In_Judaism Death_(personification)

1 in judaism

1.1 form , functions
1.2 scholars , angel of death
1.3 rabbinic views

in judaism

la mort du fossoyeur (death of gravedigger) carlos schwabe

in hebrew scriptures, death ( maweth ) personified devil or angel of death (e.g., habakkuk 2:5; job 18:13). in both book of hosea , book of jeremiah, maweth/mot mentioned deity whom yahweh can turn on judah punishment worshiping other gods. memitim type of angel biblical lore associated mediation on lives of dying. name derived hebrew word mĕmītǐm (מְמִיתִים – executioners , slayers , destroyers ) , refers angels brought destruction of whom guardian angels no longer protected. while there may debate among religious scholars regarding exact nature of memitim, accepted that, described in book of job 33:22, killers of sort.

form , functions

according midrash, angel of death created god on first day. dwelling in heaven, whence reaches earth in 8 flights, whereas pestilence reaches in one. has twelve wings. on people have surrendered thee power, said god angel of death, not on 1 has received freedom death through law. said of angel of death full of eyes. in hour of death, stands @ head of departing 1 drawn sword, clings drop of gall. dying man sees death, seized convulsion , opens mouth, whereupon death throws drop it. drop causes death; turns putrid, , face becomes yellow. expression taste of death originated in idea death caused drop of gall.

the soul escapes through mouth, or, stated in place, through throat; therefore, angel of death stands @ head of patient (adolf jellinek, l.c. ii. 94, midr. teh. ps. xi.). when soul forsakes body, voice goes 1 end of world other, not heard (gen. r. vi. 7; ex. r. v. 9; pirḳe r. el. xxxiv.). drawn sword of angel of death, mentioned chronicler (i. chron. 21:15; comp. job 15:22; enoch 62:11), indicates angel of death figured warrior kills off children of men. man, on day of death, falls down before angel of death beast before slaughterer (grünhut, liḳḳuṭim , v. 102a). r. samuel s father (c. 200) said: angel of death said me, sake of honor of mankind not tear off necks done slaughtered beasts ( ab. zarah 20b). in later representations, knife replaces sword, , reference made cord of angel of death, indicates death throttling. moses says god: fear cord of angel of death (grünhut, l.c. v. 103a et seq.). of 4 jewish methods of execution, 3 named in connection angel of death: burning (by pouring hot lead down victim s throat), slaughtering (by beheading), , throttling. angel of death administers particular punishment god has ordained commission of sin.

a peculiar mantle ( idra -according levy, neuhebr. wörterb. i. 32, sword) belongs equipment of angel of death (eccl. r. iv. 7). angel of death takes on particular form best serve purpose; e.g., appears scholar in form of beggar imploring pity (the beggar should receive tzedakah.)(m. Ḳ. 28a). when pestilence rages in town, walk not in middle of street, because angel of death [i.e., pestilence] strides there; if peace reigns in town, walk not on edges of road. when pestilence rages in town, go not alone synagogue, because there angel of death stores tools. if dogs howl, angel of death has entered city; if make sport, prophet elijah has come (b. Ḳ. 60b). destroyer (saṭan ha-mashḥit) in daily prayer angel of death (ber. 16b). midr. ma ase torah (compare jellinek, b. h. ii. 98) says: there 6 angels of death: gabriel on kings; Ḳapẓiel on youths; mashbir on animals; mashḥit on children; af , Ḥemah on man , beast.

scholars , angel of death

black angel, oakland cemetery (iowa city, iowa)

talmud teachers of 4th century associate quite familiarly him. when appeared 1 on street, teacher reproached him rushing upon him upon beast, whereupon angel called upon him @ house. another, granted respite of thirty days, might put knowledge in order before entering next world. third, had no access, because not interrupt study of talmud. fourth, showed rod of fire, whereby recognized angel of death (m. k. 28a). entered house of bibi , conversed him (Ḥag. 4b). often, resorts strategy in order interrupt , seize victim (b. m. 86a; mak. 10a).

the death of joshua ben levi in particular surrounded web of fable. when time came him die , angel of death appeared him, demanded shown place in paradise. when angel had consented this, demanded angel s knife, angel might not frighten him way. request granted him, , joshua sprang knife on wall of paradise; angel, not allowed enter paradise, caught hold of end of garment. joshua swore not come out, , god declared should not leave paradise unless absolved oath; if not absolved, remain. angel of death demanded knife, joshua refused. @ point, heavenly voice (bat ḳol) rang out: give him knife, because children of men have need of bring death. hesitant, joshua ben levi gives knife in exchange angel of deaths name. never forget name carved troke arm angel of death s chosen name. when knife returned angel joshua s carving of name faded , forgot. (ket. 77b; jellinek, l.c. ii. 48–51; bacher, l.c. i. 192 et seq.).

rabbinic views

the rabbis found angel of death mentioned in psalm 89:48, targum translates: there no man lives and, seeing angel of death, can deliver soul hand. eccl. 8:4 explained in midrash rabbah passage: 1 may not escape angel of death, nor him, wait until put affairs in order, or there son, slave: take him in stead. angel of death appears, there no remedy, name (talmud, ned. 49a; hul. 7b). if 1 has sinned has confessed fault, angel of death may not touch him (midrash tanhuma, ed. buber, 139). god protects angel of death (midrash genesis rabbah lxviii.).

by acts of benevolence, anger of angel of death overcome; when 1 fails perform such acts angel of death make appearance (derek ereẓ zuṭa, viii.). angel of death receives orders god (ber. 62b). has received permission destroy, however, makes no distinction between , bad (b. Ḳ. 60a). in city of luz, angel of death has no power, and, when aged inhabitants ready die, go outside city (soṭah 46b; compare sanh. 97a). legend same effect existed in ireland in middle ages (jew. quart. rev. vi. 336).