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

Vita Daphna Arbel (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 23, 2003

"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."

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

"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." --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

About the Author

Vita Daphna Arbel is Associate Professor of Religious Studies at the University of British Columbia. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 262 pages
• Publisher: State University of New York Press (October 23, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0791457249
• ISBN-13: 978-0791457245
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,718,556 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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This review is from: Beholders of Divine Secrets: Mysticism and Myth in the Hekhalot and Merkavah Literature (Paperback)

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.