Zohar (1:055b) When Adam was in the Garden of Eden, G-d
sent down to him a book by the hand of Raziel, the angel in charge of the holy
mysteries. In this book were supernal inscriptions containing the sacred
wisdom, and seventy-two branches of wisdom expounded so as to show the
formation of six hundred and seventy inscriptions of higher mysteries. In the
middle of the book was a secret writing explaining the thousand and five
hundred keys which were not revealed even to the holy angels, and all of which
were locked up in this book until it came into the hands of Adam. When Adam
obtained it, all the holy angels gathered round him to hear him read it, and
when he began they exclaimed: “Be thou exalted, O Lord, above the heavens, let
thy glory be above all the earth. Thereupon the holy angel Hadarniel was
secretly sent to say to him: “Adam, Adam, reveal not the glory of the Master,
for to thee alone and not to the angels is the privilege given to know the
glory of thy Master.” Therefore he kept it by him secretly until he left the
Garden of Eden. While he was there he studied it diligently, and utilised
constantly the gift of his Master until he discovered sublime mysteries which
were not known even to the celestial ministers. When, however, he transgressed
the command of his Master, the book flew away from him. Adam then beat his
breast and wept, and entered the river Gihon up to his neck, so that his body
became all wrinkled and his face haggard. God thereupon made a sign to Raphael
to return to him the book, which he then studied for the rest of his life.
