Texts in Conversation
1 Enoch 40 describes four angels who intercede and restrain hostile powers. The Testament of Dan also describes angels with similar roles, reflecting Jewish traditions that developed and expanded angelic hierarchies.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
1 Enoch 40:8
Pseudepigrapha
6 The third voice I heard praying and interceding for those who dwell on the earth and making requests in the name of the Lord of Spirits. 7 The fourth voice I heard fending off the Satans, forbidding them to come before the Lord of Spirits to accuse those who dwell on the earth. 8 After that I asked the angel of peace who went with me, who showed me everything that is hidden: 'Who are these four presences I have seen, whose words I have heard and written down?'
Testament of Dan 6:5
Testament of the Twelve Patriarchs
Pseudepigrapha
3 This is why the enemy is eager to destroy all who call on the Lord. 4 For he knows that on the day Israel repents, the kingdom of the enemy will be brought to an end. 5 For the angel of peace himself will strengthen Israel, so that it does not fall into the depths of evil. 6 In the time of Israel's lawlessness, the Lord will not depart from them, but will transform them into a nation that does his will, for none of the angels will be equal to him. 7 His name will be in every place in Israel and among the Gentiles.
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Notes and References
"... Michael has a specific connection to trees and medicine. Thus he teaches agriculture in Vita 22:2; reveals the fruits of the tree to be eaten in the future by the righteous in 1 Enoch 25, and is one of the four who plant the trees in paradise in 3 Baruch 4:7; he helps Eve (together with other angels) to give birth to Cain ... Perhaps the archangel in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 is originally connected with Michael who is portrayed as blowing the trumpet to call to judgment (Apocalypse of Moses 22:1). The 'angel of peace' Compare Testament of Dan 6:1-5; Testament of Asher 6:5; Testament of Benjamin 6:1) identifies the four faces with the four archangels (l Enoch 40:8), i.e., he himself is not to be confused with Michael. The 'interceding angel' (1 Enoch 89:76; 90:14; Testament of Levi 5:6) could well be Michael, but he is not called so, although there are some resemblances: e.g. in Testament of Asher 6:5, entering into, eternal life, or the dualism with 'Belial' in Testament of Benjamin 6:1 ..."
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