Limit search to available items
Book Cover
E-book
Author Arbel, Vita Daphna

Title Beholders of divine secrets : mysticism and myth in Hekhalot and merkavah literature / Vita Daphna Arbel
Published Albany, N.Y. : State University of New York Press, ©2003

Copies

Description 1 online resource (xii, 250 pages)
Contents Machine generated contents note: 1. Hekhalot and Merkavah Literature and Its Mystical Tradition -- 2. Hekhalot and Merkavah Mysticism -- 3. Mythical Language of Hekhalot and Merkavah Mysticism -- 4. Mystical Journeys in Mythological Language -- 5. Concept of God: Mystical and Mythological Dimensions -- 6. Literary, Phenomenological, Cultural, and Social Implications
Summary "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."--Jacket
Notes Based on a doctoral thesis submitted to the Hebrew University, Jerusalem in 1997
Bibliography Includes bibliographical references (pages 211-235) and indexes
Notes Print version record
Subject Mysticism -- Judaism.
Hekhalot literature -- History and criticism
Merkava.
Jewish mythology.
RELIGION -- Judaism -- Rituals & Practice.
Hekhalot literature
Jewish mythology
Merkava
Mysticism -- Judaism
Jodendom.
Mystiek.
Hekhalot-literatuur.
Merkavah-mystiek.
Genre/Form Criticism, interpretation, etc.
Form Electronic book
ISBN 1417537418
9781417537419
0791457230
9780791457238
0791457249
9780791457245
9780791486856
0791486850