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The Hidden and Manifest God: Some Major Themes in Early Jewish Mysticism » (New Edition)

Book cover image of The Hidden and Manifest God: Some Major Themes in Early Jewish Mysticism by Peter Schafer

Authors: Peter Schafer, Aubrey Pomerance (Translator), Aubrey Pomerance
ISBN-13: 9780791410448, ISBN-10: 0791410447
Format: Paperback
Publisher: State University of New York Press
Date Published: October 1992
Edition: New Edition

Author Biography: Peter Schafer

Book Synopsis

Interpretation of pre-kabbalistic Jewish mysticism, also called the Hekhalot or Merkavah mysticism. The author describes the theology and anthropology of the Hekhalot literature, and describes how the mystical heroes moved between the two poles of the heavenly journey in a deeply magical world view that was a radical transformation of the world of normative rabbinic Judaism.

Booknews

Examines and interprets pre-kabbalistic Jewish mysticism as religion rather than as literature, as most modern studies do. For the Hekhalot or Merkavah schools, considers the conceptions of God, the angels, and man; and the framework of the Judaic world view in late antiquity and the early Middle Ages. Paper edition (unseen), $12.95. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

	Preface
1	Introduction	1
2	Hekhalot Rabbati	11
	God	11
	God as King upon His Throne	11
	The Appearance of God	15
	Angels	21
	The Bearers of the Throne	21
	The hayyot ha-qodesh	22
	The Heavenly Praise	24
	Individual Angels	28
	Man	37
	The yored merkavah	37
	Israel	45
	The Adjuration	49
3	Hekhalot Zutarti	55
	God	56
	The Power of the Divine Name	56
	Can one see God?	57
	Shiur Qomah	60
	God as King	60
	Angels	62
	The hayyot ha-qodesh	62
	The hayyot and the Throne	64
	Guardians and Examiners; Individual Angels	65
	Man	66
	The Ascent of Moses and Aqiva	67
	The Danger of the Divine Name	69
	The Book of Merkavah Mysticism	72
	Ascent and Adjuration	73
4	Maaseh Merkavah	77
	God and His Name	77
	Angels	81
	The Heavenly Praise	81
	Gatekeepers	83
	Angels of Revelation	84
	Man	86
	The Prayer as Means to the Ascent	86
	The Protagonists of the Heavenly Journey	88
	The Prayer as Means of the Adjuration	89
5	Merkavah Rabbah	97
	God	97
	God and His Name	97
	Shiur Qomah	99
	Angels	103
	The Heavenly Praise	103
	Sandalphon and Metatron	104
	Angels of Revelation	106
	Man	107
	The Mystery of the Divine Name	107
	Who Uses the Mystery?	108
	The Magical Use of the Name	109
	Mastering the Torah	114
	The Adjuration	115
	The Ascent of Aqiva	117
6	3 Enoch	123
	God	123
	The Shekhinah on the Throne	123
	Transcendence of God?	126
	The Appearance of God	127
	The Names of God	127
	Angels	129
	The Angelic Hierarchy	129
	The Heavenly Praise	130
	Metatron	132
	Man	135
	The Heavenly Journey of the yored merkavah	135
	Eschatology and Anthropology	136
7	Results	139
	Man between God and the Angels	139
	God	139
	Angels	141
	Man	142
	The Hidden and Manifest God	148
	Transcendence and Immanence	148
	Ecstatic Heavenly Journey and Magical-Theurgic Adjuration	150
	Esoteric and Exoteric	157
	Conclusion	161
	Bibliography	167
	Index of Literature	175
	Index of Authors	185
	Index of Subjects	187