Heikhalot Rabbati Reader

And in the entrance of the sixth palace Dumiel the Prince guardeth the sill of the right [side] of the entrance of the sixth palace, sitting on a chair [wrought] of a pure gem which [hath] in it the splendour of the luminaries of the firmament such as [they were at] the creation of the world. (Fortunate Day. Best of luck. Show the sign. Peace. The Lord God of Israel) And Dumiel the Prince receiveth him kindly and seateth him upon a chair wrought of a pure gem, and himself sitteth beside him at his right.

And Dumiel would say to him: “I bear witness and warn thee concerning two things: That none of those who descend to the Merkabha succeed to descend except only he who hath these two qualifications: He who hath read the Bible and studieth mishna, midrash, halakhoth and agadoth, and the explanation of halakhoth as to what is forbidden and permitted; and he who hath fulfilled all that which is written in the law and keepeth all warnings of statutes and of judgments and of laws which were declared to Moses on Sinai.”

If he said to Dumiel the Prince, “I have one of these two qualifications,” Dumiel the Prince would at once get in connection with Gabhriel the Secretary and write his the paper with red paint and would hang the paper upon the chariot of that same man, saying: “Thus and so is the knowledge of such a one in the Torah, thus and so are his actions, and he desireth to enter in before the throne of His glory.”

And when the door-keepers of the seventh palace would see that Dumiel and Kazpiel and Gabhriel, were before the chariot of that man who deservingly descendeth to the Merkabha, they [would] cover their faces, which had been angry, and they [would] at once unstring the strung bows, and return the drawn swords to their sheaths. And nevertheless it is necessary to show them a great seal and a fearful crown: God of heaven, Master of earth the Lord God of Israel.

And they would enter in before the throne of His glory and bring out before that man all sorts of [instruments for] music and song, and they would come making music before him until they bring him up and seat him beside the cherubim, beside the ophanim, beside the holy beasts. And he beholdeth wonders and powers, loftiness and greatness, holiness and purity, fear, humility and justice.

Then said Rabbi Ishmael: “All the companions made a parable of this scheme [for those who descend to the Merkhaba: It is like] unto a man who hath a ladder in his house, [and] who was going up and down on it, and there is no creature that preventeth him.” Blessed be thou, O Lord, who art wise in secrets and master of hidden things. Amen. Amen....

Said Rabbi Ishmael: Rabban Simon ben Gamliel was angry with me. He said to me, “Almost had Zahaphtariai rebuked us and shucked {us} as husks of corn. Why didst thou, by criminal carelessness, sin against us? Dost thou, perhaps, think that Jonathan ben Uzziel is a man of small account in Israel? If he simply descended and came and stood at the entrance of the seventh palace [without any seal, what would happen to him? He could not blink an eye before the door-keepers of the seventh palace had utterly exterminated him. And yet you have said nothing about the necessary seals nor the names of the angels to whom they must be shown.]

Said Rabbi Ishmael: I went and was angry with Rabbi Nehunya ben Hakkanah my master, saying, “The patriarch is angry with me, why do I live?” He said to me, “Scion of nobles, if [you ask for an answer] on this point [then tell me,] what is my distinction among you? I put in your mouths the prophets, the writings, mishna and midrash, halakhoth and agadoth, and the explanation of halakhoth as to what is forbidden and permitted. Were it not for the mysteries of the law [in which] I have initiated some of you, would ye have come and appeared before me at all? I know why thou hast come. Thou hast only come because of the door-keepers of the seventh palace.

Go and say to the Patriarch: ‘As for all the door-keepers of the [first] six palaces, it is permitted to mention the names of each one of them and to touch them; but as for the door-keepers of the seventh palace, by the sound of their names is a man terrified and is not able to touch them, inasmuch as the name of them is called according to the name of the King of the world. Consequently I have not stated them.

But now – since you say to me, “State them.” – come ye and stand upon your feet and, each one of you, when His name goeth forth from my mouth, kneel and fall upon your face.’” Forthwith came all the great ones of the company and all the mighty ones of the academy and stood upon their feet before Rabbi Nehunya ben Hakkanah and he speaketh and they fall upon their faces and the scribes write.

These be the names of the door-keepers of the seventh palace: Zahaphtari’ai the Lord, a prince honored and beloved; ’Abhirahi’ai the Lord, a prince honored and beloved and fearful; ’Atrighael the Lord, a prince honored and beloved and fearful and terrifying; Barnael the Lord, a prince honored and beloved and fearful and terrifying and dear; Noraphneel the Lord, a prince honored and beloved and fearful and terrifying and dear and splendid; Na‘aroriel the Lord, a prince honored and beloved and fearful and terrifying and dear and splendid and strong; Sastitiel the Lord, a prince honored and beloved and fearful and terrifying and dear and splendid and strong and mighty; ‘Anaphiel the Lord, a prince honored and beloved and fearful and terrifying and dear and splendid and strong and mighty and powerful and just and gallant, a prince whose name is mentioned on high before the throne of His glory three times each day from the day when the world was created and until now, for praise. Why? Because the ring of the seal of heaven and earth is given over to his hand.

And whenever they see him all those on high kneel and fall down and prostrate themselves before him, a thing which is not done in the height [before any other prince]. If you say, ‘They do not fall down before the Prince of the Presence’ [This is true] for those who stand before the throne of His glory, who do not prostrate themselves before the Prince of the Presence, but before ‘Anaphiel the Prince [even] so with the permission and according to the will of ’ntrws rbyhg. Some say pwmyl smh brz’, the Lord God of Israel.

These be the names of the door-keepers of the seventh palace of the descent, for those whose names I have just stated were of the ascent. Noraphiel the Lord, a prince honored and beloved and fearful, who was called ’Abhirzahi’ai the Lord; Dalkokiel the Lord, a prince honored and beloved and fearful, who was called Lebhakhpiel the Lord; Yekariel the Lord, a prince honored and beloved and fearful, who was called ’Atrighiel the Lord; Yeshishiel the Lord, a prince honored and beloved and fearful, who was called Ben’an’ael the Lord; Teraphiel the Lord, who was called Shakdihiel the Lord; Na‘aroriel the Lord, a prince honored and beloved, who was called Zohaliel the Lord; ‘Anaphiel the Lord, a prince honored and beloved and fearful and terrifying and dear and splendid and strong and mighty and powerful and just and gallant, who was called Tophriel the Lord.

And why was his name called ‘Anaphiel? Because of the ramification ‘anaph of the crowns [which were] placed upon his head, for he overcast and covered all of the chambers of the seventh heaven as did the Maker of Creation. Just as, concerning the Maker of Creation it is written [Hab. 3.3]: “His glory covered the heavens,” so also [does the glory (of)] ‘Anaphiel the Prince as a servant who is called by his master’s name. And why is he more lovely and beloved than all the [other] door-keepers of the palaces? Because he openeth the doors of the entrance of the seventh palace and closeth them before the throne of glory which is set high and standeth opposite the entrance of the seventh palace.

Still greater it is that there be 512 eyes in [each of] the four beasts opposite the entrance of the seventh palace. Their faces are of the likeness of the face of a man, faces of 16 faces each are there in each beast opposite the entrance of the seventh palace.

And whenever a man desired to descend to the Merkabha, ‘Anaphiel would open for him the doors of the entrance of the seventh palace and that man would go in and stand on the door-sill of the entrance of the seventh palace and the holy beasts would lift up upon him 512 eyes and each one of the eyes of the holy beasts is pierced as a sieve of withes, and the appearance of their eyes [is described in Nahum 2:4]: “they run like lightnings.” And these are in addition to the eyes of the cherubim of the Power [of God] and the ophanim of the Shekinah, which are like torches of fire and conflagrations of coals of juniper.

And that man would sway and tremble and start backward and be frightened and be terrified, faint and fall backward. And ‘Anaphiel the Prince would support him, he and sixty and three door-keepers of the entrances of the seven palaces. And all of them would help him and say to him: “Fear not, son of a seed beloved, enter and see the King in His beauty, end thou shalt not be destroyed and thou shalt not be burned.

“A just King is He, a faithful King is He, a submissive King is He, a humble King is He, a righteous King is He, a pious King is He, a holy King is He, a pure King is He, a blessed King is He, a lofty King is He, a mighty King is He, a gracious King is He, a merciful King is He, a lowly King [is He] – blessed be He.”

And they attribute to Him power. Forthwith a horn soundeth from above the firmament and cherubim and ophanim turn away their faces and he goeth in and standeth before the throne of His glory.

When he standeth before the throne of glory he beginneth and reciteth a song which the throne of glory singeth each day: “Laud, song, and music, blessing, praise and celebration and applause and thanks and thanksgivings, victory and melody, speech and rejubilation, rejoicing and joy and gladness, exultations, accord, humility, brilliance, propriety, truth, righteousness and justice, treasure, ornament and might, delight and ecstasy and elevation, calm and rest and consolation, contentment and quiet and peace, tranquility, security and prosperity, love, loveliness, grace and mercy and pulchritude, renown, acclaim and pity, splendor, glory, innocence, effulgence, appearance, adornment, brilliance, fire, ramification, sublimity, wonders and salvation, perfume, salt, light, loftiness, help, violence, potency, height, preciousness, mightiness, lordship, fortitude, elevation, exaltation and brightness, kingliness, power and force, holiness, purity and cleanliness, pride, greatness and kingship, magnificence and majesty, honour, and beauty to Zoharariel the Lord God of Israel.” Spendid King, He robed with splendour, Made majestic with embroideries of song, Crowned with magnificence and majesty, A crown of loftiness and a diadem of fearfulness. For His name is agreeable to Him, and His title is sweet to Him, And His throne is splendid to Him and His palace is magnificent And His glory is delightful to Him, and His majesty is becoming to Him, And His strength is pleasant to Him and His servants sing pleasantly to Him, And Israel tell to Him the kingliness of His wonders. King of Kings, God of Gods, and Lord of Lords, He surrounded with chains of crowns, encompassed with the ramifications of the rulers of brilliance, He who covereth the heavens with the ramification of His magnificence, and who, in His majesty, appeared from the heights, from His beauty the deeps were enkindled, and from His stature did the clouds shower rain. His stature sendeth out the lofty, and His crown blazeth out the mighty, and His garment floweth with the precious. And all trees shall rejoice in His word, and herbs shall exult in His rejoicing.

King beloved and lovely and clean, exalted beyond all the haughty, haughty, clothed in majesty beyond the majestic, majestic, lifted up beyond the mighty, mighty, upraised beyond the powerful. Splendor of kings, praise of nobles, treasure of the holy, humility of the lowly, pleasant in the mouth of all those that call upon Him, sweet to them that hope in His name, righteous in all His ways, upright in all His doings, just in counsel and in knowledge, clear in understanding and in practice, judge of every soul, witness of every transaction, judge of every word, mighty in wisdom and in every secret, lofty in purity and in holiness.

King true and only, King who liveth forever, King who killeth and maketh alive, King who sayeth and doeth, King who formeth every disease, and createth every cure, King who maketh every blessing, and establish every good, King who feedeth all his works, and supporteth all his creatures, King who is high to each of the lowly, and who is strong to each of good courage. King high and lifted up, sublime and wonderful, beloved and old, upright and faithful, precious and honored, strong and stout-hearted, righteous and true, holy and pure, pious, great and mighty, strong, powerful, precious, fearful and terrific, high-placed upon perfections of loftiness, established upon the adornments of splendour in the chambers of the palace of loftiness.

Who seest profundities, beholdest mysteries, observest dark matters, and who, in every place is... and there is no changing His purpose, nor retorting to His word, nor delaying His will and there is no place to flee from Him, and no secret place to hide from before Him.

Reign forever, King merciful and gracious, Pardoner and forgiver, who rolleth away and taketh away [sin], let Thy majesty be declared in every song, Thy splendor in every chant. Be high above the palaces of loftiness, be lifted up above the adornments of splendor, be exalted above all Thy doings, be praised above all created things, be honored above the throne of Thy glory, be precious above the vessel of Thy loveliness, be blessed with all blessings, be praised with all praises, be lauded with all laud, be applauded with all songs, be magnified forever, be holy world without end, Totrosi’ai the Lord.

Who is like unto Thee, Totrosi’ai Lord God of Israel, who doest mightily? To Thee Totrosi’ai Lord God of Israel, shall the throne of Thy glory sing praise, to Thee shall be attributed loftiness and greatness, strength and beauty, Thou shalt be called strong, Thou, mighty; for Thee shall they make new [song] for Thee exult. With Thee shall converse be held, Thou shalt be blessed, Thou praised, Thou exalted.

To Thee shall splendor be attributed, Thou shalt be lifted up, Thou magnified, Thou called majestic. Thou shalt be praised, Thou applauded, Thou sanctified, for Thee, Totrosi’ai Lord God of Israel, shall Thy servants weave diadems and shall sing unto Thee a new song and shall declare The King forever and ever. All things are Thy kingdom, and over all things is Thy kingdom, and Thou shalt be called One, world without end, Totrosi’ai, Lord God of Israel. Blessed be Thou O Lord, King of all secrets and Lord of all hidden things.

And I beheld something like unto the appearance of lightning which was fixed and stationary and was divided, among those who descend to the Merkabha, between those who were fit to descend to the Merkabha and those who were not fit to descend to the Merkabha. If a man were fit to descend to the Merkabha, when they say to him “Enter” and he doth not enter, they repeat themselves and say to him “Enter,” and he at once entereth. They would then praise him, saying, “Surely this is on of those who descend to the Merkabha.” But if a man be not fit to descend to the Merkabha, when they say to him “Enter” and he entereth, they at once place upon him a thousand pieces of iron,

because the door-keepers of the sixth palace place upon him a thousand thousands of waves of water, and there is not in that place even a single drop. And if he said, “What is the nature of this water?” they at once run after him, stoning him, and saying to him, “Wretch, are thou not of the seed of them that kissed the [golden] calf, and art unfit to see the King and His throne in his beauty.” And if he be such, a voice goeth forth from the seventh heaven saying, “well have ye said [that] he is from the seed of them that kissed the [golden] calf and is not fit to see the King and His throne.” He does not move from the spot before they place on him a thousand thousands of pieces of iron.

Thou workest wonders, dost bring to pass new things, renewest Thy creatures each day, servants [created] from fire to lift up praise of Thy mystery, O Sacred One. Who shinest in the midst of myriads of fire, who loathest hatred and jealousy, who despiseth enmity and contention, who settest anger afar, who turnest away wrath, who multipliest all grace and goodness, the cherubim of Thy glory are fire. [O Thou] who art exalted upon cherubim of fire, Prince over princes, seraphim, seraphim of flame do stand about Thy throne, hither and other sound forth: “Make way for Him who rideth the heavens.”

Blessing, praise and laud, song, thanks and thanksgivings, splendor and whispering, applause, humility and mercy to the lofty, to the powerful, to the brave, to the elect, to the chosen, to the choosing, to the mighty, to the haughty, to the high. In their mouths music, on their tongues exultation, they slumber not, neither night nor day, But music and laud are as blazing light.

Thou art the great Lord the mighty and fearful, the righteous and pious, the holy and the faithful, slow to anger and plenteous in mercy and truth. It is Thou who art Lord, O God of Gods and Lord of Lords, It is Thou who art Great, Thee do all the great magnify, It is Thou who art Mighty, Thee do all the mighty declare strong, It is Thou who art Fearful, Thee do all the singers celebrate, It is Thou who art Righteous, Thee do all the righteous justify, It is Thou who art Pious, Thee do all the pious expect, It is Thou who art Holy, Thee do all the holy hallow, It is Thou who art Faithful, Thee do all the faithful believe.

It is Thou who hast revealed thy secret to Moses and who hast not concealed from him any of Thy mighty works. When the words goeth not forth from Thy mouth all the lofty mountains trembled and stood before Thee in great consternation; when the word goeth forth from Thy mouth they were all of them burned with flames of fire. It is Thou who examinest the inward parts and choosest the faithful. Thou dwellest in the flame of rivers of fire and conflagrations. It is Thou who art mighty, more lofty than all the lofty and lifted up above all, who dost cast down the haughty and exaltest the humble.

The most lofty of creation is man. The likeness of a man hast Thou fixed in Thy throne: they have the face of a man, and the hands of a man are under their wings, they run as a man, they toil as a man, they kneel down and prostrate themselves in song as a man doth, and the fear of Thee, O King, is upon them.

The most lofty of cattle is the ox. The likeness of an ox hast Thou fixed in Thy throne: they run as an ox, they toil as an ox, they stand in the places as an ox, and the fear of Thee, O Holy One, is upon them.

The most lofty of wild beasts is the lion. The likeness of a lion hast Thou fixed in Thy throne: they roar as a lion, they are feared as a lion, the thew of their strength is as that of a lion, and the fear of Thee, O terrible One, is upon them.

The most lofty of birds is the eagle. The likeness of an eagle hast Thou fixed in Thy throne: they move as an eagle, they are swift as an eagle, they fly as an eagle, they soar as an eagle, and the fear of Thee, O Pure One, is upon them. And all of them do triply declare Thy sanctitude with the triple sanctus. (As it is said, “Holy, holy, holy.”)

Honour and faith are His who liveth forever; understanding and blessing are His who liveth forever; greatness and might are His who liveth forever; knowledge and utterance are His who liveth forever; magnificence and majesty are His who liveth forever; assembly and trustworthiness are His who liveth forever; brilliance and effulgence are His who liveth forever; grace and mercy are His who liveth forever; purity and goodness are His who liveth forever; preciousness and salvation are His who liveth forever; crown and glory are His who liveth forever; doctrine and encouragement are His who liveth forever; kingdom and power are His who liveth forever; beauty and victory are His who liveth forever; secret and intelligence are His who liveth forever; strength and humility are His who liveth forever; jubilation and righteousness are His who liveth forever; applause and holiness are His who liveth forever; splendour and wonder are His who liveth forever; song and praise are His who liveth forever; laud and loveliness are His who liveth forever.

Who is able to state one from a thousand thousands of thousands and a myriad myriads of myriads of Thy mighty deeds, O King of Kings of Kings, before whom the beasts are stationed and stand [speaking] with a still small voice – they are fire, their palate is fire, their movement is fire, their speech is fire, yet are they afraid because of fire, lest they be burned in flames of fire; it is Thou whom they encompass, it is Thou whom they surround; with Thee are they hidden, in Thy bosom do they give utterance, in secret and intelligence, girded with strength, clothed with magnificence.

The eye may not travel to where Thou dwellest, King great and holy, ruler over the highest and over the lowest, over the first and over the last. There is none among the highest, nor among the lowest, nor among the first, nor among the last, who can know Thy works and search out all Thy wonders. Just as none is able to imagine ab, bc, cd, de, ef, fg, gh, hi, ij. Metatron whose name is called according to eight names, his name is Margawiel, his name is Gayothiel, his name is Ziwathiel, his name is ’Izihiel, his name is Yahawiel, his name is Mayoel, his name is Segansagiel, his name is Segansayriyah.

And from the love with which they love him on high, they call him in the camps of the holy ones, Metatron, Servant of the Lord, slow to anger and plenteous in mercy. Blessed be thou O Lord, wise in secrets and Lord of hidden things, Amen, Amen, Selah, Selah.

Said Rabbi Ishmael: Rabbi Akiba did indeed say in the name of Rabbi Eliezer the Great: From the day when the Law was given to Israel until the last temple was built, the Law was given, its majesty was not given, and its preciousness, its glory and its greatness and its beauty, its terror, its reverence and its fear, its richness and its loftiness and its exaltation, its trembling and its splendour, its strength, its rule and its might were not given, until the last temple was built and the Shekinah did not dwell in it.

Thereupon Israel began to pour forth complaint before their Father who is in heaven, saying: “Thou hast laid many troublesome tasks upon us. Which shall we hold to and which shall we abandon? Thou hast thrown upon us great labour and great burden; Thou hast said to us, ‘Build Me a house, and although ye build, yet study the Law.’” This is the plea of His children.

And this is the answer of their Father who is in heaven. Ye had a long rest between captivities, and I longed [saying], ‘When shall I hear the sound of the words of My Law from your mouths?’ Ye have not done well, and I have not done well. Ye have not done well in that ye have differed from Me, and I was angry against you and arose and brought utter destruction on My city and My house and My children. And I did not do well in that I arose against you and sealed a decree of judgment against you. Indeed, shall that which endureth forever and ever, world without end, contend with that which hath no endurance but for a year, or two, or ten, or thirty, and if at most for an hundred years, and then passeth away? But in that ye have rebuked Me, ye did well. Already have I accepted your rebuke.

“For the sigh of Israel is sweet to Me, and the desire for the Law hath covered Me, your words have found grace in My ears, and I accept the sayings of your mouths. Ye have labored in the house of My choice, and the Law shall not move from your mouths, for I am master of wonders, the transcendent Lord, I am He. Mighty works come to pass before Me, miracles and marvels before My throne. Who hath come before Me and I have not fulfilled his [prayer]? Who hath called upon Me and I have not straightway answered him? State before Me all your requests, and multiply upon Me the desire of your hearts.

My storehouses and My treasuries, – nothing in them is lacking. State your requests and they shall be given you, and the desire of your hearts shall be done forthwith, for there is no season like to this season, and no time like to this time. There is no season like to this season, for My soul bowed down till I beheld you, and there is no time like to this time, for the love of you cling to My heart.

I know what ye request, and My heart perceiveth what ye desire. Ye request much [knowledge of] Law, and a multitude of Talmud and many halakhic traditions; ye hope to ask questions on points of law, and ye covet a multitude of secrets. To multiply testimony in mountains upon mountains, to make wisdom wonderful in hills upon hills, to increase knowledge of the Talmud in the streets, and subtleties in the roads, to multiply laws as the sand of the sea, and rabbis as the dust of the world,

To seat academies in the gates of the tents, to expound therein what is prohibited and what is permitted, therein to declare the impure impure, and therein to declare the pure pure, therein to declare the fit fit, and therein to declare the unfit unfit, therein to recognize the [sorts] of blood, and to teach the menstruants what they should do, to bind diadems upon your heads, and crowns of royalty upon the heads of your children, to force kings to prostrate themselves before you, to compel princes to fall down in your presence, to send forth your name beneath all the heavens, and your memory in the great ports, to illumine your faces as the brilliance of the day,and the space between your eyes as a blazing star.

And if ye be worthy [to employ] this seal, and to make use of the fearful crown, neither vulgar nor ignorant shall be found in you, nor fool nor idiot shall be of your number.

Ye rejoice, and My servants are grieved, that this secret goeth forth from My treasury. By virtue of it the voice of your academies [soundeth] as [the voice of] fattened calves. Not with toil and not with weariness [do they learn], but with the name of this seal and with the mention of the fearful crown. He that marveleth at you, and he that grieveth grieveth because of you; many die in their sighing, and their souls go forth by reason of the repute of your glory,

Wealth and riches increase upon you; the great of the world cleave unto you; that family from which ye marry a daughter is known on all sides to be noble, he that is blessed in you is truly blessed, he that rejoiceth in you rejoiceth truly. Ye are called, ‘Those who turn many to righteousness’; they call ye, ‘Those who prove men innocent.’ The determinations of the months proceed from your [council], and the intercalculation of years from the subtlety of your wisdom.

By your hands are patriarchs anointed, and presidents of the sanhedrin take office according to your words; ye set up exilarchs, and the judges of cities are appointed by your authority. The order of society shall go forth from you, and none shall differ therefrom. A great war was waged with Me and My servants, as accuser appeared the greatest of the ministering angels. This is his plea:

‘Let not this secret go forth from Thy storehouse, and mystery of prudence from Thy treasuries; let not flesh and blood as our equals, suppose not the children of men our substitute. Let them grow weary in the study of the Law as much as they wish, and let those who come from their descendants, and after, fulfill it with labor and great anguish. This is thy glory, this is thy beauty. In the midst of their rejoicing they bethink themselves and pray to Thee, they cry out before Thee whole-heartedly, they beseech Thee with desirous soul: “May that which we have read remain in our possession, may that which we have studied remain in our possession, may our inward parts grasp all that which our ears have heard, may our hearts hold firmly the ways of the teaching which we have heard from the mouth of the teacher.” And let them continue to honour one another. But if Thou revealest this secret to Thy children, “the small will be as the great and the fool as the wise.”’”

Nay, My servitors, nay, My servants, trouble Me not in this matter. This secret shall go forth from My storehouse, and mystery of prudence from My treasuries. To a beloved people I reveal, to a faithful seed I teach; for them it is laid up from the fountainhead of the world, and from the days of creation prepared for them. And I never thought to give it to any of the generations, from the days of Moses and until now.

For they shall go from evil to evil, and Me shall they not know, for their understanding was obscured by exile, and the words of the Law were hard as brass and iron. It is proper for them to make use of it, to bring the Law as water in their inward parts and as oil in their bones. For Israel was in affliction from the day when Mine anger waxed hot against them, and I smote them, and because of them mountains trembled, and their carcasses were as refuse in the midst of the street.

With what shall I appease them? With what shall I comfort them? Or what good form of treasure is there on high that I should bring it forth and give it them and cause them to rejoice? For I have beheld and seen: I have gold, [but] there is gold in the world; I have silver, [but] there is silver in the world; I have precious stones and pearls, [but] there are precious stones and pearls in the world. Wheat and barley, honey and oil, I have already placed in the world. But what is lacking the world? This secret and this mystery which is not in the world. Therefore I shall give them this means of loftiness, that thereby My children shall raise themselves up.”

Said Rabbi Akiba: I heard a voice going forth from under the throne of glory, saying. And what was it saying? “I strengthened him, I took him, I commanded him (i.e. Enoch ben Jared whose name is Metatron), and I took him from among the children of men, and I made a throne for him over against my throne.” And what is the measure of that throne?

Forty thousand myriads of parasangs of fire. And I gave over to him seventy angels, as against seventy peoples, and I gave into his hand all my servants in the world above and all my servants in the world below, and I explained to him all the categories of creation, and I set, as his name, The Lesser Lord [which is the numerical equivalent of ‘My Lord; and he is lesser than The Lord]. (For his name, reckoning by the numerical equivalents of the letters, is 71.)

And I gave him wisdom and understanding more than all the angels and made him greater than any of the ministering angels.

Rabbi Akiva said: Every day, an angel stands in the middle of the firmament and begins and says, "The Lord is the King," and the whole celestial retinue answers after it; until it reaches, 'Barchu' (the prayer leader's invitation to the congregation to bless God). Once it reaches, "Barchu," there is a chaya (a lofty angel), whose name is Israel - with "My people is Mine" imprinted on its forehead - who stands in the middle of the firmament and and says, "Bless (Barchu) the Lord who is blessed!"

And all of the ministers on high answer after it, "Blessed is the Lord who is blessed forever and ever!" Before it finishes its words, the ofanim (another group of angels) shout and shake, and shake up the whole world, saying, "Blessed is the glory of the Lord from His place!" And that chaya stands in the middle of the firmament until all of the ministers on high and the officers; and the divisions and all of the hosts shake. And each one says in its place to the chaya, "Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One" (Deuteronomy 6:4).

Said Rabbi Ishmael: Thus said Rabbi Akiba in the name of Rabbi Eliezer the Great: Our fathers did not undertake to put one stone upon another in the Temple until they compelled the King of the world and all his servants and He met with them and showed them the secret of the Law, how they should do it and how they should explain it and how they should practice it. At once the Holy Spirit appeared from the great entrance which is in the House of the Lord – since the Shekinah did not dwell in the Holy of Holies because of the decree. And when our fathers saw that the throne of glory made its way and stood between the cella and the altar – for although up to that time they had not built the building,