Understanding Sin and Evil

With this episode we begin a new “chapter” in our series. We’ve looked at how the Watchers story developed into the idea that demons cause sin. But what about the “big guy” himself – where do we find The Devil (capital t, capital d) or, as we’re fond of calling him, “Satan,” in the Hebrew Bible and in Second Temple literature?

In this episode we trace where Satan appears in the Hebrew Bible — both as simply the word “sātān” (adversary) and as an actual divine/demonic figure. The biblical sources are sparse, but we can still see the development of the concept of the sātān from general adversary to demonic enemy.

Spoiler: The sātān starts appearing as an actual character in those works composed during the Return to Zion — that is, the beginning of the Second Temple period.

And so we end with the question: why did the idea of a central evil, demonic being (whether Satan, Belial, or Mastema) become so popular in the Second Temple period? Listen to find out, and write me your comments and questions below!

In this episode, I discuss:

* The different biblical texts discovered at Qumran

* The nature of “Scripture” during the Second Temple period

* The process of canonization and why “canon” can mean something different for Jews and for Christians

* The importance of interpretation for a “Scripturized” Bible

* And as a special bonus, learn about the Masoretes! (Who were they, and what did they do?)

As always, I look forward to your questions and comments!

Your questions answered! In this Q&A I tackle questions you have sent me on previous episodes:

* Adam and Eve’s punishment

* The “myth” of the Watchers

* Demonic possession

* Repentance in the Hebrew Bible

In my next episode, I will address your questions on the status of the Hebrew Bible and “canon” in general during the Second Temple period.

Learn how the Watchers are portrayed in the Dead Sea Scrolls and how they are “used” to explain sin. And where are the Watchers in the Talmud? Discover the echoes of the Watchers story in later Jewish tradition.

In this episode, we explore:

*  Where the Watchers appear in the texts of the Dead Sea Scrolls

*  Where we see hints of the Watchers in later Jewish tradition

In case you want to read along, I am including the English translation of the relevant passages of the Dead Sea Scrolls below.  Note how the Damascus Document uses the Watchers as simply an example of the first creatures to sin through their own evil inclination, while the Songs of the Sage use the Watchers’ descendants in the description of the speaker’s own struggle with the desire to sin. Finally, in the incantation that we find in 11Q Apocryphal Psalms, the descendant of the Watchers is an external (though deceptive) threat to the speaker, who is attempting to protect himself by expressing this creature’s false nature.

Damascus Document (CD) II.14-III

vacat And now, O sons, hearken to me and I will uncover your eyes so you may see and understand the works of God and choose that which he wants and despise that which he hates: to walk perfectly in all his ways and not to go about in the thoughts of an inclination of guilt and lecherous eyes. For many have strayed due to them; mighty men of valor have stumbled due to them, from their earliest times and until today. Walking after the stubbornness of their heart(s), the Watchers of heaven fell. They were held by it, for they did not keep God’s commandments; and (so too) their sons, who were as high as lofty cedars and whose bodies were like mountains. For all flesh which was on dry land fell, for they died and were as if they had not been, for they had done their (own) will and had not kept the commandments of their maker, until his wrath was kindled against them.  vacat Through it strayed the sons of Noah and their families; through it they were cut off. Abraham did not walk in it and he was accepted as a lover, for he kept God’s commandments and did not choose to follow the will of his (own) spirit. And he transmitted (his way) to Isaac and Jacob; and they observed (them) and were recorded as lovers of God and parties to (his) covenant forever. … The first ones who entered the covenant became guilty through it; and they were given up to the sword, having abandoned God’s covenant, and they chose their (own) will, and strayed after the stubbornness of their heart, for each one to do his (own) will. vacat…

“Songs of the Sage” 4Q510-511

… His knowledge he put [in my] hear[t…] the praises of His righteousness, and […]‘h and by His mouth he frightens [all the spirits] of the bastards to subdue […]ṭ y impurity. For in the innards of my flesh is the foundation of d[…and in] my body are battles. The statutes of God are in my heart, and I prof[it] for all the wonders of man. (4Q511 48–49 +51 )

… vacat And I, the Maskil, proclaim His glorious splendor so as to frighten and to te[rrify] all the spirits of the destructive angels, bastard spirits, demons, Lilith, howlers and […] and those who strike suddenly to lead a spirit of understanding astray and to make their heart and their […] desolate during the present dominion of wickedness and predetermined time of afflictions for the children of lig[ht], by the guilt of the ages of [those] smitten by iniquity—not for eternal destruction, […]m for an era of affliction of transgression.…(4Q510 1 4b–8a)

(6) And I practice the fear of God through the periods of my generations, to exalt the name dbr[…] (7) by his strength al[l] the spirits of the bastards, to subdue them by [His] fear […] (8) [fe]stivals […]period of their rule […] (4Q511 35 6–8)

11Q Apocryphal Psalms

…[When ]he comes to you in the nig[ht,] you will [s]ay to him: ‘Who are you,

How did the author of Jubilees try to solve the “problem” of evil?

In this episode we will explore how the story of the Watchers developed through the book of Jubilees and how the author of Jubilees used this “later” interpretation (compared to the Book of the Watchers in Enoch) to explain evil in his own age.

We will also discuss the introduction of the satanic angel Mastema in Jubilees, and his purpose as a bridge between the divine and the demonic.

Finally, we will look at the two different “prescriptions” the author offers for fighting demonic influence, each with its own implications for human free will.

In this action-packed episode, we will discuss:

* The status of Enoch and the Book of Enoch in Second Temple Judaism

* The popularity of the solar calendar in the Second Temple period and at Qumran

* The traditions of the Watchers in the Book of the Watchers (1 Enoch 1-36)

* The retelling of the Watchers story in the Animal Apocalypse

There are at least 3 versions of the Watchers story: the Asael tradition, the Shemihaza tradition, and an interwoven tradition regarding the teaching of magic. Listen to learn more!

As we explore the Book of the Watchers, I will pay particular attention to the following questions for each thread of the Watchers tradition:

* What was the Watchers’ sin?

* Did the Watchers’ actions cause human sin, or “just” physical destruction (in the form of the giants and their violence)?

* Did the Watchers’ actions lead to the Flood?

* Did the Watchers’ actions have repercussions after the Flood?

Note: I am not asking these questions regarding the biblical account — only regarding the way this account is interpreted in the Book of Enoch.

In this episode, we will discuss the beginning of what is later known as the “Watchers myth”: the story of the mating of “bnei ‘elohim” with human women in Genesis 6:1-4.

What is the original biblical story actually about? Who were the nephilim? Tune in and find out!

Don’t forget to leave your comments and questions below.

The episode you’ve been waiting for! You can download the source sheet here.  (It’s not necessary to understand the episode, but it will add to your experience.)

Learn how rarely the Dead Sea Scrolls and Second Temple Literature use the stories of Adam and Eve and of Cain and Abel to explain sin. Spoiler alert: most references to Adam and Eve as the source of sin (or death!) are written after the destruction of the Second Temple. Tune in to find out why, and how this reflects reactions to the Destruction.

Afterwards, we’ll discuss the hints to the oracle of Cain in the Dead Sea Scrolls, and why so little attention is paid to this key biblical verse about sin.

I’m looking forward to your comments!