by Dr. Elaine Goodfriend
Various factors may have contributed to the importance of the number 7. For example, Mesopotamian astronomers knew of seven heavenly bodies: Sun, Moon, Saturn, Venus, Jupiter, Mars, and Mercury. Because of the deification of astral bodies, 7 became identified with holiness and perfection. Francine Klagsbrun writes, “As a symbol of the heavens, the number seven came to stand for wholeness and harmony, even perfection.”
In addition, the appeal of 7 as a significant number may relate to its unique status among the digits from 1–10. Seven is a prime number. According to the standards of Babylonian mathematics, 7 is also the first “non-regular” number, because it is not divisible by 2, 3, or 5. In addition, 7 is unallied with any other number. The numbers 2, 4, 6, and 8—and indeed all even numbers—are “brothers,” as are 3, 6, and 9. The number 7, however, stands alone and can receive a distinctive meaning by virtue of its irregularity.
Although the numbers 1, 2, and 3 occur more frequently, the number 7 is the most important symbolic number in the Hebrew Bible. In many contexts, it conveys not just the number 7, but the idea of wholeness and perfection. As a result of the identification of the Israelite God with perfection, the number 7 has also come to represent holiness.
Wood carving 1475; pointing to 7 celestial bodies consisted 5 planets that can be seen with naked eye, the sun and the moon, each floating in a heaven layer, (Arabic Felaq in ancient cosmology) (from Wikipedia)
אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה: שְׁנֵי רְקִיעִים הֵן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״הֵן לַה׳ אֱלֹהֶיךָ הַשָּׁמַיִם וּשְׁמֵי הַשָּׁמָיִם״. רֵישׁ לָקִישׁ אָמַר: שִׁבְעָה, וְאֵלּוּ הֵן: וִילוֹן, רָקִיעַ, שְׁחָקִים, זְבוּל, מָעוֹן, מָכוֹן, עֲרָבוֹת. וִילוֹן — אֵינוֹ מְשַׁמֵּשׁ כְּלוּם, אֶלָּא נִכְנָס שַׁחֲרִית וְיוֹצֵא עַרְבִית, וּמְחַדֵּשׁ בְּכׇל יוֹם מַעֲשֵׂה בְרֵאשִׁית, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״הַנּוֹטֶה כַדּוֹק שָׁמַיִם וַיִּמְתָּחֵם כָּאֹהֶל לָשָׁבֶת״. רָקִיעַ — שֶׁבּוֹ חַמָּה וּלְבָנָה כּוֹכָבִים וּמַזָּלוֹת קְבוּעִין, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיִּתֵּן אוֹתָם אֱלֹהִים בִּרְקִיעַ הַשָּׁמָיִם״. שְׁחָקִים — שֶׁבּוֹ רֵחַיִים עוֹמְדוֹת וְטוֹחֲנוֹת מָן לַצַּדִּיקִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיְצַו שְׁחָקִים מִמָּעַל וְדַלְתֵי שָׁמַיִם פָּתָח. וַיַּמְטֵר עֲלֵיהֶם מָן לֶאֱכוֹל וְגוֹ׳״. זְבוּל — שֶׁבּוֹ יְרוּשָׁלַיִם וּבֵית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ, וּמִזְבֵּחַ בָּנוּי, וּמִיכָאֵל הַשַּׂר הַגָּדוֹל עוֹמֵד וּמַקְרִיב עָלָיו קׇרְבָּן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״בָּנֹה בָנִיתִי בֵּית זְבוּל לָךְ מָכוֹן לְשִׁבְתְּךָ עוֹלָמִים״. וּמְנָלַן דְּאִיקְּרִי שָׁמַיִם, דִּכְתִיב: ״הַבֵּט מִשָּׁמַיִם וּרְאֵה מִזְּבוּל קׇדְשְׁךָ וְתִפְאַרְתֶּךָ״. מָעוֹן — שֶׁבּוֹ כִּיתּוֹת שֶׁל מַלְאֲכֵי הַשָּׁרֵת, שֶׁאוֹמְרוֹת שִׁירָה בַּלַּיְלָה וְחָשׁוֹת בַּיּוֹם, מִפְּנֵי כְבוֹדָן שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״יוֹמָם יְצַוֶּה ה׳ חַסְדּוֹ וּבַלַּיְלָה שִׁירֹה עִמִּי״. אָמַר רֵישׁ לָקִישׁ: כׇּל הָעוֹסֵק בְּתוֹרָה בַּלַּיְלָה — הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מוֹשֵׁךְ עָלָיו חוּט שֶׁל חֶסֶד בַּיּוֹם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״יוֹמָם יְצַוֶּה ה׳ חַסְדּוֹ״. וּמָה טַעַם ״יוֹמָם יְצַוֶּה ה׳ חַסְדּוֹ״ — מִשּׁוּם ״וּבַלַּיְלָה שִׁירֹה עִמִּי״. וְאִיכָּא דְּאָמְרִי, אָמַר רֵישׁ לָקִישׁ: כׇּל הָעוֹסֵק בַּתּוֹרָה בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה שֶׁהוּא דּוֹמֶה לְלַיְלָה, הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מוֹשֵׁךְ עָלָיו חוּט שֶׁל חֶסֶד לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא שֶׁהוּא דּוֹמֶה לְיוֹם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״יוֹמָם יְצַוֶּה ה׳ חַסְדּוֹ וּבַלַּיְלָה שִׁירֹה עִמִּי״. אָמַר רַבִּי לֵוִי כׇּל הַפּוֹסֵק מִדִּבְרֵי תוֹרָה וְעוֹסֵק בְּדִבְרֵי שִׂיחָה — מַאֲכִילִין אוֹתוֹ גַּחֲלֵי רְתָמִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״הַקּוֹטְפִים מַלּוּחַ עֲלֵי שִׂיחַ וְשֹׁרֶשׁ רְתָמִים לַחְמָם״. וּמְנָלַן דְּאִיקְּרִי שָׁמַיִם — שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״הַשְׁקִיפָה מִמְּעוֹן קׇדְשְׁךָ מִן הַשָּׁמַיִם״. מְכוֹן — שֶׁבּוֹ אוֹצְרוֹת שָׁלֶג וְאוֹצְרוֹת בָּרָד, וַעֲלִיַּית טְלָלִים רָעִים, וַעֲלִיַּית אֲגָלִים, וְחַדְרָהּ שֶׁל סוּפָה [וּסְעָרָה], וּמְעָרָה שֶׁל קִיטוֹר. וְדַלְתוֹתֵיהֶן אֵשׁ — שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״יִפְתַּח ה׳ לְךָ אֶת אוֹצָרוֹ הַטּוֹב״. הָנֵי בִּרְקִיעָא אִיתַנְהוּ? הָנֵי בְּאַרְעָא אִיתַנְהוּ! דִּכְתִיב: ״הַלְלוּ אֶת ה׳ מִן הָאָרֶץ תַּנִּינִים וְכׇל תְּהוֹמוֹת אֵשׁ וּבָרָד שֶׁלֶג וְקִיטוֹר רוּחַ סְעָרָה עוֹשָׂה דְבָרוֹ״! אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה אָמַר רַב: דָּוִד בִּיקֵּשׁ עֲלֵיהֶם רַחֲמִים, וְהוֹרִידָן לָאָרֶץ. אָמַר לְפָנָיו: רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, ״לֹא אֵל חָפֵץ רֶשַׁע אָתָּה לֹא יְגוּרְךָ (בִּמְגוּרְךָ) רָע״. צַדִּיק אַתָּה ה׳, לֹא יָגוּר בִּמְגוּרְךָ רָע. וּמְנָלַן דְּאִיקְּרִי ״שָׁמַיִם״ — דִּכְתִיב: ״וְאַתָּה תִּשְׁמַע הַשָּׁמַיִם מְכוֹן שִׁבְתֶּךָ״. עֲרָבוֹת — שֶׁבּוֹ צֶדֶק מִשְׁפָּט וּצְדָקָה, גִּנְזֵי חַיִּים וְגִנְזֵי שָׁלוֹם וְגִנְזֵי בְרָכָה, וְנִשְׁמָתָן שֶׁל צַדִּיקִים, וְרוּחוֹת וּנְשָׁמוֹת שֶׁעֲתִיד[וֹת] לְהִיבָּרְאוֹת, וְטַל שֶׁעָתִיד הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְהַחֲיוֹת בּוֹ מֵתִים. צֶדֶק וּמִשְׁפָּט — דִּכְתִיב: ״צֶדֶק וּמִשְׁפָּט מְכוֹן כִּסְאֶךָ״. צְדָקָה — דִּכְתִיב: ״וַיִּלְבַּשׁ צְדָקָה כַּשִּׁרְיָן״. גִּנְזֵי חַיִּים — דִּכְתִיב: ״כִּי עִמְּךָ מְקוֹר חַיִּים״. וְגִנְזֵי שָׁלוֹם — דִּכְתִיב: ״וַיִּקְרָא לוֹ ה׳ שָׁלוֹם״. וְגִנְזֵי בְרָכָה — דִּכְתִיב: ״יִשָּׂא בְרָכָה מֵאֵת ה׳״. נִשְׁמָתָן שֶׁל צַדִּיקִים — דִּכְתִיב: ״וְהָיְתָה נֶפֶשׁ אֲדוֹנִי צְרוּרָה בִּצְרוֹר הַחַיִּים אֵת ה׳ אֱלֹהֶיךָ״. רוּחוֹת וּנְשָׁמוֹת שֶׁעֲתִיד[וֹת] לְהִיבָּרְאוֹת — דִּכְתִיב: ״כִּי רוּחַ מִלְּפָנַי יַעֲטוֹף וּנְשָׁמוֹת אֲנִי עָשִׂיתִי״. וְטַל שֶׁעָתִיד הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְהַחְיוֹת בּוֹ מֵתִים — דִּכְתִיב: ״גֶּשֶׁם נְדָבוֹת תָּנִיף אֱלֹהִים נַחֲלָתְךָ וְנִלְאָה אַתָּה כוֹנַנְתָּהּ״. שָׁם אוֹפַנִּים וּשְׂרָפִים וְחַיּוֹת הַקֹּדֶשׁ, וּמַלְאֲכֵי הַשָּׁרֵת, וְכִסֵּא הַכָּבוֹד, מֶלֶךְ אֵל חַי רָם וְנִשָּׂא שׁוֹכֵן עֲלֵיהֶם בָּעֲרָבוֹת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״סוֹלּוּ לָרוֹכֵב בָּעֲרָבוֹת בְּיָהּ שְׁמוֹ״, וּמְנָלַן דְּאִיקְּרִי ״שָׁמַיִם״? אָתְיָא ״רְכִיבָה״ ״רְכִיבָה״, כְּתִיב הָכָא: ״סוֹלּוּ לָרוֹכֵב בָּעֲרָבוֹת״ וּכְתִיב הָתָם: ״רוֹכֵב שָׁמַיִם בְּעֶזְרֶךָ״. וְחֹשֶׁךְ וְעָנָן וַעֲרָפֶל מַקִּיפִין אוֹתוֹ — שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״יָשֶׁת חֹשֶׁךְ סִתְרוֹ סְבִיבוֹתָיו סוּכָּתוֹ חֶשְׁכַת מַיִם עָבֵי שְׁחָקִים״. וּמִי אִיכָּא חֲשׁוֹכָא קַמֵּי שְׁמַיָּא? וְהָכְתִיב: ״הוּא גָּלֵא עַמִּיקָתָא וּמְסַתְּרָתָא יָדַע מָה בַחֲשׁוֹכָא וּנְהוֹרָא עִמֵּהּ שְׁרֵא״! לָא קַשְׁיָא: הָא בְּבָתֵּי גַוָּאֵי, הָא בְּבָתֵּי בָרָאֵי. וְאָמַר רַב אַחָא בַּר יַעֲקֹב: עוֹד רָקִיעַ אֶחָד יֵשׁ לְמַעְלָה מֵרָאשֵׁי הַחַיּוֹת, דִּכְתִיב: ״וּדְמוּת עַל רָאשֵׁי הַחַיָּה רָקִיעַ כְּעֵין הַקֶּרַח הַנּוֹרָא״. עַד כָּאן יֵשׁ לְךָ רְשׁוּת לְדַבֵּר, מִכָּאן וְאֵילָךְ — אֵין לְךָ רְשׁוּת לְדַבֵּר, שֶׁכֵּן כָּתוּב בְּסֵפֶר בֶּן סִירָא: ״בַּמּוּפְלָא מִמְּךָ אַל תִּדְרוֹשׁ, וּבַמְכוּסֶּה מִמְּךָ אַל תַּחְקוֹר. בַּמֶּה שֶׁהוֹרְשֵׁיתָ הִתְבּוֹנֵן, אֵין לְךָ עֵסֶק בַּנִּסְתָּרוֹת״. תַּנְיָא, אָמַר רַבָּן יוֹחָנָן בֶּן זַכַּאי: מָה תְּשׁוּבָה הֱשִׁיבַתּוּ בַּת קוֹל לְאוֹתוֹ רָשָׁע בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁאָמַר ״אֶעֱלֶה עַל בָּמֳתֵי עָב אֶדַּמֶּה לְעֶלְיוֹן״ — יָצְתָה בַּת קוֹל וְאָמְרָה לוֹ: רָשָׁע בֶּן רָשָׁע, בֶּן בְּנוֹ שֶׁל נִמְרוֹד הָרָשָׁע, שֶׁהִמְרִיד כָּל הָעוֹלָם כּוּלּוֹ עָלָיו בְּמַלְכוּתוֹ —
Rabbi Yehuda said: There are two firmaments, as it is stated: “Behold, to the Eternal your God belongs the heaven and the heaven of heavens” (Deuteronomy 10:14).
Reish Lakish said: There are seven firmaments, and they are as follows: Vilon, Rakia, Sheḥakim, Zevul, Ma’on, Makhon, and Aravot.
Vilon, curtain, does not contain anything, but enters at morning and departs in the evening, and renews the act of Creation daily, as it is stated: “Who stretches out the heavens as a curtain [Vilon], and spreads them out as a tent to dwell in” (Isaiah 40:22).
Rakia, firmament, is the one in which the sun, moon, stars, and zodiac signs are fixed, as it is stated: “And God set them in the firmament [Rakia] of the heaven” (Genesis 1:17).
Shechakim, heights, is the one in which mills stand and grind manna for the righteous, as it is stated: “And God commanded the heights [Shechakim] above, and opened the doors of heaven; and caused manna to rain upon them for food, and gave them of the corn of heaven” (Psalms 78:23–24).
Zevul, abode, is the location of Jerusalem and the Temple, and the altar is built, and Michael, the great minister, stands and sacrifices an offering upon it, as it is stated: “I have surely built a house of Zevul for You, a place for You to dwell forever” (I Kings 8:13). And from where do we derive that Zevul is called heaven? As it is written: “Look down from heaven and see, from Your holy and glorious abode [Zevul]” (Isaiah 63:15).
Ma’on, habitation, is where there are groups of ministering angels who recite song at night and are silent during the day out of respect for Israel, as it is stated: “By day the Eternal will command divine kindness, and in the night God's song is with me” (Psalms 42:9)... And from where do we derive that Ma’on is called heaven? As it is stated: “Look forth from Your holy Ma’on, from heaven” (Deuteronomy 26:15).
Makhon, dwelling place, is where there are storehouses of snow and storehouses of hail, and the upper chamber of harmful dews, and the upper chamber of drops, and the room of tempests and storms, and the cave of mist. And the doors are of fire. For it is stated: “The Eternal will open for you the good storehouse, the heavens” (Deuteronomy 28:12)... And from where do we derive that this place is called “heaven”? As it is written: “And You shall hear in heaven, the Makhon of Your dwelling” (I Kings 8:39).
Aravot, skies, is the firmament that contains righteousness; justice; righteousness; the treasuries of life; the treasuries of peace; the treasuries of blessing; the souls of the righteous; the spirits and souls that are to be created; and the dew that the Holy Blessed One will use to revive the dead.
Righteousness and justice are found in heaven, as it is written: “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne” (Psalms 89:15); righteousness, as it is written: “And God donned righteousness as armor” (Isaiah 59:17); the treasuries of life, as it is written: “For with You is the source of life” (Psalms 36:10). And the treasuries of peace are found in heaven, as it is written: “And he called God the Eternal of peace” (Judges 6:24). And the treasuries of blessing, as it is written: “He shall receive a blessing from the Eternal” (Psalms 24:5). The souls of the righteous are found in heaven, as it is written: “And the soul of my master shall be bound in the bundle of life with the Eternal, your God” (I Samuel 25:29). Spirits and souls that are to be created are found there, as it is written: “For the spirit that enwraps itself is from Me, and the souls that I have made” (Isaiah 57:16). The dew that the Holy Blessed One will use to revive the dead is found in heaven, as it is written: “A bountiful rain You will pour down, God; when Your inheritance was weary, You confirmed it” (Psalms 68:10).
There are the ofanim, the seraphim, the holy divine creatures, and the ministering angels, and the Throne of Glory. The Sovereign God, the living, lofty, exalted One dwells above them in Aravot, as it is stated: “Extol the One Who rides upon the skies [Aravot], Whose name is God” (Psalms 68:5). And from where do we derive that Aravot is called “heaven”? This is learned by using a verbal analogy between two instances of “rides” and “rides”: Here, it is written: “Extol the One Who rides upon the skies [Aravot],” and there, it is written: “Who rides upon the heaven as your help” (Deuteronomy 33:26).
And darkness and clouds and fog surround God, as it is stated: “God made darkness God's hiding place, the pavilion round about God; darkness of waters, thick clouds of the skies” (Psalms 18:12).
And is there darkness before Heaven? But isn’t it written: “God reveals deep and secret things, knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with God” (Daniel 2:22). This is not difficult. This is referring to the inner houses; that is referring to the outer houses.
And Rav Acha bar Ya’akov said: There is one more firmament above these, which is above the heads of the divine creatures, as it is written: “And over the heads of the divine creatures there was the likeness of a firmament, like the color of the terrible ice” (Ezekiel 1:22).
Until here, you have permission to speak; from this point forward you do not have permission to speak, as it is written in the book of Ben Sira: Seek not things concealed from you, nor search those hidden from you. Reflect on that which is permitted to you; you have no business with secret matters...
(יא) כָּל הַשְּׁבִיעִין חֲבִיבִין לְעוֹלָם, לְמַעְלָן הַשְּׁבִיעִי חָבִיב, שָׁמַיִם וּשְׁמֵי הַשָּׁמַיִם וְרָקִיעַ וּשְׁחָקִים, זְבוּל וּמָעוֹן וַעֲרָבוֹת, וּכְתִיב (תהלים סח, ה): סֹלוּ לָרֹכֵב בָּעֲרָבוֹת בְּיָהּ שְׁמוֹ. בָּאֲרָצוֹת, שְׁבִיעִית חֲבִיבָה: אֶרֶץ, אֲדָמָה, אַרְקָא, גַּיְא, צִיָה, נְשִׁיָּה, תֵּבֵל. וּכְתִיב (תהלים ט, ט): וְהוּא יִשְׁפֹּט תֵּבֵל בְּצֶדֶק יָדִין לְאֻמִּים בְּמֵישָׁרִים. בַּדּוֹרוֹת שְׁבִיעִי חָבִיב: אָדָם, שֵׁת, אֱנוֹשׁ, קֵינָן, מַהַלַּלְאֵל, יֶרֶד, חֲנוֹךְ. וּכְתִיב (בראשית ה, כד): וַיִּתְהַלֵּךְ חֲנוֹךְ אֶת הָאֱלֹהִים. בָּאָבוֹת שְׁבִיעִי חָבִיב: אַבְרָהָם, יִצְחָק וְיַעֲקֹב, לֵוִי, קְהָת, עַמְרָם, משֶׁה. וּכְתִיב (שמות יט, ג): וּמשֶׁה עָלָה אֶל הָאֱלֹהִים. בְּבָנִים הַשְּׁבִיעִי חָבִיב, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברי הימים א ב, טו): דָּוִיד [הוא] הַשְּׁבִעִי. בַּמְּלָכִים הַשְּׁבִיעִי חָבִיב: שָׁאוּל, אִישׁ בּשֶׁת, דָּוִד, שְׁלֹמֹה, רְחַבְעָם, אֲבִיָה, אָסָא. וּכְתִיב (דברי הימים ב יד, י): וַיִּקְרָא אָסָא אֶל ה'. בַּשָּׁנִים שְׁבִיעִי חָבִיב, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות כג, יא): וְהַשְּׁבִיעִית תִּשְׁמְטֶנָּה וּנְטַשְׁתָּהּ. בַּשְּׁמִטִּין שְׁבִיעִי חָבִיב, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא כה, י): וְקִדַּשְׁתֶּם אֵת שְׁנַת הַחֲמִשִּׁים. בַּיָּמִים שְׁבִיעִי חָבִיב, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית ב, ג): וַיְבָרֶךְ אֱלֹהִים אֶת יוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי. בֶּחֳדָשִׁים שְׁבִיעִי חָבִיב, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא כג, כד): בַּחֹדֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִי בְּאֶחָד לַחֹדֶשׁ.
(11) All the sevens are forever beloved. Above, the seventh is beloved: Shamayim, shemei shamayim, rakia, sheḥakim, zevul, maon, and aravot,19These are the seven levels of heaven. and it is written: Praise the One Who rides in the aravot, with God's name, the Eternal” (Psalms 68:5). Regarding lands, the seventh is beloved: Eretz, adama, arka, gai, tziya, neshiya, tevel,20These are seven types of land. and it is written: “God will judge the universe [tevel] in righteousness, the nations with uprightness” (Psalms 9:9). Regarding generations, the seventh is beloved: Adam, Seth, Enosh, Kenan, Mahalalel, Yered, Ḥanokh, and it is written: “Hanokh walked with God” (Genesis 5:24). Regarding our ancestors, the seventh is beloved: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Levi, Kehat, Amram, Moses, and it is written: “Moses ascended to God” (Exodus 19:3). Regarding sons, the seventh is beloved, as it is stated: “David was the seventh” (I Chronicles 2:15). Regarding kings, the seventh is beloved: Saul, Ish Boshet, David, Solomon, Reḥavam, Aviya, Asa, and it is written: “Asa cried out to the Lord” (II Chronicles 14:10).21In response, God provided him with a miraculous military victory and tremendous wealth in spoils of war. Regarding years, the seventh is beloved, as it is stated: “But in the seventh, you shall let it rest and leave it fallow” (Exodus 23:11). Regarding Sabbatical years, the seventh is beloved, as it is stated: “You shall sanctify the fiftieth year” (Leviticus 25:10). Regarding days, the seventh is beloved, as it is stated: “God blessed the seventh day” (Genesis 2:3). Regarding months, the seventh is beloved, as it is stated: “In the seventh month, on the first of the month.”
by Akiva Michael Shoulta
Maaseh Merkabah is a Jewish mystical text discovered by Gershom Scholem and is a form of pre-Kabbalah Jewish mysticism. It teaches about making a journey to the heavenly hekhal and drawing down divine powers to earth. The text is a spiritualization of pilgrimages to the earthly hekhal after the Second Temple period. Jewish biblical commentaries emphasize that the imagery of the merkabah is not meant to be taken literally but as analogies for the ways that God reveals himself. Jews read the biblical passages concerning the merkabah in the synagogue every year on the holiday of Shavuot.
Hekhalot literature focuses on accounts of divine visions, mystical ascents into heaven, and the summoning and control of great angels, with the goal of gaining insight into Torah. It is distinct from other literature in that it does not focus on eschatology, has little interest in fallen angels or demonology, and democratizes the possibility of divine ascent. The mystical ascent involves journeying through the seven stages of the Seven Heavens and seven throne rooms, with purification preparation, knowledge of the proper incantations, seals and angelic names, and navigating various forces. The recital of hymns and the use of secret names of God are used for heavenly ascent. The ultimate goal of the ascent varies, from a visionary glimpse of God to enthronement among the angelic retinue of God. Surviving works related to the Hekhalot tradition include Hekhalot Rabbati, Hekhalot Zutarti, 3rd Enoch, and Maaseh Merkabah.