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{{Short description|Biblical figure sent to kill enemies of the Israelites}}
{{Short description|Biblical figure sent to kill enemies of the Israelites}}
[[File:The destroying angel passes through Egypt.jpg|alt=The destroying angel passes through Egypt|thumb|326x326px|The destroying angel passes through Egypt.<ref name=":0">Foster, Charles. c. 1879. ''[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uiug.30112065792167&view=1up&seq=116&q1=destroying The Story of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation Told in Simple Language for the Young]''. PA: Fifty Second Thousand.</ref>]]
[[File:The destroying angel passes through Egypt.jpg|alt=The destroying angel passes through Egypt|thumb|326x326px|The destroying angel passes through Egypt.<ref name=":0">Foster, Charles. c. 1879. ''[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uiug.30112065792167&view=1up&seq=116&q1=destroying The Story of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation Told in Simple Language for the Young]''. PA: Fifty Second Thousand.</ref>]]
In the [[Hebrew Bible]], the '''destroying angel''' ({{Lang-he|מַלְאָך הַמַשְׁחִית}}, ''malʾāḵ hamašḥīṯ''), also known as '''mashḥit''' ({{Lang-he|מַשְׁחִית|label=none}} ''mašḥīṯ'', 'destroyer'; <small>[[plural]]:</small> {{Lang-he|מַשְׁחִיתִים|label=none}}, ''mašḥīṯīm'', 'spoilers, ravagers'), is an entity sent out by God on several occasions to deal with numerous peoples.
In the [[Hebrew Bible]], the '''destroying angel''' ({{Langx|he|מַלְאָך הַמַשְׁחִית}}, ''malʾāḵ hamašḥīṯ''), also known as '''mashḥit''' ({{Langx|he|מַשְׁחִית|label=none}} ''mašḥīṯ'', 'destroyer'; <small>[[plural]]:</small> {{Langx|he|מַשְׁחִיתִים|label=none}}, ''mašḥīṯīm'', 'spoilers, ravagers'), is an entity sent out by God on several occasions to deal with numerous peoples.


These angels (''[[Angels in Judaism|mal’āḵīm]]'') are also variously referred to as ''[[memitim]]'' ({{Lang-he|מְמִיתִים|label=none}}, 'executioners, slayers'), or, when used singularly, as the [[Angel of the Lord]]. The latter is found in [[Book of Job|Job 33:22]], as well as in [[Book of Proverbs|Proverbs 16:14]] in the plural "messengers of death". ''Mashchith'' was also used as an alternate name for one of the [[Hell#Judaism|seven compartments]] of [[Gehenna]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Heavenly Realms and Earthly Realities in Late Antique Religions|date=2004|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0521121774|editor-last1=Boustan|editor-first1=Ra'anan S.|location=Cambridge, England|editor-last2=Reed|editor-first2=Annette Yoshiko}}</ref><ref>Raphael, Simcha Paull. 2019. ''Jewish Views of the Afterlife''. Rowman & Littlefield. {{ISBN|978-1-538-10346-3}} p. 150</ref>
These angels (''[[Angels in Judaism|mal’āḵīm]]'') are also variously referred to as ''[[memitim]]'' ({{Langx|he|מְמִיתִים|label=none}}, 'executioners, slayers'), or, when used singularly, as the [[Angel of the Lord]]. The latter is found in [[Book of Job|Job 33:22]], as well as in [[Book of Proverbs|Proverbs 16:14]] in the plural "messengers of death". ''Mashchith'' was also used as an alternate name for one of the [[Hell#Judaism|seven compartments]] of [[Gehenna]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Heavenly Realms and Earthly Realities in Late Antique Religions|date=2004|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0521121774|editor-last1=Boustan|editor-first1=Ra'anan S.|location=Cambridge, England|editor-last2=Reed|editor-first2=Annette Yoshiko}}</ref><ref>Raphael, Simcha Paull. 2019. ''Jewish Views of the Afterlife''. Rowman & Littlefield. {{ISBN|978-1-538-10346-3}} p. 150</ref>


In [[2 Samuel]] 24:15-16, the destroying angel kills the inhabitants of Jerusalem. In [[1 Chronicles]] 21:15, the same "Angel of the Lord" is seen by [[David]] to stand "between the earth and the heaven, with a drawn sword in his hand stretched out against the Hebrews' enemies". Later, in [[2 Kings]] 19:35, the angel kills 185,000 [[Assyria]]n soldiers.
In [[2 Samuel]] 24:15-16, the destroying angel almost destroyed Jerusalem, but was recalled by God. In [[1 Chronicles]] 21:15, the same "Angel of the Lord" is seen by [[David]] to stand "between the earth and the heaven, with a drawn sword in his hand stretched out against the Hebrews' enemies". Later, in [[2 Kings]] 19:35, the angel kills 185,000 [[Assyria]]n soldiers.


In the [[Book of Enoch]], angels of punishment and destruction belong to a group of angels called ''satans'' with [[Satan]] as their leader. First they tempt, then accuse, and finally punish and torment both wicked humans and [[fallen angel]]s.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Caldwell |first1=William |title=The Doctrine of Satan: II. Satan in Extra-Biblical Apocalyptical Literature |journal=The Biblical World |date=1913 |volume=41 |issue=2 |pages=98–102 |doi=10.1086/474708 |jstor=3142425 |s2cid=144698491 |doi-access=free }}</ref>
In the [[Book of Enoch]], angels of punishment and destruction belong to a group of angels called ''satans'' with [[Satan]] as their leader. First they tempt, then accuse, and finally punish and torment both wicked humans and [[fallen angel]]s.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Caldwell |first1=William |title=The Doctrine of Satan: II. Satan in Extra-Biblical Apocalyptical Literature |journal=The Biblical World |date=1913 |volume=41 |issue=2 |pages=98–102 |doi=10.1086/474708 |jstor=3142425 |s2cid=144698491 |doi-access=free }}</ref>
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* [[Punishment of the Grave]]
* [[Punishment of the Grave]]
* [[Dumah (angel)]]
* [[Dumah (angel)]]
* [[Death (personification)]]
* [[Personifications of death|Death (personification)]]
* [[List of angels in theology]]
* [[List of angels in theology]]
* [[Mastema]]
* [[Mastema]]

Latest revision as of 19:44, 1 November 2024

The destroying angel passes through Egypt
The destroying angel passes through Egypt.[1]

In the Hebrew Bible, the destroying angel (Hebrew: מַלְאָך הַמַשְׁחִית, malʾāḵ hamašḥīṯ), also known as mashḥit (מַשְׁחִית mašḥīṯ, 'destroyer'; plural: מַשְׁחִיתִים, mašḥīṯīm, 'spoilers, ravagers'), is an entity sent out by God on several occasions to deal with numerous peoples.

These angels (mal’āḵīm) are also variously referred to as memitim (מְמִיתִים, 'executioners, slayers'), or, when used singularly, as the Angel of the Lord. The latter is found in Job 33:22, as well as in Proverbs 16:14 in the plural "messengers of death". Mashchith was also used as an alternate name for one of the seven compartments of Gehenna.[2][3]

In 2 Samuel 24:15-16, the destroying angel almost destroyed Jerusalem, but was recalled by God. In 1 Chronicles 21:15, the same "Angel of the Lord" is seen by David to stand "between the earth and the heaven, with a drawn sword in his hand stretched out against the Hebrews' enemies". Later, in 2 Kings 19:35, the angel kills 185,000 Assyrian soldiers.

In the Book of Enoch, angels of punishment and destruction belong to a group of angels called satans with Satan as their leader. First they tempt, then accuse, and finally punish and torment both wicked humans and fallen angels.[4]

In Judaism, such angels might be seen as created by one's sins. As long as a person lives, God allows them to repent. However, after death, the angels of destruction are allowed to execute the sentence proclaimed in the heavenly court.[5]

Islamic view

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The angels of punishment as satans are recounted in Islam in the form of a hadith. According to which, a murderer is instructed to repent from their sins by leaving their evil environment and moving to a better one. However, they die on their way, thereupon a disagreement between the angels of mercy and the angels of punishment under the leadership of Iblīs (Satan) occurs, who may take the soul of the repenting murderer.[6]

However, a more truthful view of Islam held that Satan did not have control over those angels as he had lost authority during the rebellion, instead tempting and manipulating others to do his dirty work. As he was not the one committing the sin, punishment goes to the wrong doer, and Satan instead will become a victim along with other sinners from humankind to be tortured by those angels.[7][8]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Foster, Charles. c. 1879. The Story of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation Told in Simple Language for the Young. PA: Fifty Second Thousand.
  2. ^ Boustan, Ra'anan S.; Reed, Annette Yoshiko, eds. (2004). Heavenly Realms and Earthly Realities in Late Antique Religions. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0521121774.
  3. ^ Raphael, Simcha Paull. 2019. Jewish Views of the Afterlife. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-1-538-10346-3 p. 150
  4. ^ Caldwell, William (1913). "The Doctrine of Satan: II. Satan in Extra-Biblical Apocalyptical Literature". The Biblical World. 41 (2): 98–102. doi:10.1086/474708. JSTOR 3142425. S2CID 144698491.
  5. ^ Israel Meir Ha-Kohen. 2005. Above All Else: The Chofetz Chaim on Torah Study: Collected from His Writings, Volume 1. Feldheim Publishers. ISBN 9781583308004. p. 112
  6. ^ Awn, P. J. (1983). Satan's Tragedy and Redemption: Iblīs in Sufi Psychology. Niederlande: E.J. Brill. (p56)
  7. ^ Muhammad Husayn (1993). Toward a Better Understanding of Abū Al-ʻAlā'. p. 90. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  8. ^ Muhammad al-Munajjid (2005). "How can Iblees be punished with fire when he has been created from it?". Islamqa. Islamqa. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
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