Talmud Bavli
Talmud Bavli

Musar for Sanhedrin 76:19

אמר רב נחמן האי מאן דידע לאהדורי למינים כרב אידית ליהדר ואי לא לא ליהדר אמר ההוא מינא לרב אידית כתיב (שמות כד, א) ואל משה אמר עלה אל ה' עלה אלי מיבעי ליה א"ל זהו מטטרון ששמו כשם רבו דכתיב (שמות כג, כא) כי שמי בקרבו

Even as it has been taught: One was for Himself and one for David: this is R. Akiba's view. R. Jose protested to him: Akiba, how long will thou profane the <i>Shechinah</i>?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' By asserting that a human being sit beside Him. ');"><sup>50</sup></span> Rather, one [throne] for justice, and the other for mercy. Did he accept [this answer] from him or not? Come and hear! For it has been taught: One is for justice and the other for charity; this is R. Akiba's view. Said R. Eleazar b. Azariah to him: Akiba, what hast thou to do with Aggada? Confine thyself to [the study of] Nega'im and Ohaloth.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Names of Treatises in the Seder Tohoroth, the most difficult in the whole of the Talmud. V. infra 67b. R. Akiba was a great authority on these laws, whereas his Haggadic interpretations were not always acceptable. [This interpretation involved the same danger as that of R. Akiba's first interpretation in that it tended to obscure the true monotheistic concept of God.] ');"><sup>51</sup></span> But one was a throne, the other a footstool: a throne for a seat and a footstool in support of His feet.

Shenei Luchot HaBerit

Both the Zohar and Pardes Rimonim describe this angel also as עבד. Seeing that the Torah in Deut 14,1 describes Israel as "Children of the Lord your G–d", we find that Israel appears in a dual role. From the vantage point of the עולם האצילות, the purely spiritual domain, -seeing that our souls are anchored in that domain- our relationship with G–d is like that of children to their father. From the vantage point of the material world, the עולם הבריאה, and anything "below" that, however, our optimal status is that of עבד השם, a servant of the Lord. (This עולם הבריאה is called by Kabbalists the סוד האמה העבריה, "the mystical significance of the portion dealing with the Jewish maid-servant in Exodus chapter 21, whereas Mattatron is the סוד עבד עברי, seeing he represents the עולם האצילות). When Exodus 23,20 speaks about the angel G–d will send ahead of the Jewish people to guard and protect Israel on its journey and that angel is described as embodying G–d's name, Rashi, quoting ancient sources says that this is Mattatron whose name is identical with the name of G–d (Exodus 23,20). The numerical value of the letters in 314= מטטרון-שדי.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Previous VerseFull ChapterNext Verse