Erelim

Erelim (Hebrew: אֶרְאֶלִּים, ʾErʾellīm; sing. אֶרְאֵל, ʾErʾēl; “valiant ones”), is a class of angel whose existence is derived from a verse in the book of Isaiah[1][2][3][4] regarding the impending invasion of Jerusalem by Sennacherib during the reign of King Hezekiah.[2]

While the erelim are ascribed numerous functions in Jewish and Kabbalistic texts and literature, they most often appear to be associated with moments of death and national tragedy.[3][2] They appear in multiple angelic hierarchies, ranking first among the ten orders of angels in the Berit Menuchah,[5] second in the Zohar,[3][5] third by Maimonides,[3][5][6][7][8] and tenth in the Maseket Azilut.[4]

  1. ^ "Chabad". Chabad.
  2. ^ a b c Scherman, Rabbi Nosson (1996). Stone Edition Tanach. ArtScroll Mesorah Publications. p. 1008. ISBN 978-0827608047.
  3. ^ a b c d Dennis, Geoffrey W. (2016). The Encyclopedia of Jewish Myth, Magic, and Mysticism: Second Edition. Llewellyn. p. 128. ISBN 978-0738745916.
  4. ^ a b Davidson, Gustav (1994). Dictionary of Angels: Including the Fallen Angels. Free Press. p. 107. ISBN 978-0029070529.
  5. ^ a b c Davidson, Gustav (1994). Dictionary of Angels: Including the Fallen Angels. Free Press. p. 337. ISBN 978-0029070529.
  6. ^ Maimon, Salomon. "Mishneh Torah". Sefaria.
  7. ^ Davidson, Gustav (1994). Dictionary of Angels: Including the Fallen Angels. Free Press. p. 336. ISBN 978-0029070529.
  8. ^ Maimon, Salomon. "Yesodei haTorah". Chabad.