Aggada -- Translations into English; Bible. Old Testament -- Legends; Jewish legends; Midrash -- Translations into English
When the day broke, Michael said to Jacob, "Let me go, for the day
breaketh," but Jacob held him back, saying, "Art thou a thief, or a
gambler with dice, that thou fearest the daylight?" At that moment
appeared many different hosts of angels, and they called unto Michael:
"Ascend, O Michael, the time of song hath come, and if thou art not in
heaven to lead the choir, none will sing." And Michael entreated Jacob
with supplications to let him go, for he feared the angels of 'Arabot
would consume him with fire, if he were not there to start the songs of
praise at the proper time. Jacob said, "I will not let thee go, except
thou bless me," whereto Michael made reply: "Who is greater, the
servant or the son? I am the servant, and thou art the son. Why, then,
cravest thou my blessing?"[248] Jacob urged as an argument, "The angels
that visited Abraham did not leave without blessing him," but Michael
held, "They were sent by God for that very purpose, and I was not." Yet
Jacob insisted upon his demand, and Michael pleaded with him, saying,
"The angels that betrayed a heavenly secret were banished from their
place for one hundred and thirty eight years. Dost thou desire that I
should acquaint thee with what would cause my banishment likewise?" In
the end the angel nevertheless had to yield; Jacob could not be moved,
and Michael took counsel with himself thus: "I will reveal a secret to
him, and if God demands to know why I revealed it, I will make answer,
Thy children stand upon their wishes with Thee, and Thou dost yield to
them. How, then, could I have left Jacob's wish unfulfilled?"
Then Michael spoke to Jacob, saying: "A day will come when God will
reveal Himself unto thee, and He will change thy name, and I shall be
present when He changeth it.[249] Thy name shall be called no more
Jacob, but Israel, for happy thou, of woman born, who didst enter the
heavenly palace, and didst escape thence with thy life." And Michael
blessed Jacob with the words, "May it be the will of God that thy
descendants be as pious as thou art."[250]
At the same time the archangel reminded Jacob that he had promised to
give a tithe of his possessions unto God, and at once Jacob separated
five hundred and fifty head of cattle from his herds, which counted
fifty-five hundred. Then Michael went on, "But thou hast sons, and of
them thou hast not set apart the tenth." Jacob proceeded to pass his
sons in review: Reuben, Joseph, Dan, and Gad being the first-born, each
of his mother, were exempt, and there remained but eight sons, and when
he had named them, down to Benjamin, he had to go back and begin over
again with Simon, the ninth, and finish with Levi as the tenth.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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