The Origin of Evil Spirits

The Reception of Genesis 6.1-4 in Early Jewish Literature

by Archie Wright

Book cover: The Origin of Evil Spirits

Extent: 260 pages

Publisher: Mohr Siebeck

Subjects: Biblical Studies

Series: Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testament 2.Reihe

Series volume number: 198

Language: English

(Paperback) (Out of print)

(December 2005)

ISBN: 9783161486562

Price: $63.00

Out of stock

Archie Wright examines the trajectory of the origin of evil spirits in early Jewish literature. His work traces the development of the concept of evil spirits from the Hebrew Bible (Genesis 6) through post biblical Jewish literature. The research is concerned with the reception history of Genesis 6:1-4 in early Enochic and Philonic Judaism during the Second Temple Period. The author suggests that the non-specificity inherent in the biblical text of Genesis 6:1-4 opened the basis for the later emergence of an aetiology of evil spirits as Jewish authors engaged with the text. As a result, Genesis 6:1-4, particularly its interpretation in 1 Enoch 6-16, played an important part in the development of demonology in Second Temple Period Judaism.

  • By (author) Archie Wright