Metatron was considered by the Kabbalists to be at the crown of the Kabbalah, or Tree of Existence as the Angel of the Lord. In this role he was siad to have given the Kabbalah to humankind, He was considered to be closest to the throne of God. Metatron is also known as the first and last of the Archangels and is variously called that Chancellor of Heaven, the Angel of the Covenant and the King of Angels.
He was unusual in that Metatron was said to have once been the prophet Enoch (the seventh Partriarch after Adam), who had been taken up by God and given a coronet, 72 wings and innumberable eyes. His flesh was transformed into flame, his sinews into fire, his bones into embers, and he was surrounded by storm, whirlwinds, thunder and lightning. Enoch had been a scribe, and as Metatron he continued his functions, becoming the heavenly scribe who resides in the 7th Heaven and transcibes all heavenly and earthly events. He may be shown with a pen in his hand, recording the deeds of our life in a book, rather as many people describe the Akashic Records.
Some tales talk of Enoch taking into himself the divine spark lost by Adam, and thus being transformed from a human to an Angel.
In ancient lore there were few Angelic functions that Metatron did not cover. The Jewish books talk of his carrying Jewish prayer through 900 heavens till it reached God. He is mentioned in the Kabbalah (the Zohar), the Talmud and in various writings in the Pseudepigapha. Metatron is said in Jewish lore to be the Angel that led the tribes through the wilderness (as Shekinah), and may have been the dark Angel who wrestled with Jacob. Others talk of him as the Angel that stayed the hand of Abraham as he was about to sacrifice his son, and also as the Angel that gave warning of the Flood.
In some Jewish literature his name is taken to another form of God, and over 100 synonyms have been found for his name - whose origin itself is very obscure. In some books he is even called the 'lesser Yahweh' - perhaps equating him with the Gnostic Demi-Urge - God of the earthly regions.
Metatron seems to have taken over many characteristics originally attributed to the Angel Jahoel, one of the Angels of the Presence, that is one of the Angels that are said to stand before God. Jahoel was sometimes said to be the chief of the Seraphim (a role also ascribed to Seraphiel), and to be in charge of the heavenly choir. He was also responsible for holding Leviathen in check, the monster that is said will swallow the souls of sinners on Judgement Day. These duties all came to be associated with Metatron.
Other functions ascribed to Metatron are as Minister to the Throne of Glory, as chief of the Guardian Angels of the '70 peoples of the world', as a minister of wisdom and as the teacher of children who die too soon.
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