The Chariots of God and the Beautiful Angels at Sinai

Another interpretation: "The chariots of God are twice ten thousand, thousands upon thousands" (Psalms 68:18). Rabbi Eleazar ben Pedat said: What is "thousands upon thousands" (alfei shin'an)? The most beautiful and the most praiseworthy among them. Even so, the Lord is distinguished among them. The Congregation of Israel said, "My beloved is dazzling and ruddy" (Song of Songs 5:10). A king of flesh and blood goes out to the field; how many are as beautiful as he, how many as mighty as he? But the Holy One, blessed be He, is not so. When He came to Sinai, He took with Him the most beautiful and most praiseworthy of the ministering angels. Rabbi Judah son of Rabbi Simon said: What is written? "He shone forth from Mount Paran, and He came from the myriads of holiness" (Deuteronomy 33:2)—and He is a sign within the myriads of holiness; there is none like Him, and who is comparable to Him? Rabbi Eleazar ben Pedat said: In a place where there are many multitudes there is crowding, but at Sinai, when the Holy One, blessed be He, came, there came down with Him thousands of thousands and myriads of myriads, "thousands upon thousands"—even so, there was room for them. Rabbi Eleazar ben Azariah and Rabbi Eleazar of Modi'in spoke. One said: And could the mountain hold them? Rather, the Holy One, blessed be He, said to it: Widen yourself, lengthen yourself, and receive the children of your Master. And one said: When the Holy One, blessed be He, returns to Jerusalem, He restores the exiles into it, as it is said, "Behold, these shall come from afar" (Isaiah 49:12). And can it hold them? Rather, the Holy One, blessed be He, said to it, "Enlarge the place of your tent" (Isaiah 54:2). "The Lord is among them" (Psalms 68:18). Resh Lakish said: There is a tablet upon the heart of each and every angel, and the name of the Holy One, blessed be He, is joined with the name of each and every angel: Michael, Raphael—"the Lord is in them" (Psalms 68:18).