“Beware of him and heed his voice; do not defy him, for he will not pardon your transgression, for My name is in him” (Exodus 23:21). “Beware of him” – the Holy One blessed be He said to Israel: Beware of the messenger, as he does not renege on My mission; he is the attribute of justice. “Do not defy him” – regarding the past it says: “You have been defiant with the Lord” (Deuteronomy 9:7), and I would accept it from you.
But now, “do not defy him, for he will not pardon your transgression.” Another matter: “Do not defy [tamer] him” – do not substitute him for Me and do not render Me his substitute [temurato]. Perhaps you will say: Since he is our guardian angel, it is him that we worship, and he will forgive our sins. No, “for he will not pardon your transgression,” unlike Me, as it is written in My regard: “Pardoning iniquity, and overlooking transgression” (Micah 7:18), but “he will not pardon your transgression.”
Moreover, you will cause My name to be removed from within him, as it is stated: “For My name is in him.” Another matter: “For My name is in him” – because ministering angels are sustained only from the aura of the Divine Presence, as it is stated: “You sustain [meḥayeh] them all, [and the host of the heavens prostrates itself to You]” (Nehemiah 9:6). What is that?11Why does the verse use the term meḥayeh, which is generally interpreted to mean “bring to life,” given that angels do not die such that they would need to be brought back to life? (Maharzu).
Rabbi Ḥagai said in the name of Rabbi Yitzḥak: You are the life force [miḥya] for them all. Moreover, he incurs liability by their means.12If the angel is worshipped, the worshippers will cause the angel himself to be punished (Maharzu). “For if you heed his voice and perform all that I will say” (Exodus 23:22) – it is not written here, “he will say,” but rather, “I will say.” If you accept it from him it will be as though you are accepting it from Me.
If you do so: “I will be an enemy to your enemies” (Exodus 23:22); that is, “behold, I am sending an angel” (Exodus 23:20).