er. 21, the angels are distinctly pointed out as His Messengers.

_Delitzsch_ asserts that in Heb. xiii. 2, the words, [Greek: elathon
tines xenisantes angelous], clearly indicate that "all three were
finite spirits made visible." This assertion, however, which was long
before made by the Socinian _Crellius_, has been sufficiently refuted
by _Ode de Angelis_, p. 1001. The author of the Epistle to the Hebrews
intends to connect the events which happened to Abraham and Lot
equally--[Greek: tines]; and for this reason he did not go beyond what
was common to them both. Moreover, the Angel of the Lord is likewise
comprehended in the appellation "_angels_," for the name has no
reference to the nature, but to the mission.

Footnote 1: The words in ver. 9, "And they said to him," are to be
understood only thus:--that one spoke at the same time in the name of
the others; in the question thus put, it is, in the first instance,
only the general relation of the guests to the hostess that comes into
consideration. That such is the case, appears from ver. 10, where the
use of the plural could not be continued, because a work was on hand
which was peculiar to the one among them, and in which the others were
not equally concerned. If the words in ver. 9 were spoken by all the
three, then the one in ver. 10 ought to have been singled out thus:
"And one from among them thus spoke." On account of the suffix in
[Hebrew: aHriv], "And the door was behind _him_," the [Hebrew: viamr]
in ver. 10 can be referred only to the one, and not to the Jehovah
concealed behind all the three. This shows how the preceding, "And they
said," is to be understood.

Footnote 2: _Delitzsch_ says: "As the two are really sent to destroy
Sodom and Gomorrah, it is evident that Jehovah, in ver. 24, who causes
brimstone and fire to rain from Jehovah out of heaven, is viewed as
being present in the two on earth, but in such a manner that,
nevertheless, His real judicial throne is in heaven."

* * * * *

Of no less importance and significance is the passage Gen. xxxi. 11
seq. According to ver. 11, the Angel of God, [Hebrew: mlaK halhiM]
appears toJacob in a dream. In ver. 13, the same person calls himself
the God of Bethel, with reference to the event recorded in chap.
xxviii. 11-22. It cannot be supposed that in chap xxviii. the mediation
of a common angel took place, who, however, had not been expressly
mentioned; for Jehovah is