Jeffrey,
it is a fine and utmost linear approach to the scomplex theme. Perhaps a
clarification of angels as 'Watchers (of the Heavens)', predominant at least
in the DSS corpus, would be appreciated.
And - as usual - I came across the chosen terminology, i.e. angels as 'Holy
Ones', IMO self-contradictory already in a vertical reading of Da 4.17 and -
well recognizable in the widespread refs. to exclusively human 'Holy Ones'
in NT, e.g. in Acts. In all likelihood the reason of your choice is founded
in the (post-) 'Pauline' / Catholic paradigm shift in theogony, wherein, as
a by-product, the inner structure of the pyramid of spiritual ascension was
turned upside down, eventually to cement or to accelerate the progress of
separation from the elder Jewish philosophy. However, from now one the 'Holy
Ones' should form the peak instead of the former basis of a pyramid that
originally had aspired at the Torah perfection of the 'Pious Ones'. But the
consequence of any backward thinking, consciously or unconsciously, is a
fundamental misunderstanding of all those ancient texts that precede this
new spiritual order.
Consequently I am still sceptical concerning Theo Gaster's 'thesis' of an
equation of 'Holy Ones' with angels (per se?), at least in absence of any
reference. Please disabuse me if necessary.
tot ziens,
_Dierk
RU Nijmegen, NL
-------------------------------------------
kullu nafsin dsa 'iqatu l-mawt (surah 3.185)
*all living is pervaded by the taste of death*
[Momentum of Shiite al-Mahdi Messianism]
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