{"id":24042,"date":"2026-02-10T06:27:44","date_gmt":"2026-02-10T05:27:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sukkatshalom-bneinoach.com\/?p=24042"},"modified":"2026-02-10T06:28:35","modified_gmt":"2026-02-10T05:28:35","slug":"only-g-d-forgives-sins-not-the-angel-of-exodus-23","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sukkatshalom-bneinoach.com\/ko\/only-g-d-forgives-sins-not-the-angel-of-exodus-23\/","title":{"rendered":"ONLY G-D FORGIVES SINS – NOT THE ANGEL OF EXODUS 23"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u05d1\u05e1”\u05d3<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A THOUGHT ABOUT\u00a0PARSHAT<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>MISHPATIM 5786<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In Exodus 23<\/strong>, G-d promises that an angel will go before Israel during their entrance into the Land of Israel. This angel \u201ccarries G-d\u2019s Name,\u201d 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 \u2014 along with classical sources such as the Alshich<\/strong> \u2014 shows precisely the opposite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Does It Mean That G-d\u2019s Name Is in the Angel?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Torah states:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u05d4\u05b4\u05e0\u05b5\u05bc\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b8\u05e0\u05b9\u05db\u05b4\u05d9 \u05e9\u05b9\u05c1\u05dc\u05b5\u05d7\u05b7 \u05de\u05b7\u05dc\u05b0\u05d0\u05b8\u05da\u05b0 \u05dc\u05b0\u05e4\u05b8\u05e0\u05b6\u05d9\u05da\u05b8
\u201cBehold, I am sending a mal\u2019ach<\/em> (messenger) before you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u05db\u05b4\u05bc\u05d9 \u05e9\u05b0\u05c1\u05de\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d1\u05b0\u05bc\u05e7\u05b4\u05e8\u05b0\u05d1\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9 \u2014 \u201cFor My Name is within him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the Alshich<\/strong>, this does not<\/strong> make the angel divine. Rather, it signifies that the angel is fully in service to G-d\u2019s will<\/strong>. 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u05db\u05b4\u05bc\u05d9 \u05dc\u05b9\u05d0 \u05d9\u05b4\u05e9\u05b8\u05bc\u05c2\u05d0 \u05dc\u05b0\u05e4\u05b4\u05e9\u05b0\u05c1\u05e2\u05b2\u05db\u05b6\u05dd<\/strong> \u2014 \u201cFor he will not bear (forgive) your transgression.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019s Name is in the angel (\u05db\u05b4\u05bc\u05d9 \u05e9\u05b0\u05c1\u05de\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d1\u05b0\u05bc\u05e7\u05b4\u05e8\u05b0\u05d1\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9), the angel cannot act independently or grant mercy on his own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Listening to the Angel = Listening to G-d<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The double expression in Exodus 23:22<\/strong> \u2014<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u05db\u05b4\u05bc\u05a3\u05d9 \u05d0\u05b4\u05dd\u05be\u05e9\u05b8\u05c1\u05de\u05a4\u05d5\u05b9\u05e2\u05b7 \u05ea\u05b4\u05bc\u05e9\u05b0\u05c1\u05de\u05b7\u05e2\u0599 \u05d1\u05b0\u05bc\u05e7\u05b9\u05dc\u0594\u05d5\u05b9 \u05d5\u05b0\u05e2\u05b8\u05e9\u05b4\u05c2\u0595\u05d9\u05ea\u05b8 \u05db\u05b9\u05bc\u0596\u05dc \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05b6\u05c1\u05a3\u05e8 \u05d0\u05b2\u05d3\u05b7\u05d1\u05b5\u05bc\u0591\u05e8 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d0\u05b8\u05bd\u05d9\u05b7\u05d1\u05b0\u05ea\u05b4\u05bc\u05d9\u0599 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea\u05be\u05d0\u05b9\u05a3\u05d9\u05b0\u05d1\u05b6\u0594\u05d9\u05da\u05b8 \u05d5\u05b0\u05e6\u05b7\u05e8\u05b0\u05ea\u05b4\u05bc\u0596\u05d9 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea\u05be\u05e6\u05b9\u05e8\u05b0\u05e8\u05b6\u05bd\u05d9\u05da\u05b8<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 literally contains the word \u201clisten\u201d twice<\/strong>. Classical interpretation emphasizes that it is G-d\u2019s voice speaking through the angel<\/strong>. The angel gives no commands of his own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is important to note that an angel has no free will. Forgiveness requires conscious choice \u2014 something that belongs to G-d alone. Therefore, even though an angel carries G-d\u2019s Name, he has no independent power to grant mercy or forgive sins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019s will but cannot act independently. Its actions are like a channel or clothing through which divine energy passes; the main force remains G-d\u2019s. Even when G-d\u2019s providence seems hidden, the angel is merely a messenger, without free will or the authority to forgive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Therefore, the verse continues:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDo everything that I command you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Obedience to the angel is in reality obedience to G-d. Forgiveness, however, remains always the work of G-d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Driving Out the Enemy: A Task for G-d<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although the angel leads the people to the land, the text makes clear that G-d Himself<\/strong> defeats the enemy nations:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy angel will go before you\u2026 and I will destroy them.\u201d (Exodus 23:23)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Alshich<\/strong> uses this to stress that the angel does not act as an independent power. He is a guide, not a conqueror \u2014 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Only G-d Can Forgive<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Tanach<\/strong> consistently affirms that only G-d forgives sins:<\/p>\n\n\n\n