Beholders of Divine Secrets : Mysticism and Myth in the Hekhalot and Merkavah Literature

"A wide-ranging exploration of the Hekhalot and Merkavah literature, a mystical Jewish tradition from late antiquity, including a discussion of the possible cultural context of this material's creators." Beholders Of Divine Secrets Provides A Fascinating Exploration Of The Enigmatic Hekhalot And Merkavah Literature, The Jewish Mystical Writings Of Late Antiquity. Vita Daphna Arbel Delves Into The Unique Nature Of The Mystical Teachings, Experiences, Revelations, And Spiritual Exegesis Presented In This Literature. While Previous Scholarship Has Demonstrated The Connection Between Hekhalot And Merkavah Mysticism And Parallel Traditions In Rabbinical Writings, The Dead Sea Scrolls, Apocalyptic, Early Christian, And Gnostic Sources, This Work Points Out Additional Mythological Traditions That Resonate In This Literature. Arel Suggests That Mythological Patterns Of Expression, As Well As Themes And Models Rooted In Near Eastern Mythological Traditions Are Employed, In A Spiritualized Fashion, To Communicate Mystical Content. The Possible Cultural And Social Context Of The Hekhalot And Merkavah Mysticism And Its Composers Is Discussed.--book Jacket. 1. The Hekhalot And Merkavah Literature And Its Mystical Tradition -- 2. Hekhalot And Merkavah Mysticism -- 3. Mythical Language Of Hekhalot And Merkavah Mysticism -- 4. Mystical Journeys In Mythological Language -- 5. The Concept Of God: Mystical And Mythological Dimensions -- 6. Literary, Phenomenological, Cultural, And Social Implications. Vita Daphna Arbel. Based On A Doctoral Thesis Submitted To The Hebrew University, Jerusalem In 1997. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 211-235) And Indexes. "Beholders of Divine Secrets provides a fascinating exploration of the enigmatic Hekhalot and Merkavah literature, the Jewish mystical writings of late antiquity. Vita Daphna Arbel delves into the unique nature of the mystical teachings, experiences, revelations, and spiritual exegesis presented in this literature. While previous scholarship has demonstrated the connection between Hekhalot and Merkavah mysticism and parallel traditions in Rabbinical writings, the Dead Sea Scrolls, apocalyptic, early Christian, and Gnostic sources, this work points out additional mythological traditions that resonate in this literature. Arel suggests that mythological patterns of expression, as well as themes and models rooted in Near Eastern mythological traditions are employed, in a spiritualized fashion, to communicate mystical content. The possible cultural and social context of the Hekhalot and Merkavah mysticism and its composers is discussed."--Jaquette Beholders of Divine Secrets provides a fascinating exploration of the enigmatic Hekhalot and Merkavah literature, the Jewish mystical writings of late antiquity. Vita Daphna Arbel delves into the unique nature of the mystical teachings, experiences, revelations, and spiritual exegesis presented in this literature. While previous scholarship has demonstrated the connection between Hekhalot and Merkavah mysticism and parallel traditions in Rabbinical writings, the Dead Sea Scrolls, apocalyptic, early Christian, and Gnostic sources, this work points out additional mythological traditions that resonate in this literature. Arbel suggests that mythological patterns of expression, as well as themes and models rooted in Near Eastern mythological traditions are employed, in a spiritualized fashion, to communicate mystical content. The possible cultural and social context of the Hekhalot and Merkavah mysticism and its composers is discussed. Beholders of Divine Secrets 4 Contents 8 Preface 10 Abbreviations 12 Introduction 14 1. The Hekhalot and Merkavah Literature and Its Mystical Tradition 20 2. Hekhalot and Merkavah Mysticism 34 3. Mythical Language of Hekhalot and Merkavah Mysticism 64 4. Mystical Journeys in Mythological Language 80 5. The Concept of God: Mystical and Mythological Dimensions 118 6. Literary, Phenomenological, Cultural, and Social Implications 152 Notes 170 1: THE HEKHALOT AND MERKAVAH LITERATURE AND ITS MYSTICAL TRADITION 170 2: HEKHALOT AND MERKAVAH MYSTICISM 179 3: MYTHICAL LANGUAGE OF HEKHALOT AND MERKAVAH MYSTICISM 189 4: MYSTICAL JOURNEYS IN MYTHOLOGICAL LANGUAGE 195 5: THE CONCEPT OF GOD: MYSTICAL AND MYTHOLOGICAL DIMENSIONS 206 6: LITERARY, PHENOMENOLOGICAL, CULTURAL, AND SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS 219 Bibliography 224 Index of Passages Discussed 250 Index of Authors 260 General Index 262