“Angels Ascending and Descending”

[TISHUVAH]

And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven; and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.
(Gen 28:12 JPS)
Question 1: Why were the angels ascending and descending the ladder?
Question 2: What were they ascending and descending the ladder to do?
Wife asked the young at heart in her class this and they wondered also, but one spoke up because they thought a teacher should know. Guess we are not so all knowing.

[Spitfire]

Tishuvah,
Would the angels not be going up and down the ladder to enter the earth realm and return to the heavenly realm? I believe I read somewhere that YHWH lives in the 3rd heavenly realm. So wouldn't the ladder be a link between the two realms? And I would then believe that the angels were descending to guide, guard and teach people into the ways of YHWH. Then they ascend to return to YHWH in the 3rd heavens. Perhaps that's simplistic, but it makes sense to me.....Please feel free to (gently) instruct me if I'm incorrect. Shalom, Spitfire

[Wife Of Chuza]

we are NOT all-knowing:

(Job 38:18 KJV) "Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if thou knowest it all."

(Deuteronomy 29:29 KJV) "The secret things belong unto the LORD our God:
but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever,
that we may do all the words of this law."

(Psalms 131:1 KJV) "A Song of degrees of David. LORD, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty:
neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me."

[Wife Of Chuza]

Pondering question 1:

Could it be that the angels were ascending/descending the ladder to show to Jacob that he was in an extra-special, very unique place ?

(Genesis 28:16 KJV) "And Jacob awaked out of his sleep,
and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not."

My pastor pointed out that where Jacob was just so happened to be the center of civilization in Jesus' day.
He was saying that maybe God chose Canaan BECAUSE it would be the center of the Trade Routes, and that God, by touching down there, would reach the most people - and His Word would spread the best :

http://www.topicalbiblestudies.net/104-iwdgdttdini.html

[Spitfire]

Good point Wife of Chuza....I now remember hearing our Rabbi say something about that idea also....I'd forgotten it until you pointed that out. Thanks for reminding me. Shalom,Spitfire

[TISHUVAH]

Todah Spitfire and Wife of Chuza both for your inputs to this topic on the minds of boith young and old at heart. Blessings and a happy Sukkot next week.