Sandalphon
Jewish mythology (rabbinic–kabbalistic) · numen · Jewish mythology (rabbinic–kabbalistic) traditional religion; continuing · Recorded classification
Sandalphon is a great angel of the divine chariot in rabbinic and mystical lore. The Talmud describes him as standing behind the Merkabah, taller than his fellow angels by the span of a five-hundred-year journey, binding crowns for his Maker. From this the aggadah develops his role as the angel who gathers the prayers of Israel, weaves them into a garland, and adjures the wreath to rise and settle upon the head of God. Later Kabbalistic angelology links him closely with Metatron, sometimes as his twin or brother, the two of them counted the loftiest of the heavenly host. Sources differ on the origin and meaning of his Greek-sounding name.
Domains
- prayer
Powers
- weaves the prayers of Israel into a crown
- towers above his fellow angels
Epithets
- בַּעַל כְּנָפַיִם — the winged one who reaches heavenBabylonian Talmud, Hagigah 13b (primary)
Relations
- twin: MetatronLater Kabbalah pairs Sandalphon with Metatron as twin princes among the angels.Gershom Scholem, Kabbalah (Keter, 1974), p. 378 (secondary)
Sources
- Sandalphon is the towering angel of the Merkabah standing behind the celestial chariot, who gathers the prayers of Israel and weaves them into a crown that ascends to God.: Babylonian Talmud, Hagigah 13b (primary); Louis Ginzberg, Legends of the Jews, vol. 2 (1910), pp. 306-307 (secondary); Gershom Scholem, Kabbalah (Keter, 1974), pp. 377-378 (secondary)