Texts in Conversation
Daniel 10 describes angelic princes fighting over Persia and Greece while Michael guards Israel. Jubilees reshapes this tradition, describing spirits that rule the nations but insists Israel has no angelic patron, since God alone governs it.
Share:
2500 BCE
1000+ CE
Daniel 10:20
Hebrew Bible
19 He said to me, “Don’t be afraid, you who are highly valued. Peace be to you! Be strong! Be really strong!” When he spoke to me, I was strengthened. I said, “Sir, you may speak now, for you have given me strength.” 20 He said, “Do you know why I have come to you? Now I am about to return to engage in battle with the prince of Persia. When I go, the prince of Greece is coming. 21 However, I will first tell you what is written in a dependable book. (There is no one who strengthens me against these princes, except Michael your prince.
Jubilees 15:31
Pseudepigrapha
30 For the Lord did not draw near to himself either Ishmael, his sons, his brothers, or Esau. He did not choose them simply because they were among Abraham’s children, for he knew them. But he chose Israel to be his people. 31 He sanctified them and gathered them from all mankind. For there are many nations and many peoples and all belong to him. He made spirits rule over all in order to lead them astray from following him. 32 But over Israel he made no angel or spirit rule because he alone is their ruler. He will guard them and require them for himself from his angels, his spirits, and everyone, and all his powers so that he may guard them and bless them and so that they may be his and he theirs from now and forever. 33 I am now telling you that the Israelites will prove false to this ordinance. They will not circumcise their sons in accord with this entire law because they will leave some of the flesh of their circumcision when they circumcise their sons. All the people of Belial will leave their sons uncircumcised just as they were born.
Search:
Notes and References
... In the apocalyptic assumption that earthly realities reflect and mirror heavenly ones, the princes of Persia and Greece, that is, their angelic patrons, oppose the archangels who stand up for Israel. And their order, Persia followed by Greece, parallels the events of terrestrial history: The dominion of the Persian Empire was brought to an end by Alexander the Great and his successors (compare Daniel 8). Here is the same basic concept of Deuteronomy 32:8-9; Sirach 17:17 and Jubilees 15:31-32, with the one significant development that now Israel also has an angelic patron: Michael (10:21; compare also 12:1) ...
* 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.