<p>This podcast gives a few examplesof how the Messenger Malach מַלְאַ֧ךְ in the Hebrew Bible represented or “was” the One  who Sent him</p><p> </p><p>See also, podcast #130 “Agency in the Bible: The Human Person Jesus “<em>was” </em>the Father”</p><p><a href="https://youtu.be/s8FqSysuUGY">https://youtu.be/s8FqSysuUGY</a></p><p> </p><p>Theprinciple or practice of the מַלְאַ֧ךְ <em>malach</em> messenger, the one sent.</p><p> </p><p>Understanding the Messenger principle is crucial to understanding how many “persons” God is. TheMessenger principle, both as a concept and a reality, means that a person’s messenger—theone sent—is regarded as the sender himself. </p><p> </p><p>The proverbialHebrew statement about the Messenger Principle is “השליח<strong> </strong>שווה<strong> </strong>לשולחו”the one sent (a messenger) is equal to his sender.” The equality of the onesent to his sender is neither an equality of essence nor of individual one-to-oneidentity. Everyone understood that the messenger was not literally the sameperson nor the same being as the sender. Rather, the messenger was given thesender&#39;s full authority to speak and act on his behalf. The messenger carried authorityfrom the sender and was therefore to be regarded as the sender himself.</p><p> </p><p>Old Testament scholar John Walton highlights aspects of messenger/agency in the <em>ZondervanIllustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary</em> when discussing the firstappearance of the angel (messenger) of Yahweh in Genesis 16 (to Hagar in thewilderness). Walton explains:</p><p><br>In the ancient world direct communication between important parties was ararity. Diplomatic and political exchange usually required the use of anintermediary, a function that our ambassadors exercise today. The messenger whoserved as the intermediary was a <em><strong>fully vested representative of the partyhe represented</strong></em>. He spoke for that party and with the authority of thatparty. He was <em><strong>accorded the same treatment as that party</strong></em> wouldenjoy <em><strong>were he there in person</strong></em>. While this was standard protocol,there was <strong>no confusion about the person’s identity</strong> (emphasis mine).<a href="#_ftn1">[1]</a></p><p> </p><p>Judges11:12</p><p>Jephthah<strong>sent</strong> <strong>messengers</strong> to the king of the sons of Ammon, <strong>saying</strong>,&quot;What is between you and <strong>me</strong>, that you have come to <strong>me</strong> tofight against <strong>my</strong> land?&quot;</p><p> </p><p>  <strong>וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח</strong> יִפְתָּח֙ <strong>מַלְאָכִ֔ים</strong> אֶל־מֶ֥לֶךְ בְּנֵֽי־עַמּ֖וֹן <strong>לֵאמֹ֑ר</strong>מַה־ל<strong>ִּ֣י</strong> וָלָ֔ךְ כִּֽי־בָ֥אתָ <strong>אֵלַ֖י</strong> לְהִלָּחֵ֥ם בְּאַרְ<strong>צִֽי</strong>׃</p><p> </p><p>2 Kings3:7  (King Jehoram son of Ahaz after Ahabdied and Moab revolted)</p><p>Then he(Jehoram) went and <strong>sent</strong> to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, saying, &quot;Theking of Moab has rebelled against <strong>me</strong>. Will you go with <strong>me</strong> tofight against Moab?&quot; And he said, &quot;I will go up; I <em>am </em>as <strong>you</strong><em>are</em>, my people as <strong>your</strong> people, my horses as <strong>your</strong>horses.&quot; </p><p>  וַיֵּ֡לֶךְ <strong>וַיִּשְׁלַח֩</strong>אֶל־יְהוֹשָׁפָ֙ט מֶֽלֶךְ־יְהוּדָ֜ה <strong>לֵאמֹ֗ר</strong> מֶ֤לֶךְ מוֹאָב֙ פָּשַׁ֣ע <strong>בִּ֔י</strong>הֲתֵלֵ֥ךְ <strong>אִתִּ֛י</strong> אֶל־מוֹאָ֖ב לַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֶעֱלֶ֔הכָּמ֧וֹנִי <strong>כָמ֛וֹךָ</strong> כְּעַמִּ֥י <strong>כְעַמֶּ֖ךָ</strong> כְּסוּסַ֥י <strong>כְּסוּסֶֽיךָ</strong>׃</p><p> </p><p>1 Samuel 16:19</p><p>Saul sent <strong>messengers</strong> to Jesse, and <strong>he</strong> said, &quot;Send to <strong>me</strong>your son David who is with the flock.&quot; </p><p> </p><p>  וַיִּשְׁלַ֥ח שָׁא֛וּל <strong>מַלְאָכִ֖ים</strong>אֶל־יִשָׁ֑י וַיֹּ֕אמֶר שִׁלְחָ֥ה <strong>אֵלַ֛י</strong> אֶת־דָּוִ֥ד בִּנְךָ֖ אֲשֶׁ֥רבַּצֹּֽאן׃</p><p> </p><p>Isa7:10</p><p>AndYHVH continued speaking to Ahaz, saying, </p><p>  וַיּ֣וֹסֶף יְהוָ֔ה דַּבֵּ֥ר אֶל־אָחָ֖זלֵאמֹֽר׃ </p><p> </p><p><br></p>