Sandalphon

Sandalphon (In Greek Σανταλφών , approximately meaning "co-brother") is an archangel in some Jewish (specially rabbinic ) and Christian writings. He is originally said to be the prophet Elijah transformed into the Angel of Prayer and wears a black robe. Some sources describe him as the "twin-brother" of Metatron , who was held to have been Enoch and therefore had a similar human origin as Sandalphon. He is also described as being one member of the "sarim" (Angelic Princes), a and a 'hazzan'(master) of heavenly song, by the same sources that claim he is Metatron's twin. He exceeds Hadraniel in height by a 500-year foot journey, and he is regarded as one of the tallest hierarchs in the celestial realms: Moses, sighting him in the 3rd Heaven, called him "the tall angel". Talmud Hagiga 13b says his head reaches Heaven (which is said also of Israfel and of the Greek giant Typhon ), with whom he seems to have the same mythological roots. In The Greater Key of Solomon , he is designated "the left-hand feminine cherub of the ark." In the liturgy for the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles , he is credited with gathering the prayers of the faithful, making a garland of such prayers, and then "adjuring them to ascend as an orb to the supreme King of Kings." In Enoch 3, he is the ruler of the 6th Heaven (makon) but in The Zohar he is "chief of the 7th Heaven." According to Islamic lore, he dwells in the 4th Heaven. As Michael does, he carries on a ceaseless battle with the apparently indestructible Samael ( Satan ), prince of evil. The ancient sages identified him with Ophan. He is also said to be instrumental in bringing about the differentiation of sex in the embryo. In Qabbalah, he is also the angel of Malkhuth and is also named (or confused with) Methattron, and somehow related to the Shekhinah and supposedly receives the prayers of men and sends them to God . v t e¹