Herb,
My apologies. I do not understand your question. Could you re-state it? Perhaps you intended it as a rhetorical question? George On Tue, 20 Aug 2002 08:07:56 +0300 Herbert Basser <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: > > > moer likely the myth's explanation has to do with the term "nefilim" > and > their description in Genesis. more exegesis than history. where do > you > find history coded in myth in these literatures? > > Herb Basser > > > > > Boccaccini, on page 142 of BEYOND THE ESSENE HYPOTHESIS > > mentions a text that I had not encountered before: > > > > Pages 141-142: > > "In the Testaments the emphasis on human responsibility > > reaches a degree of intensity that was unknown in the previous > > Enochic tradition. The document signals an epochal change in the > > interpretation of the sin of the Watchers. Human beings are not > > mere victims of the angelic sin but jointly responsible. The > > blame shifts from angels to women. "They [women] charmed the > > Watchers, who were before the flood. As they continued looking > > at the women, they were filled with desire ... for them. They > > they were transformed into human males... Since the women's > > minds were filled with desire for these apparitions, they > > gave birth to giants" (Testament of Reuben 5:6-7)." > > > > "The psychologization of the myth of the fallen angels denies > > the equation of impurity and evil that Jubiliees had established > > and the Qumran sectarians turned into one of the foundations > > of the doctrine of evil." > > > > [END OF CLIPS] > > > > So here we have the chain of events. The fallen angels > > become human males. They have giants as children. The > > giants are killed, but the evil spirits of the fallen > > angels live on as immortal souls. > > > > In these discussion of the Watchers, I cannot help but > > wonder how any ancient student of these ancient texts could > > have avoided linking the "wicked" Watchers with the > > "wickedness" of the Samaritans/Keepers/Watchers. The > > New Testament appears to be a snapshot of Jewish bias against > > "sinners".... people who are not gentile, but live north > > of Judah. Couldn't this be a part of Jewish bias against > > Samaritans? Centurions don't seem to excite nearly the > > same level of wrath that these "sinners" appear to. > > > > Boccaccini, at the front of the book, depicts a flow chart > > of the evolution of Jewish sectarianism on "FIGURE 2. A MAP OF > > MIDDLE JUDAISMS". On this chart, he shows Samaritanism as a > > 4th century offshoot of Zadokite Judaism, while Enochic > > Judaism is depicted emerging PARALLEL to Zadokite thought, > > and leading directly into Essene thought. > > > > In the book it is sometimes suggested that Enochian thought > > had its source the obscure period in Persia, prior to the return. > > And yet, the only reference in the Old Testament that connects > > to a dissident form of priesthood opposed to the Zadokite views > > AND yet is still a part of the Jersusalem cultus is the reference > > by Ezekiel to the priestly faction that prays to the sun with > > its back to the Temple. > > > > This description precedes the deportation to Babylon, for the > > temple is still standing. Who could this priestly faction > > have been? I have suggested the Rechabites, since they were > > in Jerusalem before its destruction. Suda ALSO suggests the > > Rechabites, for reasons unknown. And in a completely independent > > thread, we see congruence between the Syrian cult of Shai al' Qaum > > and the Nabataean practices of avoiding wine, living in houses, > > and avoiding agriculture. > > > > In the Books of the Maccabees we find a close affinity between > > the Maccabean forces and the Nabateans. In Josephus we find Banus > > who still avoids agriculture. And in Deuteronomy we find an > unsually > > kind view of Edomites, with other Old Testament references to the > > Edomites also having their promised covenants with Yahweh. > > > > While I can't pretend to have all the answers proved, I think > > there is more than enough here to suggest further investigation. > > > > George Brooks > > Tampa, FL > > > > For private reply, e-mail to Herbert Basser > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > ---------------------------------------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from Orion, e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with > the > message: "unsubscribe Orion." Archives are on the Orion Web > site, http://orion.mscc.huji.ac.il. > (PLEASE REMOVE THIS TRAILOR BEFORE REPLYING TO THE MESSAGE) For private reply, e-mail to George Brooks <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ---------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe from Orion, e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message: "unsubscribe Orion." Archives are on the Orion Web site, http://orion.mscc.huji.ac.il. (PLEASE REMOVE THIS TRAILOR BEFORE REPLYING TO THE MESSAGE)
