Did Jews in the old testament pray to Angels like we do today

[GiftofMercy]

we cannot take the veneration of St Michael too far.

St Michael the Archangel, defend us in this day of battle.

Jews also do not have Satan as a fallen Angel. In Job, he’s a messenger or advocate for God, fulfilling a role God assigned for him. He is not the devil nor do we have a devil, fall or original sin. As someone else stated once, Judaism is not Christianity minus Jesus and Christianity is not Judaism plus Jesus. They really are distinct faiths even though they sprung from the same source.

The word satan means an adversary in Biblical Hebrew. it does not even mean the adversary, In the Old Testament this word is not a proper noun, it is a term for an adversary . It is much later that the word satan becomes associated with an evil fallen angel.

Out of interest how does a Jew read Genesis 3.

Have you seen the difference in the Hebrew Bible for the first few verses of Genesis and that of the Christian translation?

 

[Cathoholic]

@Fatima-Crusader . . .

Since jews prayed to angles, did they ask for them for help like we Catholics do today?

Yes.

Heavenly angels are “holy ones” or “saints” (i.e. SAINT Michael the archangel is an example of a saint).

Here is a Heavenly Angelic saint who was explicitly asked by Jacob/Israel for a blessing from that Angel (Jacob/Israel gets the blessing from this Heavenly Saint that he asks for).

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Jacob . . .

But Jacob said, “I will not let you go, unless you bless me.”

Angelic host action . . .

And there he blessed him.

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Jacob-Israel received that blessing that he asked of that saint in the Bible.

GENESIS 32:26-29 26 Then he said, “Let me go, for the day is breaking.”
But Jacob said, “I will not let you go, unless you bless me.”
27 And he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” 28
Then he said,
“Your name shall no more be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.”
29 Then Jacob asked him, “Tell me, I pray, your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?”
And there he blessed him.

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Hope this helps with your question Fatima-Crusader.

God bless.

Cathoholic

 

[meltzerboy2]

This is not the way Hebrew scholars interpret the passage. The angel with whom Jacob wrestled is exactly that, an angel, a messenger from G-d. The point of the didactic passage is to teach the Jews that the angel would not give his name because he knew that Jacob could only be legitimately blessed by G-d, and that he was merely a messenger sent by G-d.

 

[Cathoholic]

meltzerboy2 . . .

This is not the way Hebrew scholars interpret the passage.

That’s fine.

You don’t need to interpret the passage the way I think it should be (actually I think it is pretty self-evident).

I’m OK with that.

All blessings ultimately come from God. I have no problem with that either.

Jacob . . .

But Jacob said, “I will not let you go, unless you bless me.”

Angelic host action . . .

And there he blessed him.

 

[GiftofMercy]

This is not the way Hebrew scholars interpret the passage. The angel with whom Jacob wrestled is exactly that, an angel, a messenger from G-d. The point of the didactic passage is to teach the Jews that the angel would not give his name because he knew that Jacob could only be legitimately blessed by G-d, and that he was merely a messenger sent by G-d.

I second this .

That’s fine.

You don’t need to interpret the passage the way I think it should be (actually I think it is pretty self-evident).

I’m OK with that.

Cathoholic, the question is not how we run exegesis on the Hebrew Bible. The question specifically asks

Since jews prayed to angles, did they ask for them for help like we Catholics do today?

we have established the interaction between the 12 Tribes of Israel and God. And in that relationship we have established they did not pray to Angels like we Catholics do.

 

[Cathoholic]

GiftofMercy . . .

. . . we have established the interaction between the 12 Tribes of Israel and God. And in that relationship we have established they did not pray to Angels like we Catholics do.

.

.

Jacob . . .

But Jacob said, “I will not let you go, unless you bless me.”

Angelic host action . . .

And there he blessed him.

 

[GiftofMercy]

Jacob . . .

But Jacob said, “I will not let you go, unless you bless me.”

Angelic host action . . .

And there he blessed him.

Are you attempting to quote the Biblical Hebrew to me, or the translated version? Can you cite your quote please so we can examine the Biblical Hebrew, and its meanings, given that the question is about the people who lived in those times and their beliefs, not yours or mine.

 

[Cathoholic]

GiftofMercy . . .

Can you cite your quote please so we can examine the Biblical Hebrew . . .

I have cited my quote already.

Go ahead and unpack the Hebrew for me if you want.

I am open to that.

Here is the Jewish Tanakh 1917 English translation too.

GENESIS 32:26, 29 26 And he said: ‘Let me go, for the day breaketh.’
And he said: ‘I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.’ . . .
29 And Jacob asked him, and said: ‘Tell me, I pray thee, thy name.’ And he said: ‘Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name?’
And he blessed him there.

Bold mine.

https://biblehub.com/genesis/32-26.htm

https://biblehub.com/genesis/32-29.htm

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Can you cite your quote please so we can examine the Biblical Hebrew, and its meanings, given that the question is about the people who lived in those times and their beliefs, not yours or mine.

.

You just got done telling me this is relevant to Catholic beliefs comparing it to ancient Jewish practice (at least with Jacob Israel) . . . .

. . . we have established they did not pray to Angels like we Catholics do.

Bold mine.

. . . And now you ALSO say “their beliefs, not yours or mine”. (??)

Can you cite your quote please so we can examine the Biblical Hebrew, and its meanings, given that the question is about the people who lived in those times and their beliefs, not yours or mine.

Bold mine.

I think it has to do with BOTH.

Their beliefs back then AND mine now as a Catholic.

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From the original post question:

Since jews prayed to angles, did they ask for them for help like we Catholics do today?

Jacob Israel asked an angel for help (a blessing).
And I as a Catholic ask good angels for help too.