Enochic Judaism: Three Defining Paradigm Exemplars

(Paperback)

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From the 'Books of Enoch' Jackson identifies a paradigm of order as opposed to deviation, which defined orthodoxy and elect identity in a manner which was absolutely exclusive. Over 300 years, 'Enochic Judaism' developed three working models within this paradigm to explain their world view and its implications. These three models concerned 1) the fall of the angels under Shemikhazah (ethnic purity), 2) the revealing of secrets under the leadership of 'Aza'el (cultural purity), and 3) the going astray of the cosmos through the sin of the angels who govern its phenomena (liturgical purity). Jackson examines the ways in which this tradition was developed within the Dead Sea Scrolls literature and notes its acceptance as authentic and authoritative within the so-called sectarian literature in particular.

Reviews

Review ~ International Review of Biblical Studies, vol 51, 2004/05
'Jackson's study is certainly one that scholars who are interested in 1 Enochand Qumran will find stimulating and challenging.' ~ Benjamin Wright, Recensiones
"Jackson's book seeks to find a new path in defining Enochic Judaism, one of the latest discoveries in the field of Middle Jewish research. Jackson's inquiry develops consistently with the premises he poses at the beginning, and the conclusions are consistent with them...I found his work challenging and often inspiring, an approach that questions what students of Enochic Judaism have produced so far and tries to give new answers that surely will inspire new paths in the research on 1 Enoch and related literature. Especially the study of the connections between 1 Enoch and other works, such as Jubilees and the Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs, is really interesting and surely will lead to new developments in research. - RBL, November 2005 * RBL *

Author Bio

David R. Jackson is head of Biblical Studies at the William Carey Christian School, Victoria, Australia.