Yahoel and Metatron: Aural Apocalypticism and the Origins of Early Jewish Mysticism

 Table of Contents
Preface . . . . . . . . . IX
Abbreviations . . . . . . XI
Introduction . . . . . . . 1

Chapter I
Antecedents and Influences

Aural Ideology in the Hebrew Bible . .. . 9
Mediators of the Name . . . . . . .  . . 16
The Angel of the Lord as the Mediator of the Name . . . . 17
Moses as the Mediator of the Name . . . .. . 25
High Priest as the Mediator of the Name .  . . 32
Archangel Michael as the Mediator of the Name . .  . 37
Shemihazah as the Mediator of the Name . . .. 40
Son of Man as the Mediator of the Name .. . . 43
Patriarch Jacob as the Mediator of the Name . . . . 45
Little Yao as the Mediator of the Name .  . 47
The Logos as the Mediator of the Name .  . . 50
Jesus as the Mediator of the Name . .. . . 53
Conclusion . . . . . . . 60

Chapter II
Yahoel
Aural Ideology in Early Jewish Extra-Biblical Accounts . . 61
Yahoel’s Roles and Titles . . . . . . . 71
Yahoel as Mediator of the Name . . . . . . 73
Yahoel as Embodiment of the Deity .  . 82
Yahoel as Choirmaster  . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Yahoel as Revealer of Secrets . . . . . . 100
Yahoel as Sar Torah . .. . . . . . . 105
Yahoel as Heavenly High Priest . .. . . . . 111
Yahoel as Sustainer of Creation . . . . . . 115
Yahoel as Guide and Guardian of the Visionary . . . 121
Yahoel as Liminal Figure . . . .  . . . 125
Yahoel as Remover of Human Sins . . . . . 126
Yahoel as “Second Power” . . . . . . 130


Chapter III
Metatron
Aural Ideology in Hekhalot Literature . . .. . 141
Metatron’s Roles and Titles . . . . 151
Metatron as Mediator of the Divine Name . . .. 152
Metatron as Embodiment of the Deity . .  . . 163
Metatron as Choirmaster . . . . . . 170
Metatron as Revealer of Secrets . . . . . 175
Metatron as Sar Torah . . . .  . . . . 180
Metatron as Heavenly High Priest . . .. . . 183
Metatron as Sustainer of Creation . . . . . 187
Metatron as Guide and Guardian of the Visionary . .  . 190
Metatron as Liminal Figure . . . . . . . . 192
Metatron as Remover of Human Sins . . . . . 192
Metatron as “Second Power” . . .. . . . . 194
Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . 205
Bibliography . . . . . . . 211
Index of Sources . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Modern Author Index . . . .. . . 232
Subject Index . . . . . . . . 235