"And I saw the living creatures, and behold one wheel upon the earth beside the living creatures" (Ezekiel 1:15). Rabbi Elazar said: This is one angel who stands upon the earth, and his head reaches up beside the living creatures. It was taught in a baraita: His name is Sandalphon, who is taller than his fellow by a journey of five hundred years. And he stands behind the chariot and binds crowns for his Maker. Is that so? But is it not written: "Blessed be the glory of the LORD from His place" (Ezekiel 3:12), from which it follows that no one knows His place? Rather, he pronounces a name over the crown, and it goes and rests upon His head.
The Angel Sandalphon
Hagigah 13a
״וָאֵרֶא הַחַיּוֹת וְהִנֵּה אוֹפַן אֶחָד בָּאָרֶץ אֵצֶל הַחַיּוֹת״, אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר: מַלְאָךְ אֶחָד שֶׁהוּא עוֹמֵד בָּאָרֶץ, וְרֹאשׁוֹ מַגִּיעַ אֵצֶל הַחַיּוֹת. בְּמַתְנִיתָא תָּנָא: סַנְדַּלְפוֹן שְׁמוֹ, הַגָּבוֹהַּ מֵחֲבֵרוֹ מַהֲלַךְ חֲמֵשׁ מֵאוֹת שָׁנָה. וְעוֹמֵד אֲחוֹרֵי הַמֶּרְכָּבָה וְקוֹשֵׁר כְּתָרִים לְקוֹנוֹ. אִינִי? וְהָכְתִיב: ״בָּרוּךְ כְּבוֹד ה׳ מִמְּקוֹמוֹ״, מִכְּלָל דִּמְקוֹמוֹ לֵיכָּא דְּיָדַע לֵיהּ! דְּאָמַר שֵׁם אַתָּגָא וְאָזֵל וְיָתֵיב בְּרֵישֵׁיהּ.
Themes
Original Sources
- B. Hagigah 13a
- Pesikta Rabbati 20:4
- Midrash TehiUim 19:7
- Hekhalot Rabbati 11
- Sefer ha-Zikhronot 52:6.