{{Short description|Angel class in Judaism}} '''Erelim''' ({{Langx|he|אֶרְאֶלִּים}}, ''ʾErʾellīm''; sing. אֶרְאֵל, ''ʾErʾēl''; "valiant ones"), is a class of angel whose existence is derived from a verse in the book of Isaiah<ref>{{Cite web|title=Chabad|url=https://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/15964/showrashi/true/jewish/Chapter-33.htm|website=Chabad}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Scherman|first=Rabbi Nosson|title=Stone Edition Tanach|publisher=ArtScroll Mesorah Publications|year=1996|isbn=978-0827608047|pages=1008}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite book|last=Dennis|first=Geoffrey W.|title=The Encyclopedia of Jewish Myth, Magic, and Mysticism: Second Edition|publisher=Llewellyn|year=2016|isbn=978-0738745916|pages=128}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite book|last=Davidson|first=Gustav|title=Dictionary of Angels: Including the Fallen Angels|publisher=Free Press|year=1994|isbn=978-0029070529|pages=107}}</ref> regarding the impending invasion of Jerusalem by Sennacherib during the reign of King Hezekiah.<ref name=":0" />
While the erelim are ascribed numerous functions in Jewish and Kabbalistic texts and literature, they most often appear to be associated with moments of death and national tragedy.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" /> They appear in multiple angelic hierarchies, ranking first among the ten orders of angels in the Berit Menuchah,<ref name=":3">{{Cite book|last=Davidson|first=Gustav|title=Dictionary of Angels: Including the Fallen Angels|publisher=Free Press|year=1994|isbn=978-0029070529|pages=337}}</ref> second in the Zohar,<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3" /> third by Maimonides,<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite web|last=Maimon|first=Salomon|title=Mishneh Torah|url=https://www.sefaria.org/Mishneh_Torah%2C_Foundations_of_the_Torah.2.7?ven=The_Mishneh_Torah_by_Maimonides._trans._by_Moses_Hyamson,_1937-1949&lang=bi|website=Sefaria}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Davidson|first=Gustav|title=Dictionary of Angels: Including the Fallen Angels|publisher=Free Press|year=1994|isbn=978-0029070529|pages=336}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Maimon|first=Salomon|title=Yesodei haTorah|url=https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/904962/jewish/Yesodei-haTorah-Chapter-Two.htm|website=Chabad}}</ref> and tenth in the Maseket Azilut.<ref name=":2" />
==See also== * Angels in Judaism * Jewish angelic hierarchy
== References == <references />
== External links == * [https://books.google.com/books?id=yp1kvsx409gC&dq=erelim&pg=PA54 Dictionary of Angels]
Category:Angels in Judaism Category:Classes of angels