Jehoel

Jehoel, also known by variations such as Yahoel, Jahoel, Iaoel, and Yaoel, is an angelic figure whose presence is primarily documented in pseudepigraphical Jewish texts dating from after the 1st century CE. His name is understood to be a composite of the Tetragrammaton, the four-letter Hebrew name of God, and 'el', the Hebrew word for God, thus signifying a profound connection to the divine.

Role in the Apocalypse of Abraham

The most significant appearance of Jehoel is within the Old Church Slavonic manuscripts of the Apocalypse of Abraham. In this work, he is depicted as an associate of the archangel Michael. Jehoel is assigned crucial tasks, including the restraint of the mythical sea creature Leviathan and the destruction of idolaters. These roles highlight his function as an agent of divine justice and order.

Later Traditions and Associations

Later rabbinical literature, such as Hebrew 3 Enoch, lists Yahoel as one of the seventy names attributed to Metatron. This association suggests a perceived overlap or equivalence between Jehoel and Metatron in certain mystical traditions. Furthermore, kabbalistic works from the 13th century, like Abraham Merimon of Granada's Berith Menucha, identify Jehoel specifically as the angel of fire.

Historical Context and Notability

While popular dictionaries of angels have sometimes claimed Jehoel was the chief angel of the Seraphim in unidentified Jewish texts, no verifiable source has been found to substantiate this claim. The angel's name also appears in the autobiography of Avvakum, though corrupted into a different form. Jehoel's significance lies in his depiction within apocryphal and mystical Jewish texts, where he performs powerful and authoritative functions related to cosmic order and divine retribution.