Rabbi Ishmael ascends
Hugo Odeberg / Philip Alexander (composite, abridged) · Public domain / scholarly composite. Reproduced for educational and religious commentary.
1Rabbi Ishmael said: When I ascended to behold the vision of the chariot, I entered six palaces, one within the other. When I came to the door of the seventh palace, I made a prayer before the holy One, blessed be he, and I lifted up my eyes on high and said: Lord of the universe, I beseech thee, that the merit of Aaron, son of Amram, the lover of peace and pursuer of peace, who received the crown of priesthood from before thy glory at mount Sinai — may stand by me at this hour, that no harm come to me, and that I may not be cast out from before thee.
2Immediately the holy One, blessed be he, sent his servant Metatron — the Prince of the Presence — and Metatron set wings under me, and he caught me, and he led me into the seventh palace.
3Metatron said to me, Son of Joseph, fear not — be not affrighted. Come, and I will reveal to thee a secret. The holy One, blessed be he, has sent me unto thee, that I may show thee the Throne of Glory, and the chambers of the chariot, and the songs that the celestial servants sing.
4I saw seven seraphim at the right hand and seven at the left of the throne. Their wings covered the heavens. They cried out: Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory. The cry shook the foundations of the seventh palace. I trembled.
5Metatron held me up. He said, Be of good courage. Behold; do not be afraid.