Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary) Chacham HaRazim" (The Sage of Secrets): A Midrash regarding angels and gematria (Jewish numerology). According to Stein Schneider, this is the secret teachings of Raziel to Rabbi Eliezer of Worms, the author of "Rokeach". It begins with "Blessed is the Wise of Secrets", and it's also his "Sod Razia" (Raziel's Secret), whose foundation is the "Merkava" (Divine Chariot) and other secrets according to the Hebrew alphabet order. Up to the middle of the letter "nun", it was printed in the book "Raziel". It might also be called "Sod Raziel" due to another version, "Sod Razia gematria Elazar", which can be found in manuscripts in Offenbach and Minkhen, among others. The book "Chacham HaRazim" is mentioned in "Yalkut Shimoni" on the portion "Chayei Sarah". It says: Sometimes a man seeks a wife and she refuses because an angel persuades her to refuse. But here, "He will send His angel before you, and you will take a wife", meaning the angel will persuade them to say "take and go" and Rebecca will say "I will go", even if against their will. In the portion "Bo", it says: "For I have hardened his heart and the heart of his servants", meaning an angel was given to him and controlled him according to his thoughts. There it says, "I will strike every firstborn in the land of Egypt, etc. I and not an angel", because of the sorcerers and magicians who wanted to destroy the destroyer from their houses. Therefore, it was necessary to say "I and not an angel" as they cannot override my decrees. There it says: "And he called for Moses and Aaron at night", Pharaoh screamed "Get up! Leave!" and his voice was heard throughout Egypt because an angel entered his throat and screamed. In the portion "Yitro", it says: "Who makes His angels winds; His ministers a flaming fire" with gematria (numerology) equating to Moses. This is because the angels said, "What is man that you are mindful of him?" When Moses ascended to the heavens, God brought down the Throne of Glory, and Moses held onto the Throne of Glory, as it is written, "And on Earth, he showed you his great fire". In the portion "Terumah", it says When God said to Israel, "Make Me a sanctuary, and I will dwell among them," all the chief angels gathered and said, "Master of the Universe, why do You wish to dwell below in a place of impurity? It is better for You to dwell with us, for we are pure and in a pure place. Do not dwell among them." God replied, "I have a man below who is equivalent to all of you. You sing before me with 248 wings, as it is written, 'Praise, O heavens, for He has done it; shout, O depths of the earth.' 'Praise, O heavens' refers to the angels, and 'shout, O depths of the earth' refers to Israel who sing below." Moreover, they sing before you, as it's written, "When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy." And furthermore, he is more esteemed to me than you, for your strength is only "Ranu" (248), while his name is "Aharon" (which is complete). "Ronu" is for Jacob's joy, as written, "And he saw and rejoiced in his heart." Jacob's visage is engraved on the Throne, and Jacob said, "I am the God of Bethel" which has the gematria (numerology) of "Kise" (Throne). Thus, Jacob receives the letter "He" when the prayer ascends above. In the portion "Beshalach", it's written: "Who is like You among the gods, O Lord?" This means, "Who is like You, even Michael, the great prince?" In the tractate "Menachot", it is taught: Those who stand in the House of the Lord at night, meaning the altar is built, and Michael, the great prince, stands and offers a sacrifice upon it. Tosafot comments: There are differing Midrashim; some say the souls of the righteous, others say lambs of fire. This is referred to in the Amidah prayer, "And the offerings of Israel." See the Tur on Orach Chaim. I saw in "Chacham HaRazim" that before the Temple was destroyed, Michael, as the high priest, offered sacrifices in the form of Israel's offerings before the Holy One, blessed be He. After the destruction, God said to him: "Do not offer me the form of an ox, sheep, or goat, for I will not bring [them] into the Heavenly Temple until I build for My name a temple below," but rather the souls of the righteous and the infants who have not sinned, and they ascend as a pleasing aroma. (Rav Pe'alim 128).