Kerubiel, the Prince of the Kerubim. Description of the Kerubim
1 R. Ishmael said: Metatron, the angel, the Prince of the Presence, said to me: Above these there is one prince, noble, wonderful, strong, and praised with all kinds of praise. His name is Kerubiel H', a mighty prince, full of power and strength
[AD: a prince of highness, and Highness (is) with him, a righteous prince, and righteousness (is) with him, a holy prince, and holiness (is) with him, a prince] [B: a prince of highness, and with him (there is) a righteous prince, of righteousness, and with him a holy prince, of holiness, and with him (there is) a prince ] glorified in (by) thousand hosts, exalted by ten thousand armies.
2 At his wrath the earth trembles, at his anger the camps are moved, from fear of him the foundations are shaken, at his rebuke the 'Araboth do tremble.
3 His stature is full of (burning) coals. The height of his stature is as the height of the seven heavens the breadth of his stature is as the wideness of the seven heavens and the thickness of his stature is as the seven heavens.
4 The opening of his mouth is like a lamp of fire. His tongue is a consuming fire. His eyebrows are like unto the splendour of the lightning. His eyes are like sparks of brilliance. His countenance is like a burning fire.
5 And there is a crown of holiness upon his head on which (crown) the Explicit Name is graven, and lightnings go forth from it. And the bow of Shekina is between his shoulders.
6 [AD: And his sword is upon his loins and his arrows are like lightnings in his girdle. And a shield of consuming fire (is) on his neck and coals of juniper are round about him.] [B: And his sword is like unto a lightning; and upon his loins there are arrows like unto a flame, and upon his armour and shield there is a consuming fire, and upon his neck there are coals of burning juniper and (also) round about him (there are coals of burning juniper). ]
7 And the splendour of Shekina is on his face ; and the horns of majesty on his wheels; and a royal diadem upon his skull.
8 And his body is full of eyes. And wings are covering the whole of his high stature (lit. the height of his stature is all wings).
9 On his right hand a flame is burning, and on his left a fire is glowing; and coals are burning from it. And firebrands go forth from his body. And lightnings are cast forth from his face. With him there is alway thunder upon (in) thunder, by his side there is ever earthquake upon (in) earthquake.
10 And the two princes of the Merkaba are together with him.
11 Why is he called Kerubiel H', the Prince. Because he is appointed over the chariot of the Kerubim. And the mighty Kerubim are given in his charge. And he adornsthe crowns on their heads and polishes the diadem upon their skull.
12 He magnifies the glory of their appearance. And he glorifies the beauty of their majesty. And he increases the greatness of their honour. He causes the song of their praise to be sung. He intensifies their beautiful strength. He causes the brilliance of their glory to shine forth. He beautifies their goodly mercy and loving-kindness. He frames the fairness of their radiance. He makes their merciful beauty even more beautiful. He glorifies their upright majesty. He extols the order of their praise, to stablish the dwelling-place of him “who dwelleth on the Kerubim”.
13 And the Kerubim are standing by the Holy Chayyoth, and their wings are raised up to their heads (lit. are as the height of their heads)
and Shekina is (resting) upon them
and the brilliance of the Glory is upon their faces
andsong and praise in their mouth
and their hands are under their wings
and their feet are covered by their wings
and horns of gloryare upon their heads
and the splendour of Shekina on their face
and Shekina is (resting) upon them
and sapphire stones are round about them
and columns of fire on their four sides
and columns of firebrands beside them.
14 There is one sapphire on one side and another sapphire on another sideand under the sapphires there are coals of burning juniper.
15 And one Kerub is standing in each direction but the wings of the Kerubim compass each other above their skulls in glory; and they spread them to sing with them a song to him that inhabiteth the clouds and to praise with them the fearful majesty of the king of kings.
16 And Kerubiel H', the prince who is appointed over them, he arrays them in comely, beautiful and pleasant orders and he exalts them in all manner of exaltation, dignity and glory. And he hastens them — in glory and might — to do the will of their Creator every moment. For above their lofty heads abides continually the glory of the high king “who dwelleth on the Kerubim”.