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Yabbasha, Arqa, Tebhel
and
Heled.
15
    (
d
)
Arqa
, the Fifth Earth, contains Gehenna and its seven layers, each with its storehouses of darkness. The highest of these is
Sheol
, and beneath lie others named Perdition, The Lowest Pit, The Bilge, Silence, The Gates of Death and The Gates of the Shadow of Death. The fire of each layer is sixty times fiercer than that immediately below. Here the wicked are punished, and angels torture them. 16
    Tebhel
, the Sixth Earth, contains hills, mountains, valleys and plains, inhabited by no fewer than three hundred and sixty-five kinds of creatures. Some have the heads and bodies of oxen, but are endowed with human speech; others have twin heads, four ears and four eyes, twin noses and mouths, four hands and four legs, yet only one trunk. When seated they look like two people; but when they walk, like one. As they eat and drink, the twin heads quarrel and accuse each other of taking more than a fair share; nevertheless, they pass for righteous beings. 17
    Heled
, our own Earth, the seventh, needs no description. 18
    (
e
) Opinions vary as to whether there are two, three, seven or ten Heavens; 19 but doubtless their number agrees with that of the seven Earths. 20 The Firmament covers Earth like a dome-shaped lid; 21 its edges touch the surrounding Ocean. The hooks of Heaven are sunk in these waters. 22
    An Arab once led Rabba bar Bar-Hana to the very edge of Earth, where the Firmament is fastened down. Rabba had brought a basketful of bread and, since this was the hour of prayer, set it on the heavenly window-ledge. Later he looked in vain for the basket, and asked: ‘Who has stolen my bread?’ The Arab answered: ‘No man, but the wheel of the Firmament has turned while you prayed. Wait until tomorrow, and you will eat bread again.’ 23
    Some describe Earth as a hall open only to the north; because once the Sun, moving from east to west, has reached the north-western corner, it turns and goes upwards and backwards, this time behind the dome of the Firmament. Thus, since the Firmament is opaque, the Sun’s return journey causes night upon Earth. After reaching the east, however, it passes once more below the dome of the Firmament, and shines for all mankind. 24
    (
f
) Rabbi Shimon ben Laqish names the seven Heavens as follows:
Wilon, Raqi‘a, Shehaqim, Zebhul, Ma‘on, Makhon
, and ‘
Arabhoth.
25 They are all fixed and vaulted over Earth, one above the other, like the skins of an onion; except only
Wilon
, the lowest, whichshades the uppermost earth from the heat. At daybreak, therefore,
Wilon
stretches across the sky; but at sundown is rolled away to enable the Moon and stars to shine from
Raqi’a
, the Second Heaven. 26
    (
g
) In
Shehaqim
, a pair of millstones grind manna for the righteous; in
Zebhul
are found the Heavenly Jerusalem, the Temple, and the altar upon which the Archangel Michael offers sacrifices; in
Ma ‘on
, hosts of ministering angels hymn God’s mercy all night long, but fall silent at dawn, thus allowing Him to hear His praises sung by Israel below;
Makhon
contains storehouses of snow and hailstones, lofts of dews and rains, chambers of storms, and caves of fog; in ‘
Arabhoth
abide Justice, Law and Charity, the treasures of Life, Peace and Blessing, the souls of the righteous, the souls of the yet unborn, the dew with which God will revive the dead, the chariot seen by Ezekiel in a vision, the ministering angels, and the Divine Throne. 27
    (
h
) According to a very different view, the lowest Heaven contains clouds, winds, air, the Upper Waters, the two hundred angels appointed to watch the stars, and storehouses of snow, ice and dews with their guardian angels.
    In the Second Heaven complete darkness reigns over the sinners chained there in expectation of Judgement.
    In the Third Heaven lies the Garden of Eden, full of marvellous fruit trees, including the Tree of Life under which God rests whenever He comes on a visit. Two rivers issue from Eden: one