The Mesopotamian Background of the Enochic Giants and Evil Spirits

Full title
The Mesopotamian Background of the Enochic Giants and Evil Spirits
Research notes

Reader Checked|OA 29/04/2014||hw/16/03/2014/not checked

Reference type
Author(s)
Drawnel, Henryk
Year
2014
Journal / Book Title || Series Title
Dead Sea Discoveries
Volume
21
Issue / Series Volume
1
Abbreviated Series Name
DSD
Pages
14 –38
Work type
Label
24/03/2014
Abstract

In the myth of the fallen Watchers (1 En. 6–11) the giants, illegitimate offspring of the fallen angels, are depicted as exceedingly violent beings that consume the labour of all the sons of men. They also kill men, devour them, and drink blood. Finally, they sin against all the animals of the earth. The violent behaviour of the giants in 1 En. 7:2–5 continues in 1 En. 15:11 where the spirits of the giants attack humanity, thus it appears that the spirits behave in a manner similar to that of the giants. The present article argues that the description of the giants in 1 En. 7:2–5 and their spirits in 15:11 is modeled after the violent behaviour of the demons found in the Mesopotamian bilingual series Utukkū Lemnūtu. The giants, therefore, are not to be identified with the Mesopotamian warrior-kings, but their behaviour rather indicates that they actually are violent and evil demons.

Primary Texts: Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha
Composition / Author
Passage
6-11