The Fifth Firmament

הָרָקִיעַ הַחֲמִישִׁי

And the fifth firmament is exceedingly exalted (וְהָרָקִיעַ הַחֲמִישִׁי מְעוּלֶּה לְמְאֹד), precious in appearance (יָקָר בְּמַרְאֶה), and within it are clouds of glory (וּבוֹ עֲנָנֵי הוֹד), and it is filled with angels of majesty (וּמָלֵא מַלְאֲכֵי גַּאֲוָה), and within it they tremble in fear (וּבְתוֹכוֹ יִשְׁתַּקְשְׁקוּן בְּפַחַד), and their stations are battalions of battalions (וּמַעֲמָדָם חֵילֵאוֹת חֵילֵאוֹת), praising their Creator (מְפָאֲרִים לְחוֹצְבָם), with flame (מַלְהֵב), and the sound of their running is like the crashing of the sea (וְקוֹל מְרוּצָתָם כִּגְעֶשֶׁת הַיָּם), and their walking like thunder wheels (וְהֲלִיכָתָם כְּגַלְגַלֵּי רַעַם).

And there twelve princes of glory sit (וְשָׁם י"ב נְשִׂיאֵי כָבוֹד יוֹשְׁבִים), on thrones of splendor (בְּכִסְאוֹת הָדָר), and the likeness of their thrones is like the appearance of fire (וּדְמוּת כִּסְאוֹתֵיהֶם כְּמַרְאֵה הָאֵשׁ), squared in the middle of the firmament (מְרֻבָּעִים בְּאֶמְצַע הָרָקִיעַ), and they face the four directions of the world (וּפוֹנִים לְאַרְבַּע רוּחוֹת הָעוֹלָם), three by three to each direction (שְׁלוֹשָׁה שְׁלוֹשָׁה לְכָל רוּחַ).

And angels run on their missions (וּמַלְאָכִים רָצִים בִּשְׁלִיחוּתָם), and from their roar the world trembles (וּמִשַּׁאֲגָתָם רוֹעֵד הָעוֹלָם), from their breath go forth lightnings (וּמִנִּשְׁמָתָם יֵצְאוּ בְּרָקִים), and they have wings of fire (וְלָהֶם כַּנְפֵי הָאֵשׁ), crowned with crowns of fire (עֲטוּפִים עֲטָרוֹת הָאֵשׁ), and from the radiance of their faces the firmament shines (וּמִזִּיו פְּנֵיהֶם יִבְהַק רָקִיעַ).

And they are appointed over the twelve months of the year (וְהֵם מְמֻנִּים עַל שְׁנֵים־עָשָׂר חָדְשֵׁי הַשָּׁנָה), and understand what shall occur in each and every month (וּמְבִינִים מַה יִּהְיֶה בְּכָל חֹדֶשׁ וָחֹדֶשׁ), and apart from them nothing will be (וּמִלְּבַדָּם לֹא יִהְיֶה דָבָר), for for this they were created (כִּי לְכָךְ נוֹצְרוּ), their station each upon his month (מַעֲמָדָם אִישׁ עַל חָדְשׁוֹ), to inform the months what will come in every year (שֶׁמוֹדִיעִים לַחֳדָשִׁים אֶת אֲשֶׁר יָבוֹא בְּכָל שָׁנָה וְשָׁנָה).

These are the names of the twelve princes of glory of the fifth firmament (אֵלֶּה שְׁמוֹת שְׁנֵים־עָשָׂר נְשִׂיאֵי הַכָּבוֹד שֶׁלְּרָקִיעַ הַחֲמִישִׁי): Sha‘afi’el (שַׁעֲפִיאֵל), Dagaḥi’el (דַּגְהָאִיאֵל), Didna’or (דִּידְנָאוֹר), Ta‘anvon (תַּעַנְבוֹן), Terurgar (תְּרוּרְגַּר), Mora’el (מוֹרָאֵל), Pachdaron (פַּחְדָּרוֹן), Yaldanag (יַלְדַנַג), Andagnor (אַנְדַּגְנוֹר), Mefani’el (מְפַנִיאֵל), Chashnadranos (חַשְׁנַדְרָנוֹס), Avraki’el (אַבְרַכִיאֵל).

And these are appointed over the twelve months of the year (וְאֵלֶּה הֵם מְמֻנִּים עַל שְׁנֵים־עָשָׂר חָדְשֵׁי הַשָּׁנָה), from the month of Nisan to the month of Adar (מֵחֹדֶשׁ נִיסָן עַד חֹדֶשׁ אֲדָר), each one for his month (כָּל אֶחָד בְּחָדְשׁוֹ), as they are written (כְּשֶׁהֵם כְּתוּבִים).

If you seek to know in which month you shall be gathered from the world (אִם בִּקַּשְׁתָּ לָדַעַת בְּאֵיזֶה חֹדֶשׁ תֵּאָסֵף מִן הָעוֹלָם), or what shall be in each month (אוֹ מַה יִּהְיֶה בְּכָל חֹדֶשׁ), and in which month will be rain (וּבְאֵיזֶה חֹדֶשׁ יִהְיֶה הַגֶּשֶׁם), and whether the grain will be plentiful (וְאִם תִּרְבֶּה הַתְּבוּאָה), and whether the olive will bear fruit (וְאִם יִשְׁלַם הַזַּיִת פִּרְיוֹ), and in which month kings will wage war (וּבְאֵיזֶה חֹדֶשׁ יַעַרְכוּ מְלָכִים מִלְחָמָה), and in which month death will increase among people and animals (וּבְאֵיזֶה חֹדֶשׁ יִרְבֶּה מָוֶת בִּבְנֵי אָדָם וּבַבְּהֵמָה), and in which month illness shall fall upon man (וּבְאֵיזֶה חֹדֶשׁ יִפּוֹל חֳלִי בָּאָדָם), and in all that you desire, you may ask them and know (וּבְכָל אֲשֶׁר תַּחְפֹּץ תִּשְׁאַלֵם וְתֵדַע).

If you desire to know in which month you will be gathered from the world (אִם תִּרְצֶה לָדַעַת בְּאֵיזֶה חֹדֶשׁ תֵּאָסֵף מִן הָעוֹלָם), take refined gold plates (קַח טַסֵּי זָהָב מְזוֹקָק), and make from them twelve engravings (וַעֲשֵׂה מֵהֶם שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר רְקוּעִים), and write on each of them the name of the angel and the name of his month (וּכְתוֹב לְכָל אֶחָד מֵהֶם שֵׁם הַמַלְאָךְ וְשֵׁם חָדְשׁוֹ).

And take good oil aged seven years (וְקַח שֶׁמֶן טוֹב יָשָׁן בֶּן שֶׁבַע שָׁנִים), and cast all the engravings into it (וְתַשְׁלִיךְ כָּל הָרְקוּעִים בְּתוֹכוֹ), and adjure this oath over the oil seven times (וְתַשְׁבִּיעַ אֶת הַשְּׁבוּעָה הַזֹּאת עַל הַשֶּׁמֶן שֶׁבַע פְּעָמִים), and say: I adjure you, angels of knowledge and understanding (וֶאֱמוֹר: מַשְׁבִּיעַ אֲנִי עֲלֵיכֶם מַלְאֲכֵי דַּעַת וְשֵׂכֶל), by Him who spoke and the world came into being (בְּמִי שֶׁאָמַר וְהָיָה הָעוֹלָם), by the Name of the true and mighty and radiant God (בְּשֵׁם אֵל אֱמֶת אַדִּיר וְנָאוֹר), the lofty and exalted King (מֶלֶךְ רָם וְנִשָּׂא), strong and mighty (חָזָק וְגִבּוֹר), powerful and wondrous (עָזוּז וְנִפְלָא), God of all creations (אֱלֹהֵי כָּל הַבְּרִיאוֹת), Rock of Hosts (צוּר צְבָאוֹת), righteous, pure, upright, and faithful (צַדִּיק צַח וְיָשָׁר וְנֶאֱמָן), and by the Name that appointed you over all the months of the year (וּבְשֵׁם שֶׁהֶעֱמִידְכֶם עַל כָּל חָדְשֵׁי הַשָּׁנָה), who dwells in the secret place of the Most High (הַיּוֹשֵׁב בְּסֵתֶר עֶלְיוֹן), who reveals the secrets of hidden things (הַמְגַלֶּה רָזֵי נִסְתָּרוֹת), who rules over death and life (הַמּוֹשֵׁל עַל מָוֶת וְחַיִּים), who reigns forever and ever (הַמּוֹלֵךְ לְעוֹלָם לְעָלְמֵי עוֹלָמִים), who stands forever and ever (הַנִּצָּב לְנֶצַח נְצָחִים), by this oath—great, mighty, powerful, fearsome, awesome, wondrous, pure, and holy (בַּשְּׁבוּעָה הַזֹּאת הַגְּדוֹלָה וְהָעֲצוּמָה וְהַחֲזָקָה וְהַמַּפְחִידָה וְהַנּוֹרָאָה וְהַנִּפְלָאָה וְהַטְּהוֹרָה וְהַקְּדוֹשָׁה), I have adjured you (הִשְׁבַּעְתִּי אֶתְכֶם), that you reveal to me the month of my departure in truth (שֶׁתּוֹדִיעוּנִי חֹדֶשׁ אֲסִפָּתִי בֶאֱמֶת), and cast for me a lot regarding my question (וְתַּעֲלוּ לִי גוֹרָל עַל שְׁאֵלָתִי).

And place the oil under the stars for seven nights (וְתֵן הַשֶּׁמֶן תַּחַת הַכּוֹכָבִים ז׳ לֵילוֹת), in a new glass vessel (בִּכְלִי זְכוּכִית חָדָשׁ), and let no sun see it (וְשֶׁמֶשׁ לֹא יִרְאֵהוּ). And on the seventh night, stand at midnight (וּבַלַּיְלָה הַשְּׁבִיעִית עֲמוֹד בַּחֲצוֹת הַלַּיְלָה), and gaze upon the oil (וְהַבֵּט בַּשֶּׁמֶן), and whichever engraving floats to the surface of the oil (וְאֵי זוֹ רְקוּעָה שֶׁתָּצֻף עַל פְּנֵי הַשֶּׁמֶן), there you shall see the month written upon it (שָׁם תִּרְאֶה אֵיזֶה חֹדֶשׁ כָּתוּב בָּהּ), in that month is your time to be gathered (בְּאוֹתוֹ הַחֹדֶשׁ קִצְךָ לְהֵאָסֵף).

And before you do this act (וְקוֹדֶם שֶׁתַּעֲשֶׂה זֶה הַמַּעֲשֶׂה), purify yourself from all impurity three weeks (טַהֵר עַצְמְךָ מִכָּל טֻמְאָה שְׁלוֹשָׁה שָׁבוּעוֹת), and guard yourself from all minute things (וְהִשָּׁמֵר מִכָּל דַּקָּה), and from all that emits blood—even fish (וּמִכָּל מוֹצִיאֵי דָם וַאֲפִלּוּ דָגִים), and do not drink wine (וְלֹא תִּשְׁתֶּה יַיִן), and do not approach a woman (וְלֹא תִּקְרַב אֶל אִשָּׁה), and do not touch a grave (וְלֹא תִּגַּע בְּקֶבֶר), and beware of seminal emission at night (וְהִזָּהֵר מִקֶּרִי לַיְלָה), and walk in humility and prayer (וְתֵלֵךְ בַּעֲנָוָה וּבִתְפִלָּה), and lengthen your prayer and supplication (וְהַאֲרֵךְ בַּתְּפִלָּה וּבִתְחִנּוּנִים), and prepare your heart for awe of Heaven (וְהָכֵן לִבְּךָ לְיִרְאַת שָׁמַיִם), and you shall succeed (וְתַּצְלִיחַ).

And take the oil after the act (וְקַח הַשֶּׁמֶן אַחַר הַמַּעֲשֶׂה), and guard it, for great healing is within it (וְהִשָּׁמֵר בּוֹ כִּי רְפוּאָה גְּדוֹלָה יֵשׁ בּוֹ). And make a ring of pure silver (וַעֲשֵׂה טַבַּעַת שֶׁל כֶּסֶף נָקִי), from glokamos (מִגְּלוֹקָמוֹס), and take all the engravings (וְקַח כָּל הָרְקוּעִים), and place them in the ring with a white flower (וְתֵן בַּטַּבַּעַת עִם פֶּרַח לָבָן), and with an aminṭon (וְעִם אֲמִינְטוֹן), and seal it (וְחָתוֹם), and place it upon your finger (וְתֵן בְּאֶצְבְּעָךָ), and no evil eye and no evil spirit shall approach you (וְכָל עַיִן רָעָה וְכָל רוּחַ רָעָה לֹא תִּקְרַב אֵלֶיךָ), and no evil thing shall rule in your house (וְכָל דָּבָר רָע לֹא יִשְׁלוֹט בְּבֵיתֶךָ), and in the oil is great healing for the sick (וּבַשֶּׁמֶן רְפוּאָה גְּדוֹלָה לַחוֹלִים).