Genesis Vol 3.pdf - College Press

ADDENDA
LANGE:
ON THE ANGEL OF JEHOVAH
(CDHCG, 389-390, verbatim)
Between Abram’s connection with Hagar and the next
manifestation of Jehovah there are full thirteen years.
But then his faith is strengthened again, and Jehovah
appears to him (17:l). The most prominent and impor-
tant theophany in the life of Abram is the appearance of
the three men (ch. 17). But this appearance wears its
prevailing angelic form, because it is a collective appear-
ance for Abram and Lot, and at the same time refers to
the judgement upon Sodom. Hence the two angels are
related to their central point as the sun-images to the
sun itself, and this central point for Abram is Jehovah
himself in his manifestation, but not a commissioned Angel
of the Lord. Thus also this Angel visits Sarah (21:l;
compare 18:lO). But the Angel appears in the history
of Hagar a second time (21:17), and this time as the
Angel of God (Maleach Elohim), not as the Maleach Je-
hovah, for the question is not now about a return to
Abram’s house, but about the independent settlement with
Ishmael in the wilderness, The person who tempts Abram
(22:l) is Elohim-God as he manifests himself to the
nations and their general ideas or notions, and the revela-
tion is effected purely through the word. Now, also, in
the most critical moment for Abram, the Angel of the Lord
comes forward, calling down to him from heaven since
there was need of a prompt message of relief. In the rest
of the narrative this Angel of the Lord identifies himself
throughout with Jehovah (vers. 12, 16). To Isaac also
Jehovah appears (26:2), and the second time in the night
(ver. 24). He appears to Jacob in the night in a dream
(28: 12, 13). Thus also he appears to him as the Angel
of God in a dream (31:11), but throughout identified
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