Raguel as Interpreter of Moses' Throne Vision: The Transcendent Identity of Raguel in the Exagoge of Ezekiel the Tragedian

Research notes: 
13/12/2011 AS Reader checked 26/12/2011 SE
Reference type: 
Journal Article
Author(s): 
Ruffatto, Kristine J.
year: 
2008
Full title: 

Raguel as Interpreter of Moses' Throne Vision: The Transcendent Identity of Raguel in the Exagoge of Ezekiel the Tragedian

Translated title: 
Journal / Book Title || Series Title: 
Journal for the Study of the Pseudepigrapha
Volume: 
17
Issue / Series Volume: 
2
Number of volumes: 
0
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Pages: 
121-139
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Abstract: 

Ezekiel the Tragedian's second-century BCE drama about the Exodus contains one of the earliest examples of a merkavah vision. The Exagoge exalts Moses, likely in polemic with Enochic traditions. Moses not only has a vision of God's heavenly throne: he is instructed by God to sit on the throne and is given God's scepter and crown. Moses then sees the whole universe, and angels (`stars') pass in military formation before him. Moses' dream is later interpreted in the text by Raguel. The exalted and divinized Moses is the hero of the drama, yet it is Raguel who discerns the meaning of Moses' throne vision. This article argues that Raguel's supernatural interpretive ability, as well as the name, titles, and characteristics attributed to him in the drama, suggest a transcendent identity. Raguel may, in fact, be an angel, a parallel to the angelic figures in other apocalyptic works who accompany the exalted patriarchs in their ascent and interpret their visions.

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Alternative title: 
JSP
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URL: 
http://jsp.sagepub.com/content/17/2/121.full.pdf+html
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Label: 
03/03/2008
Record number: 
9 137