Faces of the Chariot: Development of Rabbinic Exegesis of Ezekiel's Vision of the Divine Chariot (Texte und Studien zum antiken Judentum)

628 Pages·1988·31.43 MB·English

by  David J. Halperin

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TheF aceosft heC hariot
EarlJye wisRhe sponsteos
EzekieVli'ssi on
by
A
J.
DavidH alperin
j
J.C .B . 1988
Mohr( PauSli ebecTkii)b ingen
To my Rose
whomI l ovseov ermyu ch
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r-..'"
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f'\.
CIPK-urzti(edleDareu ufotaBshicmbhele ino thek �
--....,
HalpDearviind,] .:
f"
Thef acoefst heC hariIob ty D aviJd.H alper-in. �-
TiibingeMno:h r1,9 88.
(Texutned S tudizeunm a ntikenJuden1t6u)m ;
ISBN3 -16-145115-5
ISSN0 721-8753
(S-..
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NE:GT
-..,_
-
.:::r
..,......_
© 198b8y J .C .B .M ohr( PauSli ebecPk.)O,.B ox2 040D,- 740T0ii bingen.
Thibso okm ayn otb er eproduicnew dh,o loer i np aritn,a nyf orm( beyotnhda t permitted
byc opyrilgahwtw) i thotuhtep ublishwerri'tstp eenr missTihoinas.p plipeasr ticutloa rly
reproducttiroannss,l atmiiocnrso,fi lamnsds toraagnedp rocessiinen lge ctrsoynsitce ms.
TypesbeytS amB oydE nterpirinSs ien gapoprrei;n tbeydG ulde-DrGumcbkH inT iibin­
genb;o unbdy H einriKcohc hK G inT iibingen.
PrintienGd e rmany.
To my Rose
whomI l ovseov ermyu ch
�
�
\�.�.. .. �:
(),
r-..'"
'.�
f'\.
CIPK-urzti(edleDareu ufotaBshicmbhele ino thek �
--....,
HalpDearviind,] .:
f"
Thef acoefst heC hariIob ty D aviJd.H alper-in. �-
TiibingeMno:h r1,9 88.
(Texutned S tudizeunm a ntikenJuden1t6u)m ;
ISBN3 -16-145115-5
ISSN0 721-8753
(S-..
�
NE:GT
-..,_
-
.:::r
..,......_
© 198b8y J .C .B .M ohr( PauSli ebecPk.)O,.B ox2 040D,- 740T0ii bingen.
Thibso okm ayn otb er eproduicnew dh,o loer i np aritn,a nyf orm( beyotnhda t permitted
byc opyrilgahwtw) i thotuhtep ublishwerri'tstp eenr missTihoinas.p plipeasr ticutloa rly
reproducttiroannss,l atmiiocnrso,fi lamnsds toraagnedp rocessiinen lge ctrsoynsitce ms.
TypesbeytS amB oydE nterpirinSs ien gapoprrei;n tbeydG ulde-DrGumcbkH inT iibin­
genb;o unbdy H einriKcohc hK G inT iibingen.
PrintienGd e rmany.
Preface
Thisb ookh asb eena longt imeg rowinTgh.e s eewda sf irssotw no ne
sprinagf ternono in 1967i,n a conversaIt ihoandw ithm y teachaenrd
undergraduaadtvei saotrC orneUlnli versIistaya,Rc a bniowitWze. h adb een
discussai tnhge orayd vancbeyd a na rticilnte h ec ampus newsptahpaetr ,
a tragriecc enitn cideonftfi reh adb eent her esuolfta d erangaerds onist's
broodionng thef iervyi sidoens cribeidnt hef ircshta ptoefrt heB ooko f
EzekieRla.b inowiptozi ntoeudt t hati,ft hew ritetrh'eso rwye rei ndeecdo r­
rectt,h ea rsoniwsotu ldh avet oh avec onsidermaibsliyn terptrehtete edx .t
ofE zekieIl a.g reebdu,t r emarktehda stu cah falseex egesoifEs z ekiealn,d
itse ffecotn thep ersownh o soi nterpreittew,do uldi tseilnft eremset.
"Halperihne,s "a id",I 'sltlu dtyh et rueex egesoefEs z ekiyeol;us tudtyh e
falsoen es.T"h usb egaTnh eF aceosf t heC hariot.
I haves tayemdo reo rl esfsa ithtfout lh idsi visioofln a boIr h.a ven ot
beena ltogetihnedri ffetroet nhteq uestioofwn h atE zekimeela ntw henh e
describheidsv isioofnt hem erkaba(h" charioats"t )h,er abbiwse rel ater
toc alilt B.u tE zekierle'asil n tentihoanvsei nteresmtee fda rl estsh atn he
questioofnw hy certarianb bilsi,v ianngy wherfer oms evetno e levecne n­
turiaefst erw,ar redactteodi tw itha peculimairx turoefe xcitemeanntd
fearo;rw hyt hea uthoorfsb izartreex tcsa lltehde H ekhalsoete mt oh ave
beenb ento n re-experietnhcemi enrgka bahv isioanp,p arenitnlt yh ec on­
texotf a heavenalsyc entA.l lo ft hespee oplmeu sth aveh adt heiurn der­
standinogfw sh atE zekiweals t ryintogs ayw,h ichm ayo rm ay noth ave
beena ccuraitnte e rmosf t hep ropheotw'nsi ntentions.
Whatt hesuen derstandwienrgeas,n dw hyt heyh adt hep owerfeuflf ects
theyd ido nt hosweh o heldt hems,e emtso m e a probleomf t hegr eatest
intereasntdi mportanIctet .o ucheosn manyd iverisses ureesl attiont gh e
histoprsyy,c holoagnyde, v epnh ilosoopfhr ye ligiTohne.si en clutdheer ole
ofS criptiunra e S cripture-foclolmomwuinnigt tyh;er ootasn dm eaninogf
religiodurse adt;h es ignificaonfce ec staetxipce rienocroe f,t heb eliienf
thep ossibiolfie tcys tateixcp erienacned;a, s w e wilsle et,h ep robleomf
evialn di trse lattioot nh ed ivine.
I assumteh,e refore,o tthhearbtse sidsec holaorfJs u daimcaay wantt o
readt hibso oka;n dI havter ietdow ritiets ot hamty arugmentwsi lble a c­
cessitbolt eh emI. d on ot prettehnadwt h atf olloiwssa "populabro"o k.
ButS amuelS andmeoln ced istingui"sphoepdu lawrr"i tinfgrso m" non-
Preface
Thisb ookh asb eena longt imeg rowinTgh.e s eewda sf irssotw no ne
sprinagf ternono in 1967i,n a conversaIt ihoandw ithm y teachaenrd
undergraduaadtvei saotrC orneUlnli versIistaya,Rc a bniowitWze. h adb een
discussai tnhge orayd vancbeyd a na rticilnte h ec ampus newsptahpaetr ,
a tragriecc enitn cideonftfi reh adb eent her esuolfta d erangaerds onist's
broodionng thef iervyi sidoens cribeidnt hef ircshta ptoefrt heB ooko f
EzekieRla.b inowiptozi ntoeudt t hati,ft hew ritetrh'eso rwye rei ndeecdo r­
rectt,h ea rsoniwsotu ldh avet oh avec onsidermaibsliyn terptrehtete edx .t
ofE zekieIl a.g reebdu,t r emarktehda stu cah falseex egesoifEs z ekiealn,d
itse ffecotn thep ersownh o soi nterpreittew,do uldi tseilnft eremset.
"Halperihne,s "a id",I 'sltlu dtyh et rueex egesoefEs z ekiyeol;us tudtyh e
falsoen es.T"h usb egaTnh eF aceosf t heC hariot.
I haves tayemdo reo rl esfsa ithtfout lh idsi visioofln a boIr h.a ven ot
beena ltogetihnedri ffetroet nhteq uestioofwn h atE zekimeela ntw henh e
describheidsv isioofnt hem erkaba(h" charioats"t )h,er abbiwse rel ater
toc alilt B.u tE zekierle'asil n tentihoanvsei nteresmtee fda rl estsh atn he
questioofnw hy certarianb bilsi,v ianngy wherfer oms evetno e levecne n­
turiaefst erw,ar redactteodi tw itha peculimairx turoefe xcitemeanntd
fearo;rw hyt hea uthoorfsb izartreex tcsa lltehde H ekhalsoete mt oh ave
beenb ento n re-experietnhcemi enrgka bahv isioanp,p arenitnlt yh ec on­
texotf a heavenalsyc entA.l lo ft hespee oplmeu sth aveh adt heiurn der­
standinogfw sh atE zekiweals t ryintogs ayw,h ichm ayo rm ay noth ave
beena ccuraitnte e rmosf t hep ropheotw'nsi ntentions.
Whatt hesuen derstandwienrgeas,n dw hyt heyh adt hep owerfeuflf ects
theyd ido nt hosweh o heldt hems,e emtso m e a probleomf t hegr eatest
intereasntdi mportanIctet .o ucheosn manyd iverisses ureesl attiont gh e
histoprsyy,c holoagnyde, v epnh ilosoopfhr ye ligiTohne.si en clutdheer ole
ofS criptiunra e S cripture-foclolmomwuinnigt tyh;er ootasn dm eaninogf
religiodurse adt;h es ignificaonfce ec staetxipce rienocroe f,t heb eliienf
thep ossibiolfie tcys tateixcp erienacned;a, s w e wilsle et,h ep robleomf
evialn di trse lattioot nh ed ivine.
I assumteh,e refore,o tthhearbtse sidsec holaorfJs u daimcaay wantt o
readt hibso oka;n dI havter ietdow ritiets ot hamty arugmentwsi lble a c­
cessitbolt eh emI. d on ot prettehnadwt h atf olloiwssa "populabro"o k.
ButS amuelS andmeoln ced istingui"sphoepdu lawrr"i tinfgrso m" non-
viii Preface Preface ix
:echnicoanle"·s[ 73aP,a ndI thinIk c anr easonacbllayi tmh ibso okf or thatI find ite ssenttioap li npoiwnitt hitnh et extt hep ageosf m odern
thel atter catIe agsosruym.ne o k nowledogfeH ebreowr a nyo thefro reign editioonfps rimarsyo urceTsh.u sf,o re xamplmey, citati(oantt heb egin­
languaogne t her eaderp'asr ta,v oitdh eu seo ft ermfsr omo thelra nguages ningo f chapteVrI I)o f" GenR.. 27:1"i sf ollowbeyd " (ed2.5 5-256
(andt echnictaelr misn g enerawlh)e revIe rc an,a ndf ulleyx plasiunc h [1 88])" . Thism eanst hatth ep assaigset ob ef ounodn p age2s5 5 -256 of
termwsh erevIe rc annoatv oitdh emI. do nota ssumaen yb utt hem ost thes tandamrodd erne ditioofnm idrasGhe nesis Rabwbhaihc;ha ,s t he
generkanlo wledogfeJ ewisohr w orlhdi storoyro, f t het eachionfgJ su ­ readewri lld iscoverl oobkyi unpg " 188"i nt her eferelnicseit st, h ee dition
daisomr a nyo therre ligiAolnt.h ougthh eb odyo ft heb ookp resuppoas es ofT heodoarn dA lbeck.
certabians iacc quaintawnicteht her abbinliict eratrueraed,e lrasc kitnhgi s
acquaintacnacnme a keu p fori tb yr eadiAnpgp endiIx," Orientattioo n AsI h ave said,R aIbsianaocw ifitrzs itn spirmeed Vf itht he ideat hifso r
Rabbinic SouMryc aersg.u"m enatrseu sualdleyt ailaenddo fteinn tricate. studiyn t hes prinogf1 967.I w asa blteo p ursuvea rioaussp ecotfsi ti n
ButI havet rietdo writseo thatt hen on-specicaalniw,si tt ha certain coursIe st ooka tC ornell Rwaibtihn owi(t1z9 69), aattn hde U niversity
amounotf p atienfcoel,l otwh eiirn tricacies. of CaliforantiB ae rkelweiyt hD avidW instoMno,r dechAa.i F riedman,
As mucha sp ossibIl hea,v et rietdo l ayo utm y argumenftusl layn d andH amidA lga(r1 971-73M)u.c ho ft hem atericaoln tainiencd h apters
clearilnty h eb odyo ft het extw,i tht hel easpto ssibulseeo ff ootnotaensd 1-VIIIo riginalfloyr mepda rotf a ne arldyr afotf m y Ph.Dd.i ssertation,
�
thea llusive reacshoanriancgt eroifs tifootnoTtheesf .o otnotIe dso in­ whichI wrotien J erusalien1m 9 75I. l ateerx pandeudn,d etrh eg uidance
clud(em arkewdi thr aisneudm berasn,d p rintaetdt heb ottoomf t hep age) ofB arucMh. Boksear ,p ortioofnt hidsr afti ntmoy actuaPlh .D·d. isserta­
areo fteinn tendteodp rovibdiet osf c larifbyaicnkgg roufnodrn on-special­ tionw,h ichI submittteodB erkelieny1 9 77a ndp ublis(huendd etrh et itle
istOst.h erwitshee,ya r ep arenthetriecmaalr ktsh aItj udgien dispensable. TheM erkabahi nR abbinLiict erat[u5r5e2 ]i)n1 980"I.w rotteh ibso oki,n
Ina ddititoonf ootnotIeh sa,v ema deu seo fe ndnoteTsh.e saer em arked itpsr esent fion1r 9m8,1 -84.
withr aisleedt tearnsd,g atheraettd h ee ndo ft heb ookT.h eyc ontatienc h­ Thesel asyte arhsa ves eena remarkabblleo ssomionfgs tudioens t he
nicadli scussioonfst,e onn matterosft _e xatn dt ranslatwihoinc,Ih judge merkabaha ndt heH ekhaloBte.f or1e9 80G, ershoSmc holesmt oopdr ac­
usefuoln lyf ors pecial(iOsctcsa.s ionIa ulsleyt hemt oo ffesru ggestions ticallayl onea, s olitapriyo neeerx ploritnhge sset ranagned a lierne alms
whichI do notw antt o onnt altogethbeurtw, h ichI do notc onsider [589,605In] .1 980,I thamaGrr uenwaldA'pso calyptaincd M erkavah
necessatroiy n cluodne t hes amep ageas t het extT.h)e s peciamlaiyst turn Mysticisamp peare[d5 35]i;n 1 982,I raC hernusM'yss ticiisnmR abbinic
tot hee ndnotteosd iscovwehry I h avep refertrheidos r t harte adionfga Judaism[ 512;]i nt hesyee aras ,s trionfgi mportaanrtt icblyeY so seDfa n
difficutletx tt,h iosr t harte nderionfag p uzzlgi wnordT.h en on-specialist [517,518,52,05,2522a]1n dP eteSrc haf[e5r7 9,580,582a,58S3c,h5a8-6·] .
mayi gnoret hemw ithoulto ss. fer'ssy noptic publoifcs aetvieoHnne khalomta nuscriupntdse rt het itle
Fort hep urposoef c itisnegc ondary soaunrdce edsi,t ioonfsp rimary Synapszeu rH ekhalot-Litewrhaitcuhar p,p earleadt ien 1 981m,a det hese
sourceIs h,a veu sedn eithfeoro tnotneosre ndnoteIsn.s teaId h,a vef ol­ textfsu llayc cessitbols ec holafrosrt hef irtsitm e[4 95]I.a m convinced
lowedt hep ractirceec ommendiendM ary-ClaviarnLe e unenH'asn dbook thati ti st hes ingmloes ti mportawnotr ko n theH ekhaloetv etro a ppear,
forS cholar[s8 60]o,f a ttachitnotg h ee ndo ft heb ooka referelnicset andt haftu turhei storioaftn hse s cholarsohni tph eH ekhalwoitl slp eaokf
(replacainndgt ,o a greate xtencto rrespontdoi,nt gh eb ibliogrtahpahty "pre-Synapasned"" p ost-SynaeprsaesCh".a pteIr X,a ndm anyo thepra rts
wouldn ormalblye foundi na booko f thisso rti)t,s i temnsu mbered oft hibso okc,o ulndo th aveb eenw rittweint houitt 2•
sequentiTahlelsye". i temsi"n cleu ndoto nlyt heb ooksa nda rticIlc eist e, I owe an enormous dteob atl lo f thesree searchaenrdps a,r ticularly
butw,h erea ppropriiantdei,v idpuaaglea sn dc lustoefrp sa geAs .b racketed SchafeTrh.a tI haveb eend eepliyn fluencbeyd S cholemw'rsi tinegvse,n
numberi nt het exdti rectthser eadetrot hea ppropriiatteemi nt her efer­ whereI disagrweiet ht hem,g oesa lmoswti thoustay ingi;ti sh ardt o im­
encel isTth.u sb,y lookiunpg "860"i nt her eferelnicsett h,er eadewirll aginea nyonien t hes econpda rotf t het wentiectehn tuwrryi tionng a ny
finbdi bliographiincfaolr matfioorHn a ndboofko rS cholarasn;d ,b yl ook­ subject remotely wciotnhJn eewcitsemhdy sticiwsimt houbte inugn der
ingu p "73a,i"n formatoinow nh erte of intdh er emarkosfS anmde lc ited Scholemi'nsfl uencBeu.t I musta cknowledagnoet heirn fluentchea dto es
aboveI. d eviaftreo mv anL eunenm'est hodi no nei mportapnatr ticular,
2 rIe ceivSedc hafesre'qsu etlo t heS ynapGseen,i za-FrzaugHrme eknhtael ot-L(i49t4ear]a, tur
1 I pwireslle ntelxyp latihnem eaningo ft heb racketneudm ber. tool atteo t akaec couonfti tin thibso ok.
viii Preface Preface ix
:echnicoanle"·s[ 73aP,a ndI thinIk c anr easonacbllayi tmh ibso okf or thatI find ite ssenttioap li npoiwnitt hitnh et extt hep ageosf m odern
thel atter catIe agsosruym.ne o k nowledogfeH ebreowr a nyo thefro reign editioonfps rimarsyo urceTsh.u sf,o re xamplmey, citati(oantt heb egin­
languaogne t her eaderp'asr ta,v oitdh eu seo ft ermfsr omo thelra nguages ningo f chapteVrI I)o f" GenR.. 27:1"i sf ollowbeyd " (ed2.5 5-256
(andt echnictaelr misn g enerawlh)e revIe rc an,a ndf ulleyx plasiunc h [1 88])" . Thism eanst hatth ep assaigset ob ef ounodn p age2s5 5 -256 of
termwsh erevIe rc annoatv oitdh emI. do nota ssumaen yb utt hem ost thes tandamrodd erne ditioofnm idrasGhe nesis Rabwbhaihc;ha ,s t he
generkanlo wledogfeJ ewisohr w orlhdi storoyro, f t het eachionfgJ su ­ readewri lld iscoverl oobkyi unpg " 188"i nt her eferelnicseit st, h ee dition
daisomr a nyo therre ligiAolnt.h ougthh eb odyo ft heb ookp resuppoas es ofT heodoarn dA lbeck.
certabians iacc quaintawnicteht her abbinliict eratrueraed,e lrasc kitnhgi s
acquaintacnacnme a keu p fori tb yr eadiAnpgp endiIx," Orientattioo n AsI h ave said,R aIbsianaocw ifitrzs itn spirmeed Vf itht he ideat hifso r
Rabbinic SouMryc aersg.u"m enatrseu sualdleyt ailaenddo fteinn tricate. studiyn t hes prinogf1 967.I w asa blteo p ursuvea rioaussp ecotfsi ti n
ButI havet rietdo writseo thatt hen on-specicaalniw,si tt ha certain coursIe st ooka tC ornell Rwaibtihn owi(t1z9 69), aattn hde U niversity
amounotf p atienfcoel,l otwh eiirn tricacies. of CaliforantiB ae rkelweiyt hD avidW instoMno,r dechAa.i F riedman,
As mucha sp ossibIl hea,v et rietdo l ayo utm y argumenftusl layn d andH amidA lga(r1 971-73M)u.c ho ft hem atericaoln tainiencd h apters
clearilnty h eb odyo ft het extw,i tht hel easpto ssibulseeo ff ootnotaensd 1-VIIIo riginalfloyr mepda rotf a ne arldyr afotf m y Ph.Dd.i ssertation,
�
thea llusive reacshoanriancgt eroifs tifootnoTtheesf .o otnotIe dso in­ whichI wrotien J erusalien1m 9 75I. l ateerx pandeudn,d etrh eg uidance
clud(em arkewdi thr aisneudm berasn,d p rintaetdt heb ottoomf t hep age) ofB arucMh. Boksear ,p ortioofnt hidsr afti ntmoy actuaPlh .D·d. isserta­
areo fteinn tendteodp rovibdiet osf c larifbyaicnkgg roufnodrn on-special­ tionw,h ichI submittteodB erkelieny1 9 77a ndp ublis(huendd etrh et itle
istOst.h erwitshee,ya r ep arenthetriecmaalr ktsh aItj udgien dispensable. TheM erkabahi nR abbinLiict erat[u5r5e2 ]i)n1 980"I.w rotteh ibso oki,n
Ina ddititoonf ootnotIeh sa,v ema deu seo fe ndnoteTsh.e saer em arked itpsr esent fion1r 9m8,1 -84.
withr aisleedt tearnsd,g atheraettd h ee ndo ft heb ookT.h eyc ontatienc h­ Thesel asyte arhsa ves eena remarkabblleo ssomionfgs tudioens t he
nicadli scussioonfst,e onn matterosft _e xatn dt ranslatwihoinc,Ih judge merkabaha ndt heH ekhaloBte.f or1e9 80G, ershoSmc holesmt oopdr ac­
usefuoln lyf ors pecial(iOsctcsa.s ionIa ulsleyt hemt oo ffesru ggestions ticallayl onea, s olitapriyo neeerx ploritnhge sset ranagned a lierne alms
whichI do notw antt o onnt altogethbeurtw, h ichI do notc onsider [589,605In] .1 980,I thamaGrr uenwaldA'pso calyptaincd M erkavah
necessatroiy n cluodne t hes amep ageas t het extT.h)e s peciamlaiyst turn Mysticisamp peare[d5 35]i;n 1 982,I raC hernusM'yss ticiisnmR abbinic
tot hee ndnotteosd iscovwehry I h avep refertrheidos r t harte adionfga Judaism[ 512;]i nt hesyee aras ,s trionfgi mportaanrtt icblyeY so seDfa n
difficutletx tt,h iosr t harte nderionfag p uzzlgi wnordT.h en on-specialist [517,518,52,05,2522a]1n dP eteSrc haf[e5r7 9,580,582a,58S3c,h5a8-6·] .
mayi gnoret hemw ithoulto ss. fer'ssy noptic publoifcs aetvieoHnne khalomta nuscriupntdse rt het itle
Fort hep urposoef c itisnegc ondary soaunrdce edsi,t ioonfsp rimary Synapszeu rH ekhalot-Litewrhaitcuhar p,p earleadt ien 1 981m,a det hese
sourceIs h,a veu sedn eithfeoro tnotneosre ndnoteIsn.s teaId h,a vef ol­ textfsu llayc cessitbols ec holafrosrt hef irtsitm e[4 95]I.a m convinced
lowedt hep ractirceec ommendiendM ary-ClaviarnLe e unenH'asn dbook thati ti st hes ingmloes ti mportawnotr ko n theH ekhaloetv etro a ppear,
forS cholar[s8 60]o,f a ttachitnotg h ee ndo ft heb ooka referelnicset andt haftu turhei storioaftn hse s cholarsohni tph eH ekhalwoitl slp eaokf
(replacainndgt ,o a greate xtencto rrespontdoi,nt gh eb ibliogrtahpahty "pre-Synapasned"" p ost-SynaeprsaesCh".a pteIr X,a ndm anyo thepra rts
wouldn ormalblye foundi na booko f thisso rti)t,s i temnsu mbered oft hibso okc,o ulndo th aveb eenw rittweint houitt 2•
sequentiTahlelsye". i temsi"n cleu ndoto nlyt heb ooksa nda rticIlc eist e, I owe an enormous dteob atl lo f thesree searchaenrdps a,r ticularly
butw,h erea ppropriiantdei,v idpuaaglea sn dc lustoefrp sa geAs .b racketed SchafeTrh.a tI haveb eend eepliyn fluencbeyd S cholemw'rsi tinegvse,n
numberi nt het exdti rectthser eadetrot hea ppropriiatteemi nt her efer­ whereI disagrweiet ht hem,g oesa lmoswti thoustay ingi;ti sh ardt o im­
encel isTth.u sb,y lookiunpg "860"i nt her eferelnicsett h,er eadewirll aginea nyonien t hes econpda rotf t het wentiectehn tuwrryi tionng a ny
finbdi bliographiincfaolr matfioorHn a ndboofko rS cholarasn;d ,b yl ook­ subject remotely wciotnhJn eewcitsemhdy sticiwsimt houbte inugn der
ingu p "73a,i"n formatoinow nh erte of intdh er emarkosfS anmde lc ited Scholemi'nsfl uencBeu.t I musta cknowledagnoet heirn fluentchea dto es
aboveI. d eviaftreo mv anL eunenm'est hodi no nei mportapnatr ticular,
2 rIe ceivSedc hafesre'qsu etlo t heS ynapGseen,i za-FrzaugHrme eknhtael ot-L(i49t4ear]a, tur
1 I pwireslle ntelxyp latihnem eaningo ft heb racketneudm ber. tool atteo t akaec couonfti tin thibso ok.
X Preface Preface xi
notb elontgo t her ealomf J udaisct udineasr,r owldye fineTdh.i si st he ChapeHli llf,o rh avinpgr ovidmeed withr icihn tellecctoumaplan ionship
worko fS igmunFdr euda,n dp articulhairsIl ny terpreotfDa rteiaomns , overt hep astt eny earsIn. g eneratlh,e yh aveg iveann dc ontintuoegi ve
whichI readw ithe xcitemeanntd w ondeart a particulcarrulcyis atla goef me a post-docteodruacla tiionnp ;a rticutlhaeryh, a vel istetneotd w op re­
thew ritingt hoifbs o okO.n lys eldohma veI offerseudg gestitohnaastr e sentatioofni sd eacso ntainientd h ibso oka,n dg ivemne valuabrlees ponses.
whatm osto fu sa rea ccustomteodt hinokf a s" Freudiatnh"a;it s h,a ving I am proudt ob elonagl,s ot,ot he" Socieftoyrt heC ultuarned R eligioofn
tod o withs exB.u ta nyonweh o hasr eadF reuwdi lalp precihaotwem uch theA ncienMte diterraneaa sno,c"i eotfy S outheastsecrnh olawrhsi ch
hisg eniuhsa ss hapemdy approatcoht hep roblewmist hw hicIhd eal. hearad p resentaotfi,ao nnd h elpemde thintkh rougmha,n yo ft hei deaIs
preseinntc haptIeXr. R oberCt. G reggo,f D ukeU niversbiatsyb ,e enp ar­
I cannot poslsiisbhtle yr ea llt hospee oplweh o helpemde atv arious ticulahrellyp fMuyl .f riendswhiitphG ordoNne wbyh asg ivemne accesnso,t
.s tageosfm y eighteen-ryeesaera rMcyh .s peciaaplp reciagtoieonst ot he onltyo h isA rabilce arninbgu,tt ot hew ealtohfh isl ivealnydc reatmiivned.
teachewrhso m I havem entionwehdo,.s tartmeed o ffo ni ta;n dp,a rticular­ Ato nes tagoer a notheorft her esearacnhdw ritionfgt hibso okI,h ave
ly,t oB arucBho kserw,h o carefurlelayad n dm eticulously anmnyo tated receivfeidn ancaisasli stafnrcoemt heA mericaSnc hoolosf O rientRael­
1975 dra.f tAmongt hostee achewrhso inspiraendd h elpemde inI srael searcthh,eM arsdeFno undati(oNne wY orkC ityt)h,eN ationFaolu ndation
_werMeo sheG reenberMg., J .K isterY,a akoZvu ssmanM,o sheH erra,n d' forJ ewisChu ltu(rNee wY orkC ityt)h,e M abelMlceL eodL ewiMse morial
JosepDha n.A llo ft hesmee n tookt imef romt heicrr owdesdc hedulteos Fund( StanfoCradl,i forniat)h,eU niversRietsye arCcohu nci(lU niversity
listteonm y ideaasn dr eaddr afotfsm y worka,n dt ogi vem e sounadd vice ofN orthC arolinaan)dt, h eA rtasn dS ciencFeosu ndati(oUnN C)T.h eU ni­
andw arme ncouragemOefnm ty. fellow-stuadnednf tesl low-reseaIr chers, versiRteys ear·cCho uncitlh,e D uke-UNCC ooperatPirvoeg raimn J udaic
musts ingoluet M arcB regmanw,h osec onversat(imoons tolvy erc offeien Studietsh,eU NC ColleogfeA rtasn dS ciencEensd owment Commiftotre e
theH ebrewU niversciatfye teria) mtea muugchhto fw hatI knowa bout Scholarly PublicatioEnxsh,i biAtritaoinnsdstP ,ie cr formancaensdt, h e
midrasIht;h amaGrr uenwald, HWe.rB baesrste Pre,t eSrc hafearn,dA lanF . UNC DepartmeonftR eligioSutsu dieasl,cl o ntributtoet dh ec osotf p ub­
Segaall,ol f w hom sharewdi thm e,in persoann di nw rititnhge,r esulotfs licatiJoonh.nV anS etercsh,a irmoafnt heD epartmeonftR eligioSutsu d­
theiirn vestigaotfit ohnems e rkabaanhdH ekhaIlroCath .e mus kinsdelnyt iesh,a sgi vent hew orks ympathetic atatnednb taispo rno,v idiendew ith
me a copyo fs everal choafpt theemr asn uscriopfht i sb ookb,e forietw as fundfso rr esearacshs istaIn wcaes.f ortunattohe a veb eena blteo e ngage
published. int hicsa pacimtyy studeanntd f rienRdo berBt. S pencear t,a lentaendd
AbrahaKma tsho,f D ropsiUen iversPihtiyl,a delpahlilao,w emde int he conscientsicohuosl aarn-d teacher-twoh-obsee fi ne and diwliogrekn t
falolf 1974t oc onsupletr tineGennti zamha nuscriipntt sh eu niversity's lightetnheedl oaodf p repartihnegm anuscript.
possessiHoinss. u ccessDoarv,i Gdo ldenbesregn,mt e a photocoopfyo ne To theg oodo fficeosf W illiHa.mF riedmaann dJ uliDea niealn,d t ot he
oft hesmea nuscripJtosh.nS trugnaellllo wemde toe xaminpeh otographs lattesrk'islw li tha wordp rocessIo orw,e t hem anuscriiptts eJlufn.e W il­
oft heQ umranm ateriadliss cusisnec dh aptIeIrM; i chaSeolk olodfifs cussed liamsT,e resWae avera,n dY umingH u helpemde checkt hep roofMss..
withm e linguiasstpiecc otfst heV isioofnE sz ekieThlo;r kiJladc obsaenn­ WeaverC,a roSle lkiann,d m y studenDtasr cyB airdS,a mueKla planM,a ry
sweremdy query abtohuet" Bulolf Heaven" (chaptaenrd D aVn)i;e l· PatK armela,n dJ anelMlaes onh elpemde prepatrhee i ndex.
Sheerisne ntme valuabmlaet erioanl t hed evelopmoefnCt h risteixaeng e­ Mosti mportaonfta lhla veb eent hed earf riends and wfhaom cihleye red
siosf P sal2m4 .I nt hes prinogf1 982E,r iOcr msbyt,h enc uratoofrN ear. my lifteh rougthh ey earosf r esearacnhdw ritiMnyg .f atheErl,i aWs. Halperin
EastC ollectaitot nhseP rinceUtonni versLiitbyr artyo,o kt imeto g uidmee (whosed epartuIr neo w mourn),a ndm y auntS,a raG arbh,a ves ustained
through Princetonh'osl dAirnagabsni,dcp atientanlsyw eremdy subse­ me withe ncouragemeanntd loveM.y fatherw'isf eK,l idMac Laughlin­
quenqtu erieMsy. f rienadn dc olleaGgoured onD .N ewby( NortCha rolina Halperihna,sb eena goodf rientdh rougeha syt imeasn dt hroughha rdT.h e
StatUen iversity, pR�atlh eiispg rhi)v aAtrea bilci braartmy y disposaanld;, Mazarf amily (Esther, TaanldlA id,i )mE aidleaa t h,o me form e inI srael.
withgr eatp atience, mhee lmpaekdem y way tow hatI neededEd.m und My wife'psa rentSso,la ndD oraS halomh,e rs istReerb ecaa,n dh erb rother
Meltzer hmeel pleodc atter anslatoifto hnesE gyptitaanl eosfS etnKeh am­ Ralphh,a veg ivemne theifrr iendshAinpd. I havef oundj oyd,e lighatn,d
wasa,n dd iscuswsietdhm e thes ignificaonftc hee sdeo cuments. comforwti thm y wifem,y belovberdi dReo seS halomw;h o,l ikteh em erkabah
"Them ind,G"e orgOer welwlr ote",w ilnlo tw orkt oa nyp urposweh en int het imeo fJ o hanabn. Z akkaih,a sf illmeyd d aysw ithr ainbows.
iti sq uitael one["8 48alIc. a nnobte gitno s tatmey debtt om y colleagues ChapeHli llN,o rthC arolina DaviJd .Ha lperin
int heD epartmeonft R eligiouSst udieUsn,i versoift Nyo rthC arolina,
Februar1y9,8 8
X Preface Preface xi
notb elontgo t her ealomf J udaisct udineasr,r owldye fineTdh.i si st he ChapeHli llf,o rh avinpgr ovidmeed withr icihn tellecctoumaplan ionship
worko fS igmunFdr euda,n dp articulhairsIl ny terpreotfDa rteiaomns , overt hep astt eny earsIn. g eneratlh,e yh aveg iveann dc ontintuoegi ve
whichI readw ithe xcitemeanntd w ondeart a particulcarrulcyis atla goef me a post-docteodruacla tiionnp ;a rticutlhaeryh, a vel istetneotd w op re­
thew ritingt hoifbs o okO.n lys eldohma veI offerseudg gestitohnaastr e sentatioofni sd eacso ntainientd h ibso oka,n dg ivemne valuabrlees ponses.
whatm osto fu sa rea ccustomteodt hinokf a s" Freudiatnh"a;it s h,a ving I am proudt ob elonagl,s ot,ot he" Socieftoyrt heC ultuarned R eligioofn
tod o withs exB.u ta nyonweh o hasr eadF reuwdi lalp precihaotwem uch theA ncienMte diterraneaa sno,c"i eotfy S outheastsecrnh olawrhsi ch
hisg eniuhsa ss hapemdy approatcoht hep roblewmist hw hicIhd eal. hearad p resentaotfi,ao nnd h elpemde thintkh rougmha,n yo ft hei deaIs
preseinntc haptIeXr. R oberCt. G reggo,f D ukeU niversbiatsyb ,e enp ar­
I cannot poslsiisbhtle yr ea llt hospee oplweh o helpemde atv arious ticulahrellyp fMuyl .f riendswhiitphG ordoNne wbyh asg ivemne accesnso,t
.s tageosfm y eighteen-ryeesaera rMcyh .s peciaaplp reciagtoieonst ot he onltyo h isA rabilce arninbgu,tt ot hew ealtohfh isl ivealnydc reatmiivned.
teachewrhso m I havem entionwehdo,.s tartmeed o ffo ni ta;n dp,a rticular­ Ato nes tagoer a notheorft her esearacnhdw ritionfgt hibso okI,h ave
ly,t oB arucBho kserw,h o carefurlelayad n dm eticulously anmnyo tated receivfeidn ancaisasli stafnrcoemt heA mericaSnc hoolosf O rientRael­
1975 dra.f tAmongt hostee achewrhso inspiraendd h elpemde inI srael searcthh,eM arsdeFno undati(oNne wY orkC ityt)h,eN ationFaolu ndation
_werMeo sheG reenberMg., J .K isterY,a akoZvu ssmanM,o sheH erra,n d' forJ ewisChu ltu(rNee wY orkC ityt)h,e M abelMlceL eodL ewiMse morial
JosepDha n.A llo ft hesmee n tookt imef romt heicrr owdesdc hedulteos Fund( StanfoCradl,i forniat)h,eU niversRietsye arCcohu nci(lU niversity
listteonm y ideaasn dr eaddr afotfsm y worka,n dt ogi vem e sounadd vice ofN orthC arolinaan)dt, h eA rtasn dS ciencFeosu ndati(oUnN C)T.h eU ni­
andw arme ncouragemOefnm ty. fellow-stuadnednf tesl low-reseaIr chers, versiRteys ear·cCho uncitlh,e D uke-UNCC ooperatPirvoeg raimn J udaic
musts ingoluet M arcB regmanw,h osec onversat(imoons tolvy erc offeien Studietsh,eU NC ColleogfeA rtasn dS ciencEensd owment Commiftotre e
theH ebrewU niversciatfye teria) mtea muugchhto fw hatI knowa bout Scholarly PublicatioEnxsh,i biAtritaoinnsdstP ,ie cr formancaensdt, h e
midrasIht;h amaGrr uenwald, HWe.rB baesrste Pre,t eSrc hafearn,dA lanF . UNC DepartmeonftR eligioSutsu dieasl,cl o ntributtoet dh ec osotf p ub­
Segaall,ol f w hom sharewdi thm e,in persoann di nw rititnhge,r esulotfs licatiJoonh.nV anS etercsh,a irmoafnt heD epartmeonftR eligioSutsu d­
theiirn vestigaotfit ohnems e rkabaanhdH ekhaIlroCath .e mus kinsdelnyt iesh,a sgi vent hew orks ympathetic atatnednb taispo rno,v idiendew ith
me a copyo fs everal choafpt theemr asn uscriopfht i sb ookb,e forietw as fundfso rr esearacshs istaIn wcaes.f ortunattohe a veb eena blteo e ngage
published. int hicsa pacimtyy studeanntd f rienRdo berBt. S pencear t,a lentaendd
AbrahaKma tsho,f D ropsiUen iversPihtiyl,a delpahlilao,w emde int he conscientsicohuosl aarn-d teacher-twoh-obsee fi ne and diwliogrekn t
falolf 1974t oc onsupletr tineGennti zamha nuscriipntt sh eu niversity's lightetnheedl oaodf p repartihnegm anuscript.
possessiHoinss. u ccessDoarv,i Gdo ldenbesregn,mt e a photocoopfyo ne To theg oodo fficeosf W illiHa.mF riedmaann dJ uliDea niealn,d t ot he
oft hesmea nuscripJtosh.nS trugnaellllo wemde toe xaminpeh otographs lattesrk'islw li tha wordp rocessIo orw,e t hem anuscriiptts eJlufn.e W il­
oft heQ umranm ateriadliss cusisnec dh aptIeIrM; i chaSeolk olodfifs cussed liamsT,e resWae avera,n dY umingH u helpemde checkt hep roofMss..
withm e linguiasstpiecc otfst heV isioofnE sz ekieThlo;r kiJladc obsaenn­ WeaverC,a roSle lkiann,d m y studenDtasr cyB airdS,a mueKla planM,a ry
sweremdy query abtohuet" Bulolf Heaven" (chaptaenrd D aVn)i;e l· PatK armela,n dJ anelMlaes onh elpemde prepatrhee i ndex.
Sheerisne ntme valuabmlaet erioanl t hed evelopmoefnCt h risteixaeng e­ Mosti mportaonfta lhla veb eent hed earf riends and wfhaom cihleye red
siosf P sal2m4 .I nt hes prinogf1 982E,r iOcr msbyt,h enc uratoofrN ear. my lifteh rougthh ey earosf r esearacnhdw ritiMnyg .f atheErl,i aWs. Halperin
EastC ollectaitot nhseP rinceUtonni versLiitbyr artyo,o kt imeto g uidmee (whosed epartuIr neo w mourn),a ndm y auntS,a raG arbh,a ves ustained
through Princetonh'osl dAirnagabsni,dcp atientanlsyw eremdy subse­ me withe ncouragemeanntd loveM.y fatherw'isf eK,l idMac Laughlin­
quenqtu erieMsy. f rienadn dc olleaGgoured onD .N ewby( NortCha rolina Halperihna,sb eena goodf rientdh rougeha syt imeasn dt hroughha rdT.h e
StatUen iversity, pR�atlh eiispg rhi)v aAtrea bilci braartmy y disposaanld;, Mazarf amily (Esther, TaanldlA id,i )mE aidleaa t h,o me form e inI srael.
withgr eatp atience, mhee lmpaekdem y way tow hatI neededEd.m und My wife'psa rentSso,la ndD oraS halomh,e rs istReerb ecaa,n dh erb rother
Meltzer hmeel pleodc atter anslatoifto hnesE gyptitaanl eosfS etnKeh am­ Ralphh,a veg ivemne theifrr iendshAinpd. I havef oundj oyd,e lighatn,d
wasa,n dd iscuswsietdhm e thes ignificaonftc hee sdeo cuments. comforwti thm y wifem,y belovberdi dReo seS halomw;h o,l ikteh em erkabah
"Them ind,G"e orgOer welwlr ote",w ilnlo tw orkt oa nyp urposweh en int het imeo fJ o hanabn. Z akkaih,a sf illmeyd d aysw ithr ainbows.
iti sq uitael one["8 48alIc. a nnobte gitno s tatmey debtt om y colleagues ChapeHli llN,o rthC arolina DaviJd .Ha lperin
int heD epartmeonft R eligiouSst udieUsn,i versoift Nyo rthC arolina,
Februar1y9,8 8
Contents
Preface vii
. . . . . .. . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .... . . . . .. . . . . . . .
Conten.t.s. ......................................x.i.i.i. ....
Abbreviat.i.o.n.s. ...................................x..x. i.
Introduc.t i.o n. . . . . . . .. ... ... ... .. ... ... ... .. ... ... ...1 . .....
I.S hadowosft heM erkab.a.h. ........................1.1. ......
1." Manye xpoundtehde m erkabah". . . . . 11
. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2.Jo hanabn. Z akkaain dt hem erkabah . . . 13
. . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .
3.T heM ishnaMhe:gi lla4h: 10a,n dp arlale.l.s. ..............1.9. ..
4. TheM ishnaHha:g iga2h: 1... .......................2.3. .....
5. Thet raditioofcn osn cealm.e.n.t. ...................2.5.. ....
6. Thep ardeepiss odteh:eP alestivneirasni .o.n.s. ............3.1. .
7.T hep ardeepiss odteh:eB abylonian v.e.r.s.i.o.n. ........3.4.. .
7
8.C onclus.i.o.n.s. ..............................3. ........
II.T heB eginninogfsM erkabIanht erpret.a.t.i.o.n. ..........3.8. ...
1.T heB ooko fE zeki.e.l. ...........................3.8. .....
a) Introduc.t.io.n. .................................3.8. .
b) ljayyaontdc herub.i.m. ........................39. .....
c) "Blessbeedt heg loroyf t heL ordf romh ipsl ac.e.". ........4.4
d) Thew heel.s. ...............................4.5. ......
e) ExpansioofnE sz eki1e?.l . .......................47. . ....
f) Them erkaabsaS chr ipt.u.r.e. ....................47. ....
2.Q umra.n. ..................................4.9. .........
a) Introduct.i.o.n. ..................................4.9.
b) The" AngelLiict urg.y.". .......................4.9. ....
c) Them erkapbaarhap hr.a.s.e. ...................5.5. .....
3.T heS eptuagi.n.t. .............................5.5. .......
a) Introduct.i.o.n. ...........................5.5. .......
7
b) Ezeki4e3l:.2. .............................5.........
c) Ezeki1e: l23 . ..............................5.9. .......
d) Ezeki1e :l7 . ..............................5.9. ........
4.C onclusi.o.n.s. ...............................6.0. .......
IIIT.h eM erkabaahn dt heA pocalyp.s.e.s. ................6.3. ....
1.P reliminaaproyc:a lypassecse,n siaonndst ,h em erkabah ..6 4
. . . . . . . .
a) Ascensiaonnde csta.s.y. ......................6.4. ......