Editing Archangel (section)

==Judaism==
[[File:Jacob Wrestling with the Angel.jpg|thumb|''[[Jacob]] Wrestling with the Angel'' by [[Gustave Doré]], 1885]]

The [[Hebrew Bible]] uses the term מלאכי אלהים (''malakhey Elohim''; Angels of God),<ref name=chabad>{{cite web|last=Davidson|first=Baruch S.|url=http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/692875/jewish/What-Are-Angels.htm|title=What Are Angels?|publisher=Chabad.org|access-date=2014-03-11}}</ref> The Hebrew word for angel is "malakh", which means messenger, for the angels מלאכי יי (''malakhey Adonai''; Angels of the Lord) are God's messengers to perform various missions - e.g. 'angel of death';<ref>[http://jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/5018-death-angel-of DEATH, ANGEL OF] "the "destroying angel" ("mal'ak ha-mashḥit")" Jewish Encyclopedia</ref> בני אלהים (''b'nei elohim''; sons of God) and הקדושים (''ha-q'doshim''; the holy ones) to refer to beings traditionally interpreted as ''angelic messengers''. Other terms are used in later texts, such as העליונים (ha-elyonim, ''the upper ones'', or ''the supreme ones''). References to angels are uncommon in Jewish literature except in later works such as the [[Book of Daniel]], though they are mentioned briefly in the stories of [[Jacob]] (who according to one interpretation wrestled with an angel) and [[Lot (Bible)|Lot]] (who was warned by angels of the impending destruction of the cities of [[Sodom and Gomorrah]]). [[Daniel (biblical figure)|Daniel]] is the first biblical figure to refer to individual angels by name.<ref name="jpmmbk">{{cite encyclopedia|url=http://jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/1521-angelology|title=ANGELOLOGY|author=Ludwig Blau|author2=Kaufmann Kohler|encyclopedia=Jewish Encyclopedia|date=1908|access-date=2014-03-11}}</ref> It is therefore widely speculated that Jewish interest in angels developed during the [[Babylonian captivity]].<ref>[http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Judaism.html "Judaism: The Postexilic Period"], ''International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences''</ref> According to [[Rabbi]] [[Simeon ben Lakish]] of [[Tiberias]] (230–270 A.D.), specific names for the angels were brought back by the Jews from [[Babylon]].

There are no explicit references to archangels in the [[Biblical canon|canonical]] texts of the [[Hebrew Bible]]. In [[Rabbinic Judaism|post-Biblical Judaism]], certain angels came to take on a particular significance and developed unique personalities and roles. Though these archangels were believed to have ranked amongst the [[heavenly host]], no systematic hierarchy ever developed. [[Metatron]] is considered one of the highest of the angels in [[Merkabah|Merkavah]] and [[kabbalah|Kabbalist]] mysticism and often serves as a scribe. He is briefly mentioned in the Talmud,<ref>Sanhedrin 38b and Avodah Zarah 3b.</ref> and figures prominently in Merkavah mystical texts. Michael, who serves as a warrior and advocate for Israel,<ref>{{Bibleverse||Daniel|10:13|KJV}}</ref> is looked upon particularly fondly. Gabriel is mentioned in the Book of Daniel<ref>{{Bibleverse||Daniel|8:15-17|KJV}}</ref> and briefly in the Talmud,<ref>cf. Sanhedrin 95b</ref> as well as many Merkavah mystical texts. The earliest references to archangels are in the literature of the intertestamental periods (e.g., 4 [[Esdras]] 4:36).

In the [[Kabbalah]] there are traditionally twelve archangels, who are each assigned to a certain [[sephirot|sephira]]: [[Shubael]], [[Raziel]], [[Cassiel]], [[Zadkiel]], [[Camael]], [[Michael (archangel)|Michael]], [[Uriel]] & [[Haniel]], [[Raphael (archangel)|Raphael]] & [[Jophiel]], [[Gabriel]], and [[Azrael]]. There are also a variety of other archangels who share similar associations spanning throughout this tradition.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kessler |first=Dr. Samuel J. |title=Above Sinai: Midrashim on the Conversations in Heaven. |url=https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/172341?lang=bi |website=Sefaria.}}</ref> Chapter 20 of the [[Book of Enoch]] mentions seven holy angels who watch, that often are considered the seven archangels: Michael, Raphael, Gabriel, [[Uriel]], [[Sariel]], [[Raguel (angel)|Raguel]], and [[Jerahmeel (archangel)|Remiel]].<ref name="oxford">Metzger & Coogan (1993) ''Oxford Companion to the Bible'', Oxford University Press, [https://books.google.com/books?id=Y2KGVuym5OUC&pg=PA54 p. 54], {{ISBN|9780199743919}}</ref> The [[Life of Adam and Eve]] lists the archangels as well: Michael, Gabriel, Uriel, Raphael and [[Jehoel|Joel]]. 
Medieval [[Jewish philosopher]] [[Maimonides]] made a [[Jewish angelic hierarchy]].