The Four Who Entered Pardes
About This Entry
This talmudic narrative describes the journey of four famous tannaim, Ben Azzai, Ben Zoma, R. Akiva, and Elisha ben Abuya, to God’s throne room and their encounter with the divine. With the exception of R. Akiva, each is transformed by this experience. This narrative echoes the “otherworldly journeys” to the heavens and to God’s throne room found in earlier apocalyptic texts (see Otherworldly Journeys). See also “The Sayings of ‘The Four Who Entered the Garden (Pardes).’”
The sages taught: Four entered the orchard [pardes], and they are as follows: Ben Azzai; and ben Zoma; Aḥer, [the “other,” a name for Elisha ben Abuya]; and R. Akiva. R. Akiva, [the senior among them,] said to them, “When, [upon your arrival in the upper worlds,] you reach pure marble stones, do not say, ‘Water, water,’ [although they appear to be water,] because it is stated: He who speaks falsehood shall not be established before My eyes (Psalm 101:7).”
Ben Azzai glimpsed [at the Divine Presence] and died. And with regard to him the verse states: Precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of His pious ones (Psalm 116:15). Ben Zoma glimpsed [the Divine Presence] and was harmed, [i.e., he lost his mind]. And with regard to him the verse states: Have you found honey? Eat as much as is sufficient for you, lest you become full from it and vomit it (Proverbs 25:16). Aḥer chopped down the shoots [of saplings. In other words, he became a heretic]. R. Akiva came out safely.
Notes
Words in brackets appear in the original translation.
Credits
From Koren Talmud Bavli, Noé Edition, trans. Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz (Jerusalem: Koren Publishers Jerusalem, 2019). Accessed via the William Davidson digital edition, sefaria.org. Adapted with permission of Koren Publishers Ltd.
Published in: The Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, vol. 2: Emerging Judaism.
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This talmudic narrative describes the journey of four famous tannaim, Ben Azzai, Ben Zoma, R. Akiva, and Elisha ben Abuya, to God’s throne room and their encounter with the divine. With the exception of R. Akiva, each is transformed by this experience. This narrative echoes the “otherworldly journeys” to the heavens and to God’s throne room found in earlier apocalyptic texts (see Otherworldly Journeys). See also “The Sayings of ‘The Four Who Entered the Garden (Pardes).’”
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