What is the primary purpose of the Book of Raziel? What kinds of knowledge and abilities are said to be attainable through the Book of Mysteries? What is the significance of the 72 Names? Here we will look at these questions and more as we dive into the Book of Raziel.
The Central Theme
The Book of Raziel primarily serves as a source of profound wisdom and understanding of divine mysteries. Its central theme revolves around the importance of reverence for God . This is manifested as reverence of the Lord, Shaddai, and Elohim and it to be understood as the foundation of true knowledge, righteousness, and a connection to the divine. The book promises to reveal secrets to the humble and guide them on a path away from evil towards spiritual enlightenment.
The Three Secrets
The text outlines three categories of divine secrets:
- the secret of the Chariot (Merkabah)
- the secret of Genesis (creation)
- the secret of the laws of God
Correspondingly, it describes three forms of reverence for heaven:
- Reverence of the Lord
- Reverence of Shaddai
- Reverence of Elohim
Each carries a distinct nuances in terms of love, service, and fear of temptation and judgment.
The Significance of Sacrifices and Righteousness
The book draws parallels between three kinds of offerings (burnt, peace, and sin offerings) and three classes of righteousness (love, petition, and reverence). The burnt offering corresponds to love as a sacrifice to God’s glory, the peace offering to petition for the living body, and the sin offering to reverence, aimed at deliverance from curses. It emphasizes that true service to God stems from love, petition arises from reverence, and righteousness involves giving glory and honor to God above all else.
Shaddai
The name Shaddai is presented as a powerful divine name associated with protection from evil spirits and the blessing of fruitfulness and multiplication. The book details specific letter combinations and gematria related to Shaddai, emphasizing its inscription on the Mezuzah as a safeguard. Reverence for Shaddai is linked to divine aid, protection, and the fulfillment of the command to “be fruitful and multiply” (Genesis 1:28).
The Transmission of Divine Knowledge
The texts describe a lineage through which divine wisdom was passed down. The Book of Raziel alludes to secrets revealed to prophets and the importance of its teachings being given to the humble. The Book of Mysteries explicitly traces its origin from Raziel the angel to Adam, and then through a patriarchal line of Seth, Enoch, Noah, and so forth to Moses, Joshua, the elders, prophets, and eventually King Solomon. This highlights a chain of transmission of sacred knowledge.
Knowledge and Abilities
The Book of Mysteries claims to reveal profound insights into the workings of the cosmos, including the movements of celestial bodies. It reveals the names and roles of angels in different firmaments, the governing forces of judges, and the understanding of life and death, good and evil, and the interpretation of dreams. It also suggests the ability to influence earthly events such as healing, peace, and dominion over minds through the understanding and application of its mysteries.
The 72 Names
The 72 Names appear to represent specific divine energies or aspects of God’s power and attributes, each associated with particular functions, blessings, and connections to the Sefirot and other Kabbalistic concepts. They are described as “watches” or “revealers” of various aspects of the divine, influencing everything from mercy and judgment to unity and creation. Understanding and utilizing these names is implied to grant access to specific divine influences and abilities.
The Promise
The Book of Raziel is presented as a direct response to Adam’s prayer of repentance and plea for knowledge after his expulsion from Paradise. Angel Raziel appeared to Adam with the book. The angel was tasked with teaching him pure words and deep understanding about his future and the destiny of his descendants. The book promises that those who read it in purity, with devotion and humility, and obey its precepts, will gain foreknowledge of events. This will unlock an understand calamities and blessings, and ultimately find peace and protection from evil influences.
