The Entrance Of The Sixth Heavenly Palace

Our Rabbis taught: There was an incident concerning Rabban Yohanan ben Zakkai, who was riding on a donkey and was traveling along the road, and Rabbi Elazar ben Arakh was driving the donkey behind him. He said to him: Rabbi, teach me one chapter in the Account of the Chariot. He said to him: Did I not teach you thus: Nor the Chariot may be expounded by an individual unless he was a sage who understood of his own knowledge? He said to him: Rabbi, permit me to say before you one thing that you taught me. He said to him: Speak. Immediately Rabban Yohanan ben Zakkai descended from the donkey, wrapped himself, and sat upon the stone beneath the olive tree. He said to him: Rabbi, why did you descend from the donkey? He said: Is it possible that you should expound the Account of the Chariot, with the Divine Presence among us and the ministering angels accompanying us, while I ride upon a donkey?! Immediately Rabbi Elazar ben Arakh began to expound the Account of the Chariot and expounded, and fire came down from heaven and surrounded all the trees in the field, and they all opened and uttered song. Our Rabbis taught: Four entered the orchard, and these are they: Ben Azzai, and Ben Zoma, Aher, and Rabbi Akiva. Rabbi Akiva said to them: When you reach the stones of pure marble, do not say "Water, water," because it is said: "He who speaks falsehoods shall not be established before My eyes" (Psalm 101:7). Ben Azzai gazed and died. Of him Scripture says: "Precious in the eyes of the LORD is the death of His pious ones" (Psalm 116:15). Ben Zoma gazed and was stricken. And of him Scripture says: "If you have found honey, eat what is enough for you, lest you become full of it and vomit it up" (Proverbs 25:16). Aher cut down the saplings. Rabbi Akiva departed in peace.