12 Testaments, Levi. As to the rabbinic literature, see Hagigah; Seder Rabba di-Bereshit 21–26; Sode Raza in Yalkut Reubeni on Gen. 1.1, 3c–4a; Raziel 12a–13d, 19a–19c, and 27c–27d; Zohar II, 254a–263a, whose fantastic description of the seven “Hekalot” (the heavenly halls) is nothing more than an account of the seven heavens. Just as the gnostics speak of three hundred and sixty-five heavens (Tertullian, Haer., 1), even so do the Jewish mystics assert that besides the seven heavens there is still another great number of heavens; comp. BHM I, 132; Alphabetot 89; Sode Raza, loc. cit. With regard to the description of the heavens in the text according to Hagigah, the following is to be noticed. The manna is placed in the third heaven; comp. vol. III, p. 44, and Apocalypse of Baruch 29.8. As to the fourth heaven in which the heavenly temple is situated, comp. Zebahim 62a; Menahot 110a; Kebod Huppah, 11. For the literature apertaining to this subject, see Excursus I. PR 20, 98b, seems to locate the heavenly temple in the seventh heaven. As to the removal of the instruments of punishment from the sixth heaven, comp. Tan. B. I, 99; BR 51.3; Tehillim 5.54. With regard to this subject, i.e., on the idea that no evil is to be found in God’s proximity, see note 9. Comp. further Enoch 60.17, and vol. IV, p. 102. As to the dew for the purpose of quickening the dead, comp. vol. III, p. 95; vol. IV, p. 333, 336, 360. See also the Apocalypse of Baruch 29.7 and 73.2; 2 Enoch 22.9; as well as the “dew of light” of the gnostics in Preuschen, Adamschriften, 63. The old rabbinic sources where this is mentioned are the following: Yerushalmi Berakot 5, 9b; Ta'anit 1, 63d. This dew particularly plays a very important part in mystic literature; comp. PRE 34 (end) and the sources cited by Luria. As to the seventh heaven ʿArabot, comp. BHM I, 132, which is the source for Tolaʿat Yaʿakob (at the end of Asher Yazar).
23 The sea and the water in Jewish legend, like Apsu and Tiamat in Babylonian mythology, are two different elements: the one is sweet water and the other salt water. To point out the exact nature of this difference, Konen 24 uses the phrase מים מתוקים (“sweet water”), in contrast to ים (“sea” = salt water).
24 That is, counted from above downward.
25 Seven names for hell are already given in ‘Erubin 19a, which in Tehillim 11, 100 (with some variants) appear as seven compartments of hell; comp. notes 55–57.
26 Corresponding to the number of days of the solar year.
27 Concerning these monsters, comp. note 34 on vol. I, p. 114.
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