Source books · Jewish mysticism and Kabbalah

Hekhalot Rabbati

היכלות רבתי

R. Ishmael b. Elisha and R. Nehunyah b. ha-Kanah (pseudepigraphic) · 5th–9th century CE (redaction; contested)

How this book fits

Traditions
Jewish mysticism and Kabbalah
Role in the tradition
Primary source Written from inside the tradition: scripture, revelation, a grimoire, a manifesto or a practical treatise.
Public attention
Unmeasured No Wikidata entry could be matched to this book with confidence, so no attention label was assigned.

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In this study

The longest and best known Hekhalot text follows R. Ishmael and R. Akiva through seven guarded palaces, where seals and divine names open the way. The journey is called a descent to the chariot, yeridah la-merkavah. Throne hymns, a martyrology and a rite for obtaining perfect memory of Torah interrupt and deepen the passage.

Much of the later image of the chariot mystic grows from this work, including the story of R. Nehunyah being drawn back from trance when his disciples render him ritually impure.