Kemuel
Jewish mythology (rabbinic–kabbalistic) · numen · Jewish mythology (rabbinic–kabbalistic) traditional religion; continuing · numen
THE FIRST ANGEL MOSES HAD TO GET PAST, AND HE HIT HIM. The midrashic ascent is a series of doorkeepers, and Kemuel is the first door.
Domains
- gatekeeping of the firmament
- command of the angels of destruction
- opposition to moses ascent
Sources
- Reference treatment of the angels of Moses' ascent (midrashic accounts collected in Ginzberg, Legends of the Jews, vol. III, 'Moses and the Angels Strive for the Torah'): in the last heaven Moses saw two angels, each five hundred parasangs in height, forged out of chains of black fire and red fire, the angels Af, 'Anger', and Hemah, 'Wrath', whom God created at the beginning of the world to execute His will; Moses was disquieted when he looked upon them, but Metatron embraced him and said 'Moses, Moses, thou favorite of God, fear not, and be not terrified', and Moses became calm; Kemuel is the porter, the angel in charge of twelve thousand angels of destruction posted at the portals of the firmament, and during Moses' ascent he met Kemuel first and struck him when Kemuel tried to prevent him from passing, after which the angel Hadarniel came along; Hadarniel, whose name derives from Hebrew roots meaning 'majesty' or 'greatness of God', is known as the guardian of the second gate in heaven and serves as a formidable sentinel during divine ascensions. These angels appear in midrashic accounts of Moses ascending to heaven to seize the Torah over the objections of the angels.
- Louis Ginzberg, The Legends of the Jews, vol. III, 'Moses and the Angels Strive for the Torah'