Help with Mishpatim XXIV

Hello all, I have been posting here and there in this subreddit and sat on finding a way to engage. Someone in this sub (I think) left an open invitation to ask questions, so thank you to that person.

I’ve had in my possession Targum Psuedo-Jonathan for the last five years and have read it alongside some of the Christian texts. I’ve generally enjoyed how it expands on the texts I was raised with… and have just gotten to a point where I want to discuss it with people and not just… thinking about it alone.

I am not here to defend or force Christianity at all. I have had no direct fallout with the faith, it’s just been a matter of path and choice, but I also don’t consider myself a Christian. I am here as a Gentile first and foremost and seek to better understand this faith and the texts.

From what I have found, Targum reading is not a restricted practise (Torah is restricted and I have never read or touched it). That is just from Google searches… so if this is an unwelcome activity, I would stop it immediately.

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Mishpatim XXIV:

*I added the “equivalent” verses, where it seems to be relavant.

(9) And Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up.

(10) And Nadab and Abihu lifted their eyes and saw the glory of the Shekhinah of the G-d of Israel; and under His feet they beheld, as it were, a work of precious stone, and as the splendor of the stars of heaven, clear as the light that proceeds from the Throne of Glory.

And thereof did Gabriel, descending, make brick, and, going up to the heavens on high, set it, a footstool under the cathedra (throne) of the Lord of the world, whose splendor was as the work of a precious stone, and as the power of the beauty of the heavens when they are clear from clouds.

Exodus 24:9-10 (NIV)

(9) Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel:

(10) And they saw the G-d of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness.

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So in Mishpatim and Exodus, “9” is identical in my translations.

“10” is where Targum adds much more depth. “Nadab and Abihu” are recuded to simply just they. They see the glory of Shekinah, whilst in Christian Testament it is left as “saw […] the G-d of Israel.

Precious stone is referenced in Christian Testament, it is defined as sapphire (why?) in Targum.

After “stone,” Targum seems to take on it’s own structure and adds quite a bit of context.

“[A]s the splendor of the stars of heaven, clear as the light that proceeds from the Throne of Glory” against “as it were the body of heaven in his clearness”:

Targum is more poetic and at the same time “better” defines “the body of heaven.” Christians reading just Christian Testament are left to wonder what “the body of heaven” even is. Targum states, it is splendid, clear, and comes from the Throne. No throne is mentioned in Exodus, must be assumed.

Then, the Gabriel section begins, which I touched upon above. This is entirely absent from Christian Testament and appears to show the actual work expected of Israelites (?) to achieve what the Christian Testament only refers to as “the body of heaven.”

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Things that stick out:

A) In Mishpatim XXIV, Gabriel (archangel) is mentioned directly. He is not mentioned so often or directly in Christian texts; I believe he is one of two that is named, and is named only two or three times.

Research shows he appears in Daniel 8:16, Luke 1:11-20, And Luke 1:26-38. I would consider the Luke 1 mentions to be in continuity.

Gabriel is known as the messenger. I have an interest because in my original tradition, Gabriel was assigned as “my” archangel.

How does Targum and Jewish faith view Gabriel and other archangels? I’m trying to understand why the Targums have many more references to angels than Christian Testament and (apparently) the Tanakh (I don’t read Tanakh, as I don’t think I am allowed to as a Gentile). For context I was baptised Catholic and then went to a Methodist university, if that helps understand my journey and context (more likely, lack thereof).

I asked GPT and it said that “rabbis view Heaven like a divine courtroom, with roles.” And thus, the rolebearers have a higher prominence. From my basic understanding of the differences and similarities between the texts, not a statement on the faiths or practise of them, this circles back to Jewish texts being scripturally and “legal” texts (from my original base starting point in the Christian faiths).

B) There is a big difference in tone. I would say the Christian Testament is simply telling a story, it is terse. Mishpatim is more cosmic, symbolic, and yet more detailed. It tells the stroy with more depth and wonder, with an explanation of how be aligned with itself.

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Questions:

A) In Mishpatim XXIV, Gabriel is seemingly defined as a builder/intermediary with literal brick building. Is this a typical portrayal of Gabriel in Jewish thought, or something that is in Targum? Tangentially, since he is only of two named angels in Christian Testament (and only has 2 or 3 mentions himself)… is this where his alignment (as a generalisation for how Christians view him) is rooted from (i.e., Jewish texts)?

B) What is the reason they (angels) are mentioned significantly more? I have my ideas, but suspect they could be off or lack nuance.

C) I’m trying to build on my view of Jewish texts and faiths being “more nuanced.” That seems to be a given. But why is this? It defines certain things more, yet also adds more mysticism (which seemingly opens the door to furhter interpretation, which would lead to more definition being required).

D) Why does Mishpatim make a reference to Shekhinah? GPT says this is to refer to the divine presence of G-d (spirit?). I think I am viewing this from a very Christian perspective (trinitarian), which I fully understand is NOT as much an aspect (if at all). I suspect my view of Shekhinah IS incorrect.

E) What is the meaning of the footstool? Why is the stone defined as a sapphire? Not a ruby? Diamond? Why is it even defined as one specific type?

F) What is the message of this reading? I will be direct and share that I felt this section stood out to me, while Jewish tradition approaches with more structure. So I am open to being guided to a reading style that is more in line with the text itself and of course the tradition.

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I would go deeper and wanted to discuss all of Mishpatim, but I think it would be too much to do in one post. Thanks for any guidance you may have. I apologise if some of my questions are basic or seem to question your faith. That is not my intention and I’m not attempting to “defend” or imbue the Christian texts. They’re just my starting point and a point of reference to me.

Thanks for yout time, Am Yisrael Chai.

Edit: I got auto-modded for use of bad term. I switched out to just Christian Testament. I don’t know how to fix this. I did other formatting edits, too.