G — Biblically Based Apocryphal Works

The Book of Giants (1Q23-4, 2Q26, 4Q203, 530-33, 6Q8)

1The Book of Giants is missing from the Ethiopic version of Enoch, but it circulated among the Manichaeans (W. B. Henning, 'The Book of Giants', Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies 11, 1943-46, 52-74) as well as in Talmudic and medieval Jewish literature (bNid. 61a and Midrash Shemhazai and Azael), as has been convincingly shown by J. T. Milik in his learned book, The Books of Enoch: Aramaic Fragments of Qumran Cave 4(Oxford, 1976, 298- 339). Some of the features resemble the Book of Daniel. For the editio princeps of 4Q530-33, see E. Puech, DJD, XXXI, 9- 115. 4Q530 Frs. 2, 6-12 II ... about the death of our soul. And all his colleagues entered and [O]hiyah explained them what Gilgamesh had told him and H[o]babis roared and [j]udgement was pronounced on him. And the guilty cursed the princes, but the giants rejoiced over him and he was curs[ed] again [and accep]ted it. Then two of them dreamed dreams and the sleep of their eyes fled from them... and they ro[se and op]ened their eyes and they went to [Shemihaza, their father. Then] he told a story in the congregation of [their co]lleagues, the Nephilin: ... I saw [a wonder] in my dream that night. [Behold a big garden was planted with all kinds of trees.] There were there gardeners and they were watering [ev]ery tree in [that] garden... Many [roo]ts grew out of their stock. [And out of one tree grew] three shoots. I was looking until tongues of fire [came down]

2from [heaven]. I was [looking] until the ... was covered with all the water and the fire devoured all [the trees] of the whole orchard. But it did not [devour the tree and its shoots on] the land whe[n it was destroyed] ... Here is the end of the dream... [And] the giants were unable to explain [the] dre[am]. [And he said...] You will give this [dr]eam [to Eno]ch, the interpreter scribe, that he might interpret to us the dream. vacat Then Ohiyah, his brother, answered and said before the giants, I, too, saw a wonder in my dream this night. Behold the Ruler of heaven descended to earth and thrones were set and the great Holy One sat. [Hundreds and hundred]s were ministering to Him. Thousands and thousands... stood b[e]fore Him. And behold, [boo]ks were opened and judgement was pronounced and the judgement... [was writ]ten and a signature was signed. And [the Great one reigns] over all the living and flesh and over [all those who ru]le. Here is the end of the dream. vacat [And behold] all the giants were terrified [and] c[al]led Mahawai and he came to the co[ng]regation of [the Nephilin(?)] And the giants sent him to Enoch... and said to him, Go [to him...] previously you listened to his voice and say to him that he should expl[ain to you the inter[pretation of the dreams and that all should rest [w]ith those who hunger strongly after it 4Q531 Fr. 22 ...[I showed myself] mighty and by the power of my strong arm and by the vigour of my might [I rose against a]ll flesh and made war on them. But I ... not... [fi]nd ... to strengthen (me), for my adversaries, [the angels of heave]n dwell [in heave]n and they abide in the holy places and [I will] not... [for the]y are more powerful than I. vacat ... of wild beasts came and the country people cried... And Ohiyah spoke to him thus. My dream has depressed [me] and [the sl]eep of my eyes [fled from me] for looking at the [vis]ion. Behold I know that I cannot sleep and cannot hasten for them... [Then Gil]gamesh said, Your [dr]eam...