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Compare Deuteronomy 32:8 and Or HaChaim 32

Hebrew Bible · Rabbinic

Summary

Deuteronomy 32 says the nations were given their boundaries based on the heavenly assembly, following an ancient Near Eastern tradition of patron deities. Rabbinic tradition follows this, but sometimes replaces patron “gods” with “angels”.

Passages

Deuteronomy 32:8

Hebrew Bible

6 Is this how you repay the Lord, you foolish, unwise people? Is he not your father, your Creator? He has made you and established you. 7 Remember the ancient days; bear in mind the years of past generations. Ask your father and he will inform you, your elders, and they will tell you. 8 When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance, when he divided up humankind, he set the boundaries of the peoples, according to the number of the heavenly assembly. 9 For the Lord’s allotment is his people, Jacob is his special possession. 10 The Lord found him in a desolate land, in an empty wasteland where animals howl. He continually guarded him and taught him; he continually protected him like the pupil of his eye.

750–400 BCE (scholarly estimate) Read in Deuteronomy

Or HaChaim 32

Rabbinic · Commentary

בהנחל עליון גוים, 'When the Supreme One gave nations their inheritance, etc.' This is a reference to the time when G'd assigned 'guardian angels' for the various Gentile nations to represent them at the celestial court. This is an allusion to the fact that G'd considered these nations as inferior so that He did not want to relate to them directly but only by means of an intermediary.

1718 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in Or HaChaim

References

"... wherever you find our sages, of blessed memory, making mentioned of The Ingathering of Israel-Knesset Yisroel-כנסת ישראל, they are referring to this Divine quality called Lord-Adona”y-אדנ״י, which is called the Indwelling Presence of HaShem-יהו״ה (Shechinah-שכינה) and all the other titles that we have mentioned. It is to this quality that the entire assembly of the Jewish people adhere to, and through it they are gathered and assembled. It likewise is this quality that separates the children of Israel from all the nations of the world, as the verse states, “I have separated you from the nations to be Mine.” (Deuteronomy 32:8-9) ..."

Yosef Gikatilla, Gates of Light: A Translation and Adaptation into English of Shaarei Orah, trans. Rabbi Amiram Markel and Rabbi Yehudah S. Markel (Neirot Foundation, 2023), 103.

References are not endorsements of their contents. Read each reference in full to understand its author's intentions in using these texts.

Compare Deuteronomy 32:8 and Or HaChaim 32

Summary

Passages

Deuteronomy 32:8

Or HaChaim 32

References

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