Fire and Revelation in Song of Songs Rabbah

Ben Azai was sitting and expounding and fire was surrounding him. They went and told R. Akiva, “Rabbi, Ben Azai is sitting and expounding, and fire is burning around him. [R. Akiva] went to him and said to him, “I heard that you were expounding and fire was burning around you.” He said to [R. Akiva], “Yes.” [R. Akiva] said to him, “Perhaps you were engaged in the esoterica of the divine chariot?” He said to [R. Akiva], “No, but rather I was sitting and stringing together matters of Torah, from Torah to Prophets, and from Prophets to Writings, and the matters were as joyful as when they were given from Sinai, and as sweet as when they were first given.”

Translated by Joshua Schreier.