📖 Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 4

בַּשֵּׁנִי בָּרָא הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אֶת הָרָקִיעַ וְהַמַּלְאָכִים וְאִשּׁוֹ שֶׁל בָּשָׂר וָדָם וְאִשּׁוֹ שֶׁל גֵּיהִנֹּם. וַהֲלֹא הַשָּׁמַיִם וְהָאָרֶץ נִבְרְאוּ בַּיּוֹם רִאשׁוֹן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית א, א): ״בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים אֵת הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֵת הָאָרֶץ״. וְאֵי זֶה רָקִיעַ בָּרָא בַּיּוֹם שֵׁנִי? רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר אוֹמֵר, רָקִיעַ שֶׁעַל רָאשֵׁי הַחַיּוֹת ד', שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (יחזקאל א, כב): ״וּדְמוּת עַל רָאשֵׁי הַחַיָּה רָקִיעַ כְּעֵין הַקֶּרַח הַנּוֹרָא״. וּמַה הוּא כְּעֵין הַקֶּרַח הַנּוֹרָא? כַּאֲבָנִים טוֹבוֹת וּמַרְגָּלִיּוֹת, וְהוּא מֵאִיר עַל כָּל הַשָּׁמַיִם כְּנֵר שֶׁהוּא בַּבַּיִת וְכַשֶּׁמֶשׁ שֶׁהוּא מֵאִיר בִּגְבוּרָתוֹ בַּצָּהֳרַיִם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דניאל ב, כב): ״וּנְהוֹרָא עִמֵּהּ שְׁרֵא״. וּכְמוֹתָן הַצַּדִּיקִים עֲתִידִין לְהָאִיר לֶעָתִיד לָבוֹא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דניאל יב, ג): ״וְהַמַּשְׂכִּלִים יַזְהִרוּ כְּזֹהַר הָרָקִיעַ״. וְאִלּוּלֵי הָרָקִיעַ הַהוּא הָיָה הָעוֹלָם נִבְלָע מִן הַמַּיִם שֶׁלְּמַעְלָה מִמֶּנּוּ וּלְמַטָּה מִמֶּנּוּ מַיִם וְהוּא מַבְדִּיל בֵּין מַיִם לְמַיִם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית א, ו): ״וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים יְהִי רָקִיעַ בְּתוֹךְ הַמָּיִם. וִיהִי מַבְדִּיל בֵּין מַיִם לָמָיִם״, בֵּין מַיִם הָעֶלְיוֹנִים לְמַיִם הַתַּחְתּוֹנִים.

THE CREATION ON THE SECOND DAY ON the second day the Holy One, blessed be He, created the firmament, the angels, fire for flesh and blood, and the fire of Gehinnom. Were not heaven and earth created on the first day, as it is said, "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth" (Gen. 1:1)? Which firmament was created on the second day? Rabbi Eliezer said: || It was the firmament which is above the heads of the four Chajjôth (living creatures), (as it is said), "And over the head of the Chajjôth there was the likeness of a firmament, like the colour of the terrible crystal" (Ezek. 1:22). What is the meaning of (the expression), "like the colour of the terrible crystal"? It means like precious stones and pearls; it illuminates all the heavens like a lamp which is illuminating the whole house and like the sun which is shining with maximum intensity at noonday, as it is said, "The light dwelleth with him" (Dan. 2:22); and like this in the future will the righteous shed light, as it is said, "And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament" (Dan. 12:3). Were it not for that firmament the world would be engulfed by the waters above it and below it; but (the firmament) divides the waters (above) from the waters (below), as it is said, "And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, (and let it divide the waters from the waters)" (Gen. 1:6), it illuminates between the waters above and the waters below.

וְהַמ��ּלְאָכִים שֶׁנִּבְרְאוּ בַּיּוֹם הַשֵּׁנִי, כְּשֶׁהֵן נִשְׁלָחִין בִּדְבָרוֹ נַעֲשִׂין רוּחוֹת, וּכְשֶׁהֵן מְשָׁרְתִים לְפָנָיו נַעֲשִׂין שֶׁל אֵשׁ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים קד, ד): ״עֹשֶׂה מַלְאָכָיו רוּחוֹת מְשָׁרְתָיו אֵשׁ לֹהֵט״.

(As for) the angels created on the second day, when they are sent (as messengers) by His word they are changed into winds, and when they minister before Him they are changed into fire, as it is said, "Who maketh his angels winds; his ministers a flaming fire" (Ps. 104:4).

אַרְבַּע כִּתּוֹת שֶׁל מַלְאֲכֵי הַשָּׁרֵת מְקַלְּסִין לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא. מַחֲנֶה רִאשׁוֹנָה שֶׁל מִיכָאֵל מִימִינוֹ. מַחֲנֶה שְׁנִיָּה שֶׁל גַּבְרִיאֵל עַל שְׂמֹאלוֹ. מַחֲנֶה שְׁלִישִׁית שֶׁל אוּרִיאֵל מִלְּפָנָיו. מַחֲנֶה רְבִיעִית שֶׁל רְפָאֵל מִלְּאַחֲרָיו. שְׁכִינָתוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בָּאֶמְצַע. וְהוּא יוֹשֵׁב עַל כִּסֵּא רָם וְנִשָּׂא גָּבוֹהַּ וְתָלוּי לְמַעְלָה בָּאֲוִיר. מַרְאוֹת כְּבוֹדוֹ כְּעֵין הַחַשְׁמַל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (יחזקאל א, כז): ״וָאֵרֶא כְּעֵין חַשְׁמַל״, וַעֲטָרָה נְתוּנָה בְּרֹאשׁוֹ וְכֶתֶר שֵׁם הַמְפֹרָשׁ עַל מִצְחוֹ, וְעֵינָיו מְשׁוֹטְטוֹת בְּכָל הָאָרֶץ חֶצְיָהּ אֵשׁ וְחֶצְיָהּ בָּרָד, מִימִינוֹ חַיִּים וּמִשְּׂמֹאלוֹ מָוֶת, וְשֵׁבֶט שֶׁל אֵשׁ בְּיָדוֹ, וּפָרֹכֶת פְּרוּשָׂה לְפָנָיו, וְשִׁבְעָה מַלְאָכִים שֶׁנִּבְרְאוּ מִתְּחִלָּה מְשָׁרְתִים לְפָנָיו לִפְנִים מִן הַפָּרֹכֶת וְהוּא הַנִּקְרָא פַּרְגּוֹד, וַהֲדוֹם רַגְלָיו כָּאֵשׁ וּבָרָד, וְתַחַת כִּסֵּא כְבוֹדוֹ כְּאֶבֶן סַפִּיר. וְאֵשׁ מִתְלַקַּחַת סְבִיבוֹת לְכִסְאוֹ. צֶדֶק וּמִשְׁפָּט מְכוֹן כִּסְאוֹ, שִׁבְעָה עַנְנֵי כָבוֹד סוֹבְבִים אוֹתוֹ, וְאוֹפַן הַגַּלְגַּל וּכְרוּב וְחַיָּה נוֹתְנִין לְפָנָיו שֶׁבַח. וּדְמוּת כִּסְאוֹ כְּעֵין סַפִּיר שֶׁל אַרְבַּע רַגְלַיִם. וְאַרְבַּע חַיּוֹת הַקֹּדֶשׁ קְבוּעִים עַל כָּל רֶגֶל וָרֶגֶל. אַרְבַּע פָּנִים לְאֶחָד וְאַרְבַּע כְּנָפַיִם לְאֶחָד מֵהֶם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״וְאַרְבַּע כְּנָפַיִם״, וְהֵם הֵן הַכְּרוּבִים.

Four classes of ministering angels minister and utter praise before the Holy One, blessed be He: the first camp (led by) Michael on His right, the second camp (led by) Gabriel on His left, the third camp || (led by) Uriel before Him, and the fourth camp (led by) Raphael behind Him; and the Shekhinah of the Holy One, blessed be He, is in the centre. He is sitting on a throne high and exalted. His throne is high and suspended above in the air. The appearance of His Glory is like the colour of amber. And the adornment of a crown is on His head, and the Ineffable Name is upon His forehead. One half (of His glory) is fire the other half is hail, at His right hand is life and at His left is death. He has a sceptre of fire in His hand and a veil is spread before Him, and His eyes run to and fro throughout the whole earth, and the seven angels, which were created first, minister before Him within the veil, and this (veil) is called Pargod. His footstool is like fire and hail. Fire is flashing continually around His throne, righteousness and judgment are the foundation of His throne. And the likeness of His throne is like a sapphire throne with four legs, and the four holy Chajjôth are fixed to each leg, each one has four faces and each one has four wings, as it is said, "And every one had four faces and four wings" (Ezek. 1:6), and these (Chajjôth) are the Cherubim.

וּכְשֶׁהוּא מְדַבֵּר פְּנֵי הַמִּזְרָח מְדַבֵּר מִבֵּין שְׁנֵי הַכְּרוּבִים פְּנֵי אָדָם. וּכְשֶׁהוּא מְדַבֵּר פְּנֵי הַדָּרוֹם מְדַבֵּר מִבֵּין שְׁנֵי הַכְּרוּבִים פְּנֵי אַרְיֵה. וּכְשֶׁהוּא מְדַבֵּר פְּנֵי הַמַּעֲרָב מְדַבֵּר מִבֵּין שְׁנֵי הַכְּרוּבִים פְּנֵי שׁוֹר. וּכְשֶׁהוּא מְדַבֵּר מִפְּנֵי הַצָּפוֹן מְדַבֵּר מִבֵּין שְׁנֵי הַכְּרוּבִים פְּנֵי נֶשֶׁר.

When He || speaks towards the west He speaks between the two Cherubim with the face of the ox, when He speaks towards the north He speaks between the two Cherubim with the face of an eagle.

וּלְעֻמָּתָם הָאוֹפַנִּים וְגַלְגַּלֵּי מֶרְכָּבָה. וּכְשֶׁהוּא יוֹשֵׁב עַל כִּסֵּא רָם וְנִשָּׂא, וּכְשֶׁהוּא מַשְׁקִיף עַל הָאָרֶץ מַרְכְּבוֹתָיו עַל הָאוֹפַנִּים וּמִקּוֹל זַעֲקַת גַּלְגַּלֵּי הַמֶּרְכָּבָה, בְּרָקִים וּרְעָמִים יוֹצְאִין לָעוֹלָם. כְּשֶׁהוּא בַּשָּׁמַיִם וְרוֹכֵב עַל עָב קַל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״וַיִּרְכַּב עַל״ וְכוּ', וּכְשֶׁהוּא מְמַהֵר דּוֹאֶה עַל כַּנְפֵי רוּחַ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהילים יח, יא): ״וַיִּרְכַּב עַל כְּרוּב וַיָּעֹף וַיֵּדֶא עַל כַּנְפֵי רוּחַ״.

Over against them are the Ophanim (Wheels) and the Whirling Wheels of the Chariot, and when He looketh upon the earth His chariots are upon the Ophanim, and owing to the noise caused by the whirling wheels of the Chariot—lightnings and thunder go forth into the world. When He dwells in heaven He rideth upon a swift cloud. When He hastens He flies upon the wings of the wind, as it is said, "And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly; yea, he flew swiftly upon the wings of the wind" (Ps. 18:10).

וְהַחַיּוֹת עוֹמְדוֹת אֵצֶל כִּסֵּא כְבוֹדוֹ וְאֵין יוֹדְעוֹת מְקוֹם כְּבוֹדוֹ. עוֹמְדוֹת בְּיִרְאָה וּבְאֵימָה בְּרֶתֶת וּבְזִיעַ וּמִזֵּעַת פְּנֵיהֶם נְהַר שֶׁל אֵשׁ מוֹשֵׁךְ וְיוֹצֵא לְפָנָיו, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דניאל ז, י): ״נְהַר דִּי נוּר נָגֵד וְנָפֵק מִן קֳדָמוֹהִי״. שְׁנַיִם שְׂרָפִים עוֹמְדִים – אֶחָד מִימִינוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא וְאֶחָד מִשְּׂמֹאלוֹ; שֵׁשׁ כְּנָפַיִם שֵׁשׁ כְּנָפַיִם לְכָל אֶחָד. וְאֶחָד בִּשְׁתַּיִם יְכַסֶּה פָנָיו שֶׁלֹּא יַבִּיטוּ פְּנֵי הַשְּׁכִינָה, וּשְׁנַיִם מְכַסִּים רַגְלֵיהֶם, שֶׁלֹּא יֵרָאוּ פְּנֵי הַשְּׁכִינָה, כְּדֵי לְשַׁכֵּחַ עֲמִידַת רֶגֶל עֵגֶל, וּבִשְׁתַּיִם מְעוֹפְפִים וּמַעֲרִיצִים וּמְקַדְּשִׁים אֶת שְׁמוֹ הַגָּדוֹל זֶה עוֹנֶה וְזֶה קוֹרֵא וְאוֹמְרִים (ישעיהו ו, ג): ״קָדוֹשׁ קָדוֹשׁ קָדוֹשׁ ה' צְבָאוֹת מְלֹא כָל הָאָרֶץ כְּבוֹדוֹ״.

The Chajjôth stand next to the throne of His glory and they do not know the place of His glory. The Chajjôth stand in awe and dread, in fear and trembling, and from the perspiration of their faces a river of fire arises and goes forth before Him, as it is said, "A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him…"(Dan. 7:10). And the wings of Gallizur the angel, who stands next to the Chajjôth, (are spread forth) so that the fire which consumes the fire of the angels should not burn (them). Two Seraphim stand, one on His right and one on His left, each one has six wings, with twain they cover their face so as not to behold the presence of the Shekhinah, with twain they cover their feet so that they should not be seen before the presence of the Shekhinah, || so that the standing of the foot of the calf might be forgotten. With twain do they fly, praising and reverencing, and they sanctify. One answers and another calls, one calls and another answers, and they say, "Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of Hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory" (Isa. 6:3).

וְהַחַיּוֹת עוֹמְדוֹת אֵצֶל כְּבוֹדוֹ וְאֵינָן יוֹדְעוֹת מְקוֹם כְּבוֹדוֹ, עוֹנוֹת וְאוֹמְרוֹת בְּכָל מָקוֹם שֶׁכְּבוֹדוֹ שָׁם: ״בָּרוּךְ כְּבוֹד ה' מִמְּקוֹמוֹ״. וְיִשְׂרָאֵל גּוֹי אֶחָד בָּאָרֶץ שֶׁהֵם מְיַחֲדִים שְׁמוֹ תָּמִיד, בְּכָל יוֹם עוֹנִים וְאוֹמְרִים (דברים ו, ד): ״שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל ה' אֱלֹהֵינוּ ה' אֶחָד״ וְהוּא מֵשִׁיב לְעַמּוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל: ״אֲנִי ה' אֱלֹהֵיכֶם הַמַּצִּיל אֶתְכֶם מִכָּל צָרָה״.

The Chajjôth stand at the side of the throne of His glory and they do not know the place of His glory; they respond and say in every place where His glory is, "Blessed be the glory of the Lord from his place" (Ezek. 3:12). Israel, a nation unique on the earth, declares daily the unity of His great Name, saying, "Hear, O Israel: the Lord is our God, the Lord is one" (Deut. 6:4). He answers His people Israel and says to them, I am the Lord your God who has delivered you from every trouble.