Daf Yomi - Chagigah 13 - Highlights

There is a rakiya above the heads of the chayos as is stated in a verse in Yechezkel. Until this point one can discuss, but one cannot discuss any further. In the Book of Ben Sira it is written that one should not expound on matters that are concealed from him, one should not investigate what is covered from him. One can only contemplate matters of which he has been granted permission, because one has no dealing with hidden matters. (13a)

When Nevuchadnezzar king of Babylon declared, ‘I will ascend over the tops of the clouds; I will liken myself to the Most High,’ a heavenly voice responded: ‘wicked one, son of the wicked one, descendant of Nimrod the wicked one, who in his reign caused the entire world to rebel. Man’s years are seventy years. From the earth till the rakiya is a distance of five hundred years. The thickness of the rakiya is five hundred years. The distance between each rakiya is five hundred years. Above all the rakiyos are the holy chayos. The feet of the chayos alone correspond to the measurements mentioned above. The karsulim of the chayos correspond to all of the above mentioned measurements. Corresponding to all of those measurements are the thighs of the chayos. The thighbone (which is near the thigh) of the chayos corresponds to all of the above mentioned chayos. The thigh of the chayos corresponds to all of the above mentioned measurements. The body of the chayos corresponds to all of the above mentioned measurements. The neck of the chayos corresponds to all of the above mentioned measurements. The head of the chayos corresponds to all of the above mentioned measurements. The horns of the chayos correspond to all of the above mentioned measurements. Above all of the previously mentioned measurements is the Heavenly Throne. The feet of the Heavenly Throne correspond to all of the above mentioned measurements. The Heavenly Throne itself corresponds to all of the above mentioned measurements. The living and existing G-d is sitting upon the Heavenly Throne, and you dare declare, ‘I will ascend over the tops of the clouds; I will liken myself to the Most High?’ But to the nether-world have you been lowered, to the bottom of the pit!’ (13a)

We learned in the Mishna that we do not expound upon the discussion of the Heavenly Chariot to an individual. The Gemara qualifies this ruling to mean that we do give over the main ideas of the Heavenly Chariot discussion. This ruling is further qualified to mean that we only give over the main ideas to the head of the court and to one who takes the matter seriously. Alternatively, we only give over these matters to the head of a court who takes the matter seriously. (13a)

Rabbi Yochanan sought to teach Rabbi Elazar regarding the Heavenly Chariot. Rabbi Elazar responded that he was not old enough. When Rabbi Elazar became old enough, Rabbi Yochanan died. Rabbi Assi told Rabbi Elazar that he would teach Rabbi Elazar regarding the Heavenly Chariot. Rabbi Elazar responded, “had I merited, I would have learned it from Rabbi Yochanan your teacher.” (13a)

The angels that are called chashmal are thus called because chashmal is an acrostic for the words chayos eish mimalelos, i.e. fire emanates from their speech. Alternatively, the word chashmal can be interpreted to mean that at times they are chashos, i.e. silent, and at times they are mimalelos, i.e. speaking. When Hashem talks they are silent, and when HaShem is not talking they speak. (13b)

Everything that Yechezkel saw was also seen by Yeshaya. Yechezkel was akin to a villager who saw the king whereas Yeshaya was akin to one who lives in the city and sees the king. (13b)

The king of the wild animals is the lion, the king of the animals is the ox and the king of the birds is the eagle. Man is exalted above all those, and HaShem is exalted above all of them and above the entire world. (13b)

One verse in Yechezkel mentions the ox, whereas another verse substitutes the cherub for the ox. The reason for this discrepancy is because Yechezkel prayed to HaShem that the ox should be transformed to a cherub. Yechezkel posited, “Master of the world! Should the prosecutor, i.e. the ox who was worshipped by the Jewish People when they fashioned the Golden Calf in the Wilderness, become a defense attorney?” (13b)

Yeshaya lived in the time when the Bais HaMikdash was standing, so he saw the angels with six wings, whereas Yechezkel lived immediately prior to the destruction of the Bais HaMikdash, so he only saw the angels with four wings. Rav Chananel maintains that the wings with which the angels sing HaShem’s praises were diminished, whereas the Chachamim maintain that the wings that cover the angels’ feet were diminished. (13b)