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EIN GEDANKE ÜBER PARSHAT MISHPATIM 5786

Unter Exodus 23, G-d promises that an angel will go before Israel during their entrance into the Land of Israel. This angel “carries G-d’s Name,” which can give some readers the impression that the angel is a near-divine being, perhaps even capable of forgiving sins. A careful reading of the text — along with classical sources such as the Alshich — shows precisely the opposite.

What Does It Mean That G-d’s Name Is in the Angel?

The Torah states:

הִנֵּה אָנֹכִי שֹׁלֵחַ מַלְאָךְ לְפָנֶיךָ
“Behold, I am sending a mal’ach (messenger) before you.”

כִּי שְׁמִי בְּקִרְבּוֹ — “For My Name is within him.”

According to the Alshich, this does nicht make the angel divine. Rather, it signifies that the angel is fully in service to G-d’s will. He does not act independently or make decisions on his own. A servant has no authority to forgive someone who sins against his master; similarly, the angel cannot forgive sins.

כִּי לֹא יִשָּׂא לְפִשְׁעֲכֶם — “For he will not bear (forgive) your transgression.”

The Alshich explains that a servant has no authority to forgive someone who sins against their master. Likewise, the angel cannot forgive, because forgiveness belongs exclusively to G-d. Precisely because G-d’s Name is in the angel (כִּי שְׁמִי בְּקִרְבּוֹ), the angel cannot act independently or grant mercy on his own.

Listening to the Angel = Listening to G-d

The double expression in Exodus 23:22 —

כִּ֣י אִם־שָׁמ֤וֹעַ תִּשְׁמַע֙ בְּקֹל֔וֹ וְעָשִׂ֕יתָ כֹּ֖ל אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֲדַבֵּ֑ר וְאָֽיַבְתִּי֙ אֶת־אֹ֣יְבֶ֔יךָ וְצַרְתִּ֖י אֶת־צֹרְרֶֽיךָ

— literally contains the word “listen” twice. Classical interpretation emphasizes that it is G-d’s voice speaking through the angel. The angel gives no commands of his own. 

It is important to note that an angel has no free will. Forgiveness requires conscious choice — something that belongs to G-d alone. Therefore, even though an angel carries G-d’s Name, he has no independent power to grant mercy or forgive sins.

Just as the moon receives light from the sun before it shines upon the earth, the angel receives all influence from G-d before affecting the world. The angel is illuminated by G-d’s will but cannot act independently. Its actions are like a channel or clothing through which divine energy passes; the main force remains G-d’s. Even when G-d’s providence seems hidden, the angel is merely a messenger, without free will or the authority to forgive.

Therefore, the verse continues:

“Do everything that I command you.”

Obedience to the angel is in reality obedience to G-d. Forgiveness, however, remains always the work of G-d.

Driving Out the Enemy: A Task for G-d

Although the angel leads the people to the land, the text makes clear that G-d Himself defeats the enemy nations:

“My angel will go before you… and I will destroy them.” (Exodus 23:23)

Die Alshich uses this to stress that the angel does not act as an independent power. He is a guide, not a conqueror — and certainly not a forgiver. This explains why the people in Exodus 23 were not distressed when the angel was announced: G-d remained with them. After the sin of the Golden Calf (Exodus 33:3), the people were alarmed because G-d withdrew His immediate presence, even if the angel remained.

Only G-d Can Forgive

Die Tanach consistently affirms that only G-d forgives sins:

The repetition of “I, I” excludes any other forgiver. Forgiveness is not transferable; it is exclusively divine.

Repentance and Sincere Cleansing

G-d’s forgiveness requires repentance. It is not automatic via sacrifices or rituals, as many might think. Even the sin offering in the Torah atones only for minor, unintentional sins. Deliberate sins are not forgiven by an offering; only genuine confession and repentance cleanse the person.

The example of the city of Ninive illustrates this: G-d planned to destroy them, but because they recognized their wrong ways and repented, He withheld destruction (Book of Jonah). A person must regret their wrongdoing, change their sinful ways, and ask G-d for forgiveness. Only this process — sincere repentance and seeking G-d — enables forgiveness.

What This Means for Noahides

For Noahides, who strive for pure monotheism, this passage is crucial. Exodus 23:20–23 is sometimes misused to suggest that a heavenly intermediary can forgive sins. The text teaches the opposite:

Classical sources such as the Alshich, along with the Scriptures themselves, leave no doubt: forgiveness comes exclusively from the One, eternal G-d.

The Role of Mesorah

What Noahides can also learn is that the angel speaks G-d’s word, and the people listen. Today, we do not have an angel telling us what to do, but we have G-d’s word, conveyed through Moses and passed down via Mesorah.

Mesorah — “transmission” — is the unbroken chain of teaching from Sinai to the present. Authenticity of beliefs and practices relies on this transmission:

  1. G-d → Moses: The Torah is given, written and oral.
  2. Moses → Joshua → Elders → Prophets → Scribes/Soferim → Rabbanim → Generations of Jews.
  3. Mesorah ensures precise preservation of letters, words, accents, and cantillation.
  4. It protects against errors or deviations and underpins Jewish scholarship and biblical commentary.

For Noahides, adhering to this principle ensures they are following G-d’s commandments faithfully and avoiding transgression.

Schlussfolgerung

Angels execute G-d’s will, but they do not forgive sins. Only G-d grants forgiveness to those who sincerely repent and follow His commandments. Listening to the angel is, in reality, listening to G-d. For Noahides and all believers, the essential principle is clear: guidance, obedience, and forgiveness come solely from the One, Eternal G-d.

Von Angelique Sijbolts
With thanks to Rabbi Moshe Bernstein and Rabbi Tani Burton for the feedback

Quellen

  1. Exodus 23:20–23 – The angel who goes before Israel, carrying G-d’s Name.
  2. Exodus 34:6–7 – G-d as the forgiver of iniquity, transgression, and sin.
  3. Exodus 33:3 – G-d’s withdrawal of presence after the Golden Calf incident.
  4. Isaiah 43:25 – G-d alone erases transgressions.
  5. Alshich on Sefer Shemos – Commentary on the angel, obedience, and divine authority.
  6. Book of Jonah – The example of Nineveh’s repentance and G-d’s forgiveness.
  7. Torah, Leviticus 4 – Laws of the sin offering (קָרְבַּן חַטָּאת) and limits of atonement.
  8. Divine Code by Rabbi Moshe Weiner / Let Get Biblical by Rabbi Tovia Singer – On repentance (teshuvah) and sincere seeking of G-d’s forgiveness.
  9. https://chabadlibrary.org/books/2000590100?mark=%D7%9B%D7%99%20%D7%A9%D7%9E%D7%99%20%D7%91%D7%A7%D7%A8%D7%91%D7%95
  10. https://chabadlibrary.org/books/3601330328?mark=%D7%9B%D7%99%20%D7%A9%D7%9E%D7%99%20%D7%91%D7%A7%D7%A8%D7%91%D7%95





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