The Enoch-Metatron Tradition (2005 Orlov), book

The Enoch-Metatron Tradition is a book by Andrei A. Orlov.

Editions and translation

Published in Tübingen, Germany: Mohr Siebeck, 2005 (Texts and Studies in Ancient Judaism, 107), xii+383. ISBN 3-16-148544-0.

Abstract

"Andrei A. Orlov examines the tradition about the seventh antediluvian patriarch Enoch, tracing its development from its roots in the Mesopotamian lore to the Second Temple apocalyptic texts and later rabbinic and Hekhalot materials where Enoch is often identified as the supreme angel Metatron. The first part of the book explores the imagery of the celestial roles and titles of the seventh antediluvian hero in Mesopotamian, Enochic and Hekhalot materials. The analysis of the celestial roles and titles shows that the transition from the figure of patriarch Enoch to the figure of angel Metatron occurred already in the Second Temple Enochic materials, namely, in 2 (Slavonic) Enoch , a Jewish work, traditionally dated to the first century CE. The second part of the book demonstrates that mediatorial polemics with the traditions of the exalted patriarchs and prophets played an important role in facilitating the transition from Enoch to Metatron in the Second Temple period."--Publisher description.

"Andrei A. Orlov untersucht die Tradition vom siebenten vorsintflutlichen Patriarchen Henoch in ihrer Entwicklung von mesopotamischen Wurzeln hin zu apokalyptischen Texten in der Zeit des Zweiten Tempels und zur späteren rabbinischen und Hekhalot Literatur, in der Henoch schließlich mit dem höchsten Engel Metatron identifiziert wird. Im ersten Teil des Buches erforscht er die himmlischen Rollen und Titeln des siebenten vorsintflutlichen Helden im mesopotamischen, apokalyptischen und rabbinischen Schrifttum. Dabei wird festgestellt, daß der Übergang von der Patriarchenfigur Henochs zur Figur des Engels Metatron schon im slavischen Henochbuch (2Hen), einem jüdischen Werk des ersten Jahrhunderts n. Chr., nachgewiesen werden kann. Im zweiten Teil des Buches wird aufgezeigt, daß eine Polemik gegen mehrere Traditionen von erhöhten Patriarchen und Propheten eine wichtige Rolle dabei spielte, daß der Übergang von Henoch zu Metatron erleichtert wurde."--Publisher description (German).

Reviews

• Internationale Zeitschriftenschau 51 (2004/05) 1402
• New Testament Abstracts 50 (2006) 1.219
• Ch. Grappe, Revue d'histoire et de philosophie religieuses 86 (2006) 406-407
• Zion 71 (2006) 404
• Rafael Vicent, Salesianum 68 (2006) 596-597
• Michael E. Stone, The Studia Philonica Annual 18 (2006)
• Kevin P. Sullivan, The Expository Times 117 (2006) 344
• Johannes van Oort, Vigiliae Christianae 60 (2006) 247-248
• Jonathan A. Draper, Neotestamentica 40 (2006) 213-215
• Basil Lourié, Scrinium 2 (2006) 370-406
• Pieter van der Horst, Nederlands Theologisch Tijdschrift 61 (2007) 69-70
• Lester L. Grabbe, Journal for the Study of the Old Testament 30 (2006) 183-184
• James E. Harding, Journal of Biblical Literature 125.3 (2006) 587-592
• Eva Mroczek Journal of Hebrew Scriptures 6 (2006)
• Katell Berthelot, Recherches de Science Religieuse' 95.4 (2007) 597-598

Table of contents

• Introduction
• Part One: Evolution of the Roles and Titles of the Seventh Antediluvian Hero in Mesopotamian, Enochic, and Merkabah Tradition
  • 1. Roles and Titles of the Seventh Antediluvian Hero in Mesopotamian Traditions: The Case of King Emmeduranki
  • 2. Enoch's Roles and Titles in Early Enochic Booklets
  • 3. Roles and Titles of Enoch-Metatron in Sefer Hekhalot and Other Materials
  • 4. Roles and Titles of Enoch-Metatron in 2 Enoch
• Part Two: Polemical Developments and Their Role in the Evolution of Enoch's Roles and Titles in the Slavonic Apocalypse
  • 5. Adamic Polemics in 2 Enoch and the Enoch-Metatron Titles "Youth," "Prince of the World," "Redeemer of the World," and "Measurer of the Lord"
  • 6. Mosaic Polemics in 2 Enoch and Enoch-Metatron's Title "Prince of the Face"
  • 7. Noachic Polemics and the Date of 2 Enoch
  • Conclusion
  • Bibliography
  • Appendix: List of the Manuscripts of 2 Enoch and Their Sigla

External Links

• Google Books (partial text)