3 Enoch (Hebrew Enoch) 1
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Rabbi Ishmael said: When I ascended on high to behold the vision of the Merkabah and had entered the six halls, one within the other,
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As soon as I reached the door of the seventh hall I stood still in prayer before the Holy One, blessed be He, and lifting up my eyes on high I said:
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Lord of the Universe, I pray thee, that the merit of Aaron the son of Amram, the lover of peace and pursuer of peace, who received the crown of priesthood from thy Glory on Mount Sinai, be valid for me at this hour, so that Qaspiel the prince, and the angels with him may not prevail against me nor cast me down from the heavens.
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Forthwith the Holy One, blessed be He, sent to me Metatron His servant, the angel, the Prince of the Presence, and he spread his wings and came out to meet me with great joy, to save me from their hand.
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And he took me by his hand, before their eyes, and said to me: Come in peace into the presence of the high and exalted King to behold the likeness of the Merkabah.
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Then I entered the seventh hall, and he led me to the camp of the Shekhinah and placed me before the Holy One, blessed be He, to behold the Merkabah.
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And when the princes of the Merkabah and the flaming Seraphim perceived me, they fixed their gaze on me. Trembling and shuddering seized me and I fell down and was benumbed by the radiant image of their eyes and the bright appearance of their faces.
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Until the Holy One, blessed be He, rebuked them and said: My servants, my Seraphim, my Cherubim and my Ophannim! Cover your eyes before Ishmael, my son, my friend, my beloved, my glory, that he tremble not nor shudder.