issim (aishim; ashim; ischim; izachim)

Angels who live in the fifth HEAVEN and who are made of snow and ice. Their primary duty is to extol the glory of God. Issim means “valorous men” or “men of God,” and is applied to both saintly men and angels. In the KABBALAH they are the beautiful souls of just men (saints). The Zohar equates them with the BENE ELOHIM ( THRONES ) and says they are ruled by Azazel and also Zephaniah as their chief. The issim are ranked the 10th order of angels in importance in the Zohar; sixth in the Maset Azilut; and second in the Berith Menucha. They also are sometimes equated with the ERELIM . The issim are known as the “Flaming Ones” and “the Souls of Fire,” and are referenced in Psalms 104:4: “who makest the winds thy messengers, fire and flame thy ministers.” The issim are mentioned in the Book of Judges. Manoah and his wife, who are childless, are visited by an “ ANGEL OF THE LORD ” or “man of God” who tells them they will have a son. The wife tells Manoah: A man of God came to me, and his countenance of the angel of God, very terrible; I did not ask him whence he came, and he did not tell me his name, but he said to me, “Behold, you shall conceive and bear a son.” (Judges 13:6–7)MOSES sees the issim where he visits the fifth heaven. The issim also is a name of the ANIMISTICS ( dii ani- malie ) or “Blessed Souls,” who are half human and half angel or god and who rule the 10th sephirah, Malkuth (Kingdom), governed by Metatron.