha, Volume 2: Expansions of the “Old Testament” and Legends, Wisdom and Philosophical Literature, Prayers, Psalms, and Odes, Fragments of Lost Judeo-Hellenistic Works
(p. 406) Doubleday, 1985
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
Your Feedback:
Leave a Comment
Anonymous comments are welcome. All comments are subject to moderation.
User Comments
,