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The Books of Enoch, Aramaic Fragments of Qumran Cave 4

The Books of Enoch, Aramaic Fragments of Qumran Cave 4

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LATER HISTORY 339<br />

information discussed—^the author <strong>of</strong> the Jewish adaptation <strong>of</strong> the Manichaean<br />

Book <strong>of</strong> Giants will readily be acknowledged as the rabbi Joseph who<br />

is mentioned at the beginning <strong>of</strong> the midrash on Semhazai and 'Aza'el. It is in<br />

fact R. Joseph bar Hiyya (died A.D. 333), who was the successor to Rabba<br />

bar Nahmani in the academy <strong>of</strong> Pumbedita.<br />

Be that as it may, the midrash <strong>of</strong> Semhazai and 'Aza'el provides us, in a<br />

very shortened form, with the longest sequence <strong>of</strong> the Book <strong>of</strong> Giants which<br />

has been preserved up to modern times: from the sin <strong>of</strong> the angels, the mission<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>Enoch</strong> to the chief <strong>of</strong> the fallen angels, the lamentations <strong>of</strong> the latter<br />

(compare with these the fragment <strong>of</strong> 4Q quoted above, p. 307), up to the<br />

announcement <strong>of</strong> the salvation which will be accomplished by Noah and his<br />

three sons.

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