Four powers in heaven: The interpretation of Daniel 7 in the "Testament of Abraham".

Abstract

Dan 7:9-27 has exercised considerable influence on apocalyptic texts. Its descriptions of the "Ancient of Days", "one like a son of man", and the "holy ones of the Most High" influenced many Middle Jewish documents and resurface in later Rabbinic and Christian literature. The best known and repeatedly discussed references are those which appear in the Parables of Enoch and in some NT documents. Other texts which also allude to Daniel 7 seem to go overlooked or understudied. One such text is the T Abr 11:1-13:7. Careful study of this passage will further illustrate how Daniel's apocalyptic description of the future kingdom of God and the agents involved in its establishment provoked interpretive responses from Jewish exegetes. A close examination of the context of the T Abr 11:1-13:7 reveals something more than an allusion to Dan 7:13-27. From 11:1 to 13:7 there is a lengthy description of Abraham's visit to heaven during which he gains insight about the judgment of all mankind. He learns that several figures are part of the process of judgment: Adam, before whom all souls must pass; Abel, the son of Adam, who judges the entire creation; the twelve tribes of Israel, who are granted a part in the judgment of mankind at the parousia; and lastly, the "Master God of all", who will render the final judgment. The way these characters parallel those described in Dan 7:9-27 is striking. There is a strong probability that the entire pericope of Dan 7:9-27 influenced the depiction of the judgment scene in the Testament of Abraham.