Texts in Conversation
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”.
Share:
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.
Date: 6th Century B.C.E. (Final composition) (based on scholarly estimates)
Source
Or HaChaim 32
Commentary
Rabbinic
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.
Date: 1718 C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
Source
Tags:
Search:
Notes and 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) ..."
Gikatilla, Yosef
Gates of Light: A Translation and adaptation into English of Shaarei Orah
(p. 103) The Neirot Foundation, 2023
* 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.