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

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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.

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3 reviews All reviews
April 17,2025
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The book examines Jewish Mysticism, especially the visions of Rabbi Akiva, Neḥunya ben ha-Ḳanah, and Ishmael through the filters of 3 Enoch, and other books in order to understand the chariot voyages and Hekhalot ascents. He explores Mysticism, its language, places explored, geography, and the God which Rabbis seek to exalt and explain. The boo repeats itself some, which is probably necessary to help take in the information and thought pattern.
April 17,2025
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الكتاب جميل عن أدب الهييخليوت والميركافا وبيقارنه بغيره من الديانات الشرقية القديمة وبيوضح خصائصه .. وبيحطه في سياق عام سواء من الكتابات اليهودية البي قبله سواء في الأنجيل العبري أو الكتابات الرؤياوية أو الشرقية زي الأشورية والبابلية والمصرية .. يعيبه أنه مكرر بس شوية
April 17,2025
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This is the author's doctoral dissertation in book form. It is a study of mythological motifs from the Ancient Near East in the Jewish mystical tradition in late antiquity and early medieval period. It is an interesting study from a comparative perspective, but does not draw any conclusion regarding the transmission of the ideas from Mesopotamia in 500BC and the Hekhalot and Merkavah literature of 200-800AD.
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