Hekhalot Rabbati

Hekhalot Rabbati (The Bigger Palaces), the 'Bigger Book of Heavenly Palaces' or Pirkei Hekhalot, is the longest surviving text in Hekhalot literature. The book  is a collection of the early mysticism of Judaism.

The text is written in Hebrew with some Aramaic phrases and some transliterated Greek words and phrases. The only complete and english translation is Morton Smith's 30-chapter translation.

The text describes the rise of Rabbi Ishmael into heaven.

It contains a report on a ritual practice for travel ('descent') to the divine throne room, and it is also full of Merkavah hymns recited by various heavenly and earthly beings. It describes six of the seven palaces of God and in particular contains a number of special names of God.

== Literature ==

• Hekhalot Rabbati  - M. Smith - Don Karr, pdf
• Apocalyptic and Merkavah Mysticism, Gruenwald : Masekhet Hekhalot