Archangel Raziel
The angel Raziel, (Hebrew: רָזִיאֵל Rāzīʾēl, "God is my Mystery") is an archangel within the teachings of Jewish Kabbalah who is the "Angel of Secrets" and the "Angel of Mysteries."
He is also called "Keeper of All Magic." He is one of the angels associated with the sephirah Chokhmah of Kabbalah, alongside Jophiel. In the hierarchy of angels, Raziel rules over the choir of Cherubim with Jophiel.
Attributes and function
Various teachings assign Raziel to diverse roles, including that of a cherub, a member of the Ophanim, and chief of the Erelim. Raziel, under the alternate name "Gallitsur" (Revealer of The Rock) is described as the "ruling prince of the 2nd Heaven". He is said to expound the "Torah's divine wisdom" and protects the ministering angels from the living creatures that uphold the universe.
Most grimoires in the occult tradition state that Raziel frequently spoke with Adam in the Garden of Eden. Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa goes so far as to say they had a "familiar habit" with one another. Other renderings of this text suggest the archangel was the "governor" of Adam while in Eden.
Astrologically, Raziel is associated with the intelligence of the Starry Heaven in conjunction with Archangel Jophiel, with whom Raziel is closely linked.
Authorship of the Sefer Raziel HaMalakh
The Sefer Raziel HaMalakh (Book of Raziel the Angel) is a book of magic containing all secret magic purported to have been given to Adam by Raziel, who learned the information by standing close to God's throne, hearing and writing down everything. He gave the book to Adam and Eve after they ate from the forbidden tree of the knowledge of good and evil so the two could find their way back "home" and better understand their God. Raziel's fellow angels were deeply disturbed by this, and thus stole the book from Adam and threw it into the ocean. God Himself decided not to punish Raziel, but instead retrieved the book by means of the Rahab and returned it to Adam and Eve.
According to some sources, the book was passed on through the generations to Enoch (In 3 Enoch believed to have later become the angel Metatron), who may have incorporated his own writings into the tome. From Enoch, the Archangel Raphael gave it to Noah, who used the wisdom within to build Noah's Ark. The book, as given to Noah, was inscribed on sapphire plates.
The Book of Raziel was said to have come into the possession of King Solomon, and a number of texts claiming to be this volume have appeared.