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222 The Book <strong>of</strong> Enoch [Sect, v<br />

98^' ' 104''. As <strong>the</strong> former party are designated as <strong>the</strong> 'children <strong>of</strong><br />

heaven', lOli, <strong>the</strong>se are called <strong>the</strong> ' children <strong>of</strong> earth ', 100" 102^.<br />

The date <strong>of</strong> this clearly defined and deyeloped opposition <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

two parties cannot have been pro-Maccabean, nor yet earlier than<br />

<strong>the</strong> breach between John Hyrcanus and <strong>the</strong> Pharisees. But a still<br />

later date must be assumed according to <strong>the</strong> literal interpretation<br />

<strong>of</strong> lOS^*' i\ where <strong>the</strong> rulers are said to uphold <strong>the</strong> Sadducean<br />

oppressors and to share in <strong>the</strong> murder <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> righteous. This charge<br />

is not justified before 95 B.C. As for <strong>the</strong> later limit, <strong>the</strong> Herodian<br />

princes cannot be <strong>the</strong> rulers here mentioned, for <strong>the</strong> Sadducees were<br />

irreconcilably opposed to <strong>the</strong>se, as aliens and usurpers. It appears,<br />

<strong>the</strong>refore, that this section should be assigned ei<strong>the</strong>r to <strong>the</strong> years<br />

95-79 B.C. or to 70-64 B.C., during which periods <strong>the</strong> Pharisees<br />

were opx^ressed by both rulers and Sadducees.<br />

If, on <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r hand, we might regard <strong>the</strong> word 'murder' as<br />

merely a strong expression for a severe persecution—and <strong>the</strong> silence<br />

elsewhere observed as to <strong>the</strong> rulers would point to this interpretation—<br />

<strong>the</strong>n we should naturally refer this section to <strong>the</strong> years<br />

107-95 B.C., i.e. after <strong>the</strong> breach between Hyrcanus and <strong>the</strong><br />

Pharisees and before <strong>the</strong> savage destruction <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Pharisees by<br />

Jannaeus in 95. If <strong>the</strong> date <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>book</strong> is subsequent to 95,<br />

<strong>the</strong> merely passing reference in 103'" to <strong>the</strong> cruelties <strong>of</strong> Jannaeus<br />

is hardly intelligible. We should expect ra<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong> fierce indigna-<br />

tion against '<strong>the</strong> kings and <strong>the</strong> mighty', which we actually do<br />

tind in 37-70, and which fittingly expresses <strong>the</strong> feelings <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

Pharisees towards Jannaeus, '<strong>the</strong> slayer <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> pious.' We are<br />

inclined <strong>the</strong>refore to place 91-104 before 95 B.C., and if we may<br />

regard 100^ as an historical reference, <strong>the</strong>se chapters are to be<br />

assigned to <strong>the</strong> years 104-95 B.C.<br />

The author is thus a Pharisee, ^^riting between <strong>the</strong> years 104 and<br />

95, or 95-79, or 70-64 b.c.<br />

D. The Problem and its Solution. The author <strong>of</strong> 1-36<br />

solves <strong>the</strong> problem <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> righteous suffering by <strong>the</strong>ir resuscitation<br />

to a temporary blessedness in <strong>the</strong> Messianic kingdom ;<br />

<strong>the</strong><br />

wicked<br />

dead who escaped punuhmeni in life, 22^"'^-', rise also to receive<br />

requital for <strong>the</strong>ir sin. What becomes <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> righteous after <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

second death is not so much as hinted at in that section. Thus in<br />

this respect <strong>the</strong> solution <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> problem here presented has not<br />

advanced a single step beyond that given in Is. 65 and 66.<br />

But this solution <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> problem must have failed early to give<br />

satisfaction, in 91-104 we tind ano<strong>the</strong>r attempt to grapple with

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