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Everyman’s Talmud: The Major Teachings of the Rabbinic Sages
Abraham Cohen

Number of quotes: 5


Book ID: 87 Page: 50

Section: 5D

Michael is even superior to Gabriel in rank (Ber. 4b) and wherever he appears the glory of the Shechinah is also bound to be found (Exod. R. II. 5). Each nation has its guardian angel, Michael being the guardian angel of Israel. He acts as the counsel for Israel’s defence when the wicked angel Samael brings charges against them before God (ibid. XVIII. 5).

Quote ID: 2325

Time Periods: ?


Book ID: 87 Page: 52

Section: 5D

An angel was designated as ‘prince’ over each of the elements. Gabriel was the prince of fire (Pes. 118a): Jurkemi, prince of hail (ibid.): Raidya, prince of rain (Taan. 25b); Rahab, prince of the sea (B.B. 74b); Lialah, prince of night (Sanh. 96a) and also of conception (Nid. 16b); Dumah, the angel of death (Ber. 18b). Other princes are mentioned without names being attached to them; e.g. prince of the world (Jeb. 16b) and prince of Gehinnom (Arach. 15b).

The ‘prince of the world’ was identified by later writers with the angel Metatron. The name is probably borrowed from the Latin Metator, which signifies ‘a precursor,’ and he was regarded as the angel who ‘went before’ the Israelites in the wilderness (Exod xxiii. 20). He must have been held at one time in very high reverence, since special mention is made of the fact that prayers must not be offered to him.

Quote ID: 2327

Time Periods: ?


Book ID: 87 Page: 53/54

Section: 5D

‘Two ministering angels accompany a man on the Sabbath-eve from the Synagogue to his house—one good and the other evil. …(ibid. 119b).

Pastor John notes: John’s note: Shab. 1196

Quote ID: 2328

Time Periods: ?


Book ID: 87 Page: 54

Section: 5D

‘The wicked angel Samael, the chief of all the Satans’ (Deut. R. XI. I0)—in this way is the army of the evil angels and their captain designated. ‘Satan’ is the personification of wickedness. A significant remark is: ‘Satan, the Jetzer Hara {3} and the Angel of Death are all one’ (B.B. 16a).

Quote ID: 2329

Time Periods: ?


Book ID: 87 Page: 55

Section: 5D

Therefore the advice was given: ‘If you see a righteous man setting out on a journey and you have to travel the same road, start out three days earlier or three days later than you originally intended on his account, so that you may be in his society; because the ministering angels accompany such a one; as it is said, “For He will give His angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy ways” (Ps. Xci. II). But if you see a wicked man setting out on a journey and you have to travel the same road, start out three days earlier or three days later than you originally intended on his account, so that you may not be in his society; because angels of Satan accompany him, as it is said, “Set thou a wicked man over him, and let an adversary (Heb. Satan) stand at his right hand” (ibid. cix. 6)’ (Tosifta Shab. XVII. 2).

Quote ID: 2330

Time Periods: ?



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