The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1893-11-17
The Angels Of The Bible.
NO. J.---GABRIEL.

Gabriel is the first angel mentioned
in the Scripture to whom a name is
o;ven. Dan. viii. I6. But il is TO be
observed that the name is not given
by Daniel he says 81 heard a mans
voice between the banks OF the Ulai,
which called and said, Gabriel make
this man to understand the vision"
In chapter tx, 2I, Gabriel is again
named and is spoken of as having up
on this occasion come upon wings /:
being caused to fly swiftly" We next
hear Of Gabriel by name, when in
Luke /, 10, he appears and announces
TO Zacharlas the birth of John the
Baptist, upon which occasion he as.
serts himself 81 am Gabriel that
stands in the presence of God > thus
designating his place as well as his
righ to speak. Six months afterward,
Grabriel was sent from God unto a
city Of Galilee, named Nazareth, to
announce the conception and birth of
the Messiah, Luke I, 90.
Gabriel is not otherwhere mention.
ed by name in Scripture, and nowhere is
called an Archangel, although in liter
ature frequently thus distinguished.
Considering the kind Of missions in
which he was employed, it is not i'm
probable that it was Gabriel who ap-
peared to Hannah as "the angel of
the Lord and announced the birth
of Samson. Judges xiii, 3.
Seeing that Gabriel was the angel OF
the Annunciation to the Virgin Moth
er, it seems entirely fitting that he
should be the angel of the Lord who
announced the birth of the Messiah to
the shepherds at Bethlehem, and was
the leader of the heavenly host which
appeared upon that event. Luke II,
q,) and who watched over the infant
Jesus in his journey to and from
Egypt, protecting Him from the periIs
of the way Matthew H. I3. Thus
he would seem to be fairly entitled to
his cognomen of "The Angel of the
Annunciatlon.
The Jews do not take kindly to the
angel Gabriel. No doubt, having
doubted the divinity of Jesus Christ,
the messenger who asserted that di
vinity as revelation from God would
be counted as their enemy.
The Persians call HIM ''the angel ol
the reve ations - and MohammeC
pretends that THE Koran was reveal
ed to him by Gabriel, and he make:
great account in that book of the as
sistance given him by Gabriel, and o
the several appearances to him of tina
angel
The Poets, such as write upor
themes such as touch uponthe powers
and duties of the heavenly host, have
frequent references to Gabriel, anc
give to him attributes and places no
accorded to him in the Scriptures
This by proper license of thos'
writer's, in as much as the sacre,
writings are silent upon those matters
What his place may be in the heavenl.
hierarchy, whether among the cheru
BIN or seraphim, the Archangels
princes or leaders, is neither revealed
or hinted at ; but he stands in tn
presence of God, is his chosen messen
ger, the revealer of his secrets; ant
certainly among the inhabters of tn
Earth, the angel who announces tn
Messiah, the Saviour, should be to u
the most loved and lovable, the near
est to us, the most human In his sym
pathies, although, perhaps, not tn
most distinguished and powerful in tn
Angelic host All his appearance
concern the Messiah, all his message
are of love and peace and happines
to the Human Race.
Milton calls him "Chief OF the Ar
gelic Guards" and second "in militar
prowess," to whom by lot was ''give
charge and strict watch, that to tn
happy place of Paradise, no evil thin
approach or enter in )" and celebrate
the battle
"Where the might or Gabriel fought
And with the fierce ensigns pierced the dee
OfMolcch, furious king, who him dened,
anu Ut HIS CilitliOt w oi"7,
Threatened" /. L. VI, ooo'
But we cannot readily think OF tn
messenger of God who brought 'peac
on earth, good will to men as a mil
tary leader OF great prowess.
Dante, in his "Divine Comedia
mentions Gabriel several times b
name and designation, always In COZ
nection with the incarnation or COZ
nate matters and makes him an after
dant upon the Virgin Mary, chlete
among the angelic host, her guard
honor.
Tasso, in his "Jerusalem Delivered
feigns him sent to Godfrey to urge
more vigorous prosecution of the wa
and describes his flight and approa'
to the earth on that mission.
"Gahriel he calls, the herald of his grace
And faithful messenger, VINO Oft repairs