1. They raised me up into a certain place,[59] where there was the
appearance of a burning fire; and when they pleased they assumed the
likeness of men.
2. They carried me to a lofty spot, to a mountain, the top of which
reached to heaven.
3. And I beheld the receptacles of light and of thunder at the
extremities of the place, where it was deepest. There was a bow of fire,
and arrows in their quiver, a sword of fire, and every species of
lightning.
4. Then they elevated me to a babbling stream,[60] and to a fire in the
west, which received all the setting of the sun. I came to a river of
fire, which flowed like water, and emptied itself into the great sea
westwards.
5. I saw every large river, until I arrived at the great darkness. I
went to where all of flesh migrate; and I beheld the mountains of the
gloom which constitutes winter, and the place from which issues the
water in every abyss.
6. I saw also the mouths of all the rivers in the world, and the mouths
of the deep.
Footnote 58:
Paris MS., in which however the title of chap. xvii. is omitted,
although the section is noticed.
Footnote 59:
_one place._
Footnote 60:
_to water of life, which spoke._