Aggada -- Translations into English; Bible. Old Testament -- Legends; Jewish legends; Midrash -- Translations into English
This angel towers above his fellows by so great height, that it would
take five hundred years to cross over it. He stands behind the Divine
Throne and binds garlands for his Lord. Sandalfon does not know the
abiding spot of the Lord either, so that he might set the crown on His
head, but he charms the crown, so that it rises of its own accord until
it reposes on the head of the Lord. As soon as Sandalfon bids the crown
rise, the hosts on high tremble and shake, the holy animals burst into
paeans, the holy Seraphim roar like lions and say: "Holy, holy, holy is
the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory." When the
crown has reached the Throne of Glory, the wheels of the Throne are
instantly set in motion, the foundations of its footstool tremble, and
all the heavens are seized with trembling and horror. As soon as the
crown now passes the Throne of Glory, to settle upon its place, all the
heavenly hosts open their mouths, saying: "Praised be the glory of the
Eternal from His place." And when the crown has reached its
destination, all the holy animals, the Seraphim, the wheels of the
Throne, and the hosts on high, the Cherubim and the Hashmalim speak
with one accord: "The Eternal is King, the Eternal was King, the
Eternal will be King in all eternity."
Now when Moses beheld Sandalfon, he was frightened, and in his alarm
came near to falling out of the cloud. In tears he imploringly begged
God for mercy, and was answered. In His bountiful love of Israel, He
Himself descended from the Throne of His glory and stood before Moses,
until he had passed the flames of Sandalfon.
After Moses had passed Sandalfon, he ran across Rigyon, the stream of
fire, the coals of which burn the angels, who dip into them every
morning, are burned, and then arise anew. This stream with the coals of
fire is generated beneath the Throne of Glory out of the perspiration
of the holy Hayyot, who perspire fire out of fear of God. God, however,
quickly drew Moses past Rigyon without his suffering any injury.
As he passed on he met the angel Gallizur, also called Raziel. He it is
who reveals the teachings to his Maker, and makes known in the world
what is decreed by God. For he stands behind the curtains that are
drawn before the Throne of God, and sees and hears everything. Elijah
on Horeb hears that which Raziel calls down into the world, and passes
his knowledge on. This angel performs other functions in heaven. He
stands before the Throne with outspread wings, and in this way arrests
the breath of the Hayyot, the heat of which would otherwise scorch all
the angels. He furthermore puts the coals of Rigyon into a glowing
brazier, which he holds up to kings, lords, and princes, and from which
their faces receive a radiance that makes men fear them. When Moses
beheld him, he trembled, but God led him past unhurt.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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