Rufa'el
Beta Israel · numen · Beta Israel traditional religion; continuing · Recorded classification
Rufa'el is the healing archangel of Beta Israel angelology, known from the Book of Enoch. Set over the spirits of humankind, he is commanded to bind the fallen leader Azazel, cast him into darkness, and heal the earth corrupted by the Watchers. He is counted among the four archangels who stand before God and share in the great judgement, and is invoked in Haymanot prayer as a bringer of healing.
Domains
- healing
- heavenly hierarchy
Powers
- heals the earth and binds the wicked
Epithets
- Rufaʾel malʾakä fäws — Raphael, the angel of healingEncyclopaedia Aethiopica, ed. S. Uhlig, s.v. 'Rufaʾel,' Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz, 2010. (secondary)
Relations
- companion: Mika'elR. H. Charles, The Book of Enoch, Oxford, 1912, ch. 40. (secondary)
- companion: Gabra'elR. H. Charles, The Book of Enoch, Oxford, 1912, ch. 40. (secondary)
Sources
- Raphael, set over the spirits of men, is commanded to bind Azazel and heal the earth in the Book of Enoch, and stands among the four archangels of the presence.: Maṣḥafa Hēnok (1 Enoch), Geez, chs. 10, 20, 40; ed. R. H. Charles, Oxford, 1906/1912. (primary)