Beholders of Divine Secrets: Mysticism and Myth in the Hekhalot and Merkavah Literature
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,...
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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. 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.
PrefaceAbbreviationsIntroduction11The Hekhalot and Merkavah Literature and Its Mystical Tradition72Hekhalot and Merkavah Mysticism213Mythical Language of Hekhalot and Merkavah Mysticism514Mystical Journeys in Mythological Language675The Concept of God: Mystical and Mythological Dimensions1056Literary, Phenomenological, Cultural, and Social Implications139Notes157Bibliography211Index of Passages Discusses237Index of Authors247General Index249
