Texts in Conversation
1 Enoch 10 describes Azazel as the source of human sin. The Dead Sea Scroll 4Q180 follows this tradition, describing Azazel as the leader of the rebellious angels, showing how the Dead Sea Scrolls community used 1 Enoch as scripture.
Share:
1 Enoch 10:8
Pseudepigrapha
6 On the day of great judgment he shall be thrown into the fire. And restore the earth which the angels have corrupted, and announce the restoration of the earth, so that the plague may be healed, and all the children of men may not perish due to the secrets that the Watchers have revealed and taught their children.' 8 The entire earth has been corrupted by the deeds taught by Azâzal: attribute all sin to him.' 9 And to Gabriel, the Lord said: 'Proceed against the bastards, the outcasts, and the children of fornication: and destroy them; make them fight one another, so they may destroy each other in battle: for they shall not have long lives. 10 And no request made by their fathers on their behalf will be granted; for they hope to live an eternal life, and each one of them thinks he will live five hundred years.' 11 And the Lord said to Michael: 'Go, bind Semjâzâ and his companions who have joined with women and defiled themselves with them in all their uncleanness.
Date: 200-50 B.C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
Source
4Q180
The Ages of the Creation
Dead Sea Scrolls
Interpretation concerning the ages made by God, all the ages for the accomplishment [of all the events, past] and future. Before ever He created them, He determined the works of ... age by age. And it was engraved on [heavenly] tablets... the ages of their domination. This is the order of the cre[ation of man from Noah to Abraham, un]til he begot Isaac; ten [weeks (of years)]. And the interpretation concerns Azazel and the angels who [came to the daughters of men; and] they bore to them giants. And concerning Azazel ... and iniquity, and to cause them all to inherit wickedness... judgements and judgement of the congregation.
Date: 160 B.C.E. - 60 B.C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
Source
Search:
Notes and References
"... Several Qumran materials also appear cognizant of this angelological reinterpretation of the scapegoat figure when they choose to depict Azazel as the eschatological leader of the fallen angels, incorporating him into the story of the Watchers’ rebellion. Thus, 4Q180 1:1–10 reads ..."
Orlov, Andrei
The Eschatological Yom Kippur in the Apocalypse of Abraham: Part I: The Scapegoat Ritual
(pp. 79-111) Marquette Theology Faculty Research and Publications 85, 2009
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
Your Feedback:
Leave a Comment
Anonymous comments are welcome. All comments are subject to moderation.