The Mesopotamian Background of the Enochic Giants and Evil Spirits

Updated by: 
Oren Ableman
Research notes: 
Reader Checked OA 29/04/2014 hw/16/03/2014/not checked
Reference type: 
Journal Article
Author(s): 
Drawnel, Henryk
year: 
2014
Full title: 

The Mesopotamian Background of the Enochic Giants and Evil Spirits

Journal / Book Title || Series Title: 
Dead Sea Discoveries
Volume: 
21
Issue / Series Volume: 
1
Abbreviated Series Name: 
DSD
Pages: 
14 –38
Work type: 
Essay/Monograph
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: 
1 Enoch
Passage: 
6-11
URL: 
http://booksandjournals.brillonline.com/content/journals/10.1163/15685179-12341263
Label: 
24/03/2014
Record number: 
97 745