Chagigah 28
The Rabbis taught: It once happened that Rabban Yochanan the son of Zakkai was riding on a donkey and going on the road, and Rabbi Elazar the son of Arach was He said to him, "Master, Teach me one chapter of the deed of the chariot." He said to him, "Have I not taught you such, 'And not regarding the chariot with one [student], except for if he is smart and understands on his own [when given the summary]. He said to him, "Rabbi, Allow me to say before you one thing that you have taught me." He said to him, "Say."
Immediately, Rabban Yochanan descended from upon the donkey, wrapped himself up, and sat on a rock under an olive tree. He said to him, "Rabbi, for what reason did you descend from upon the donkey?" He said, "Is it possible that you are expounding the deed of the chariot, and the [Divine] presence is with us, and the servicing angels are accompanying us, and I should ride on a donkey?" Immediately, Rabbi Elazar the son of Arach started with the deed of the chariot and expounded [it], and fire came down from the heavens and surrounded all of the trees in the field. The [angels] all opened [their mouths] and said praise.
What praise did they say? "Praise Hashem from the land, sea monsters and all depths... fruit trees and all cedars... Praise Hashem (Psalms 148:7-14)." One angel spoke up from the fire and said, "This (what they were learning) is the deed of the chariot." Rabban Yochanan the son of Zakkai stood and kissed him on the head, and said, "Blessed is Hashem, the G-d of Israel, who gave a son to Abraham our father who knows how to understand, to investigate, and to expound the deed of the chariot. There is one who expounds well but does not uphold well [and there is one who] upholds well but does not expound well. You expound well and uphold well. Praiseworthy are you, Abraham our forefather, for Elazar the son of Arakh has exited from your loins."
And when [these] things were said before Rabbi Yehoshua, he and Rabbi Yose the Priest were walking on the road. They said, "We, too, shall expound in the deed of the chariot." Rabbi Yehoshua opened and expounded. And that very day was the summer solstice [when the sky is not normally cloudy]. The skies were covered in clouds and the form of a bow was seen in the clouds, and the servicing angels were gathering to hear like people who gather to see the amusement of the bride and groom.
Rabbi Yose the Priest went and told [these] things before Rabban Yochanan the son of Zakkai, and he said, "Praiseworthy are you and praiseworthy are those who bore you. Praiseworthy are my eyes, that have seen such. "And both you and I were, in my dreams, seated on Har Sinai, and a heavenly voice from the skies was given upon us: "Ascend here! Ascend here! A large banquet hall and pleasant couches are spread out for you. You, your students, and the students of your students are invited into the third group."
Is this really so? But isn't it taught, "Rabbi Yose the son of Rabbi Yehudah says: 'There were three lectures [of Ma'aseh Merkavah]. Rabbi Yehoshua lectured on these things before Rabban Yochanan the son of Zakkai; Rabbi Akiva lectured before Rabbi Yehoshua; Chananiah the son of Chachinai lectured before Rabbi Akiva.'" And Rabbi Elazar the son of Arach wasn't taken into account? Someone who lectured and was lectured before is taken into account; [someone] who lectured, but they did not lecture before him, is not taken into account. But Chananiah the son of Chachinai, who they did not lecture before, is taken into account? His lecture, still, was before someone who lectured.
The Rabbis taught: There were four who entered the Orchard (a reference to the Garden of Eden), and they are - Ben Azzai, Ben Zoma, Acher (Elisha Ben Avuya) and Rabbi Akiva. Rabbi Akiva said to them: "When you reach near the pure marble stones, do not say 'Water, water'," Because it is said, "A speaker of lies shall not abide before my eyes (Psalms 101:7)."
Ben Azzai glanced and died, and upon him the verse says, "It is precious in the eyes of Hashem, the death to his pious (Psalms 116:15)." Ben Zoma glanced and was hurt (mentally; he went insane), and upon him the verse says, "Honey you have found- eat [only] your fill, lest you become satisfied of it and regurgitate it (Proverbs 25:16)." Acher chopped down saplings [ie. he became a heretic]. Rabbi Akiva emerged in peace.
They asked Ben Zoma: "What is [the halacha regarding] castrating a dog?" He said to them, "'And in your land, you shall not do [castration] (Leviticus 22:24)-' Anything in your land, do not do [castration upon, including a dog]." They asked Ben Zoma: "A virgin who has become pregnant, what is her [permissibility] to [marry] a Kohen Gadol [who may only marry a virgin?" Do we consider the opinion of Shmuel, for Shmuel said,