the Week of Proper 28 / Ordinary 33
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Bible Dictionaries
Michael
Fausset's Bible Dictionary
or ("who is like unto God?")
1. Numbers 13:13.
2. 1 Chronicles 5:13.
3. 1 Chronicles 5:14.
4. 1 Chronicles 6:40.
5. 1 Chronicles 7:3.
6. 1 Chronicles 8:16.
7. 1 Chronicles 12:20.
8. 1 Chronicles 27:18.
9. 2 Chronicles 21:2-4.
10. Ezra 8:8. The ARCHANGEL (Daniel 10:13; Daniel 10:21; Daniel 12:1; 2 Peter 2:11; Revelation 12:7). On the meaning compare Exodus 15:11; Psalms 89:6-8. Contrast "who is like unto the beast?" (Revelation 13:4.) Some think that Michael is the Son of God. Certainly the Angel of Jehovah, or Jehovah the Second Person, in pleading for Joshua the high priest representing the Jewish church, uses the same rebuke to Satan as Michael does in Judges 1:9; Zechariah 3:1-5. Michael will usher in the coming resurrection by standing up for God's people, as their unique champion (Daniel 12:1-2; Daniel 10:21), "your prince."
"Michael when contending with the devil about the body of Moses (which Jehovah buried, but which was probably translated shortly afterward, for 'no man knoweth of his sepulchre'; hence, he appeared in a body, as did Elijah, at the transfiguration; Satan, the accuser of the brethren, probably opposed his translation on the ground of his sins, but Michael contended with him and prevailed) durst not (from reverence to Satan's former dignity, Daniel 10:8) bring against him a railing accusation, but said The Lord rebuke thee." This language suits an archangel rather than the divine Son. But the connection of Michael with the Son of God in name and some functions is intimate. The angel in Daniel 10:13 says that Michael (apparently distinct from the divine Son described Daniel 10:5-6; Revelation 1:13-15) as patron of Israel before God "helped" him, while "he was detained with the (angel of the) kings of Persia."
Gesenius translates notartiy "I gained the ascendancy," namely, against the adverse angel of Persia, so as to influence the Persian kings to permit the Jews' return to Jerusalem. Daniel 10:21, "none holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince," means that Michael alone, with the angelic speaker, had the office of protecting Israel, the world powers were all against Israel. In the captivity, during the withholding of God's regular manifestations to Israel, those visions of angels come precisely when most needed. When the world powers seemed to have overwhelmed the kingdom of God so utterly, Israel needed to have her faith in God's promises of restoration reinvigorated by a glimpse into the background of history in the world of spirits, and to see there the mighty angelic champions who are on her side under the Son of God (2 Kings 6:17).
These files are public domain.
Fausset, Andrew R. Entry for 'Michael'. Fausset's Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/fbd/m/michael.html. 1949.
