is the number of the bridges there. (4) And there are 24 my- riads of wheels of fire. And the ministering angels are 12,000 myriads. And there are 12,000 rivers of hail, and 12,000 treasuries of snow. And in the seven Halls are chariots of fire and flames, without reckoning, or end or searching. (Lmr. ends here.) of a Sanctuary. The seventh Hall is called ‘the Holy of Holies. The entry (B), then, is the entry of the innermost part of the sanctuary. The conception of ‘bridges’ . in heaven is attested in Hek. R. They are the bridges that are placed over the fiery rivers (cf.ib.). (2) three ministering angels. Guardian angels who inspire dread and fear, cf. Rev. Moses, YR. ii. 66 b (“I saw the angels of dread who surround the Throne’). thousand times thousand etc. Derived from Dan. vii. 10. (3, 4) rivers of fire, rivers of hail. Cf.ch.xlii.1,7. wheels (galgallim) of fire. The wheels of fire are possibly conceived of as angelic beings. Cf. (5) What doeth YHWH, the God of Israel, the King of Glory? The Great and Fearful God, mighty in strength, doth cover his face. (6) In ‘Araboth are 660,000 myriads of angels of glory standing over against the Throne of Glory and the divisions of flaming fire. And the King of Glory doth cover His face; for else the ‘Araboth Raqia' would be rent asunder in its midst because of the majesty, splendour, beauty, radiance, loveliness, brilliancy, brightness and excellency of the appearance of (the Holy One,) blessed be He. (7) There are numerous ministering angels performing his will, numerous kings, numerous princes in the ‘Araboth of his delight, angels who are revered among the rulers in heaven, distinguished, adorned with song and bringing love to remembrance: (who) are affrighted by the splendour of the Shekina, and their eyes are dazzled by the shining beauty of their King, their faces grow black and their strength doth fail. (8) There go forth rivers of joy, streams of gladness, rivers of rejoicing, streams of triumph, rivers of love, streams of friendship—(another reading :) of commotion—and they flow over and go forth before the Throne of Glory and wax great and go through the gates of the paths of ‘Araboth Raqia‘ at the voice of the shouting and musick of the CHAYYOTH, at the voice of the rejoicing of the timbrels of his 'OPHANNIM and at the melody of the cymbals of His Kerubim. And they wax great and go forth with commotion with the sound of the hymn: “HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, IS THE LORD OF HOSTS; THE WHOLE EARTH IS FULL OF HIS GLORY |" bridges. for all the creatures that are standing in the midst thereof.... The ‘creatures’ probably refer to human beings, perhaps the souls or spirits who are ascending towards their abode near the Throne of Glory, i.e. after death. It is improbable that the Yoréde Merkaba are meant here. The angels are placed so as to form an entry, through the midst of which the souls proceed. (6) the king of Glory doth cover His face.... This part of the verse recurs literally identical in Hek. L(mr) om. 2 Lmr adds: ‘and there are the rivers of dread’ ‘3 Lmr: ‘snow’ 4 Lmr: ‘orders’ 5 Lo: ‘heat’ Lmr: ‘consolation’ 6 Lmr ins. the gloss: ‘(why) clouds of con- solation? Because they console the Glory (the Most High)’ 7-7 Lo om. T'hetr height is 1000 thousand and 10,000 times 10,000 units of measure after the measure of the Seraphim and the Troops (Gédudim).|