George, You apparently missed my response to your thesis (see below).
David Suter Saint Martin's College The Rechabites as a priesthood seems unlikely. They are more likely smiths (the meaning of the name Cain), with their customs to be explained by the demands of their trade rather than a nomadic background. The phrase "to stand before" can mean to serve as a priest, but it also has other meanings that it would help your argument to eliminate (check a lexicon), and as far as the connection to Enoch is concerned, it doesn't work linguistically (all Cain and Henoch have in common is the nun). There is mention of metalworking in the Enoch literature, but it is one of the arts that the Watchers teach that corrupts humankind, not something taught by Enoch. There was someone back in the 60's or so who published on the Rechabites and the Dead Sea Scrolls. I can't supply you with the reference at the moment, but you might want to check it out. David Suter Saint Martin's College -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] On Behalf Of George Brooks Sent: Saturday, May 25, 2002 10:27 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: orion-list Jeremiah's Eternal Priesthood, the Rechabim I'm still hoping that one of the more curious ORION members will tackle this long over-looked problem of Jeremiah's eternal lineage of Rechabite priests. He seems to believe: 1) That they will "stand" (serve as priests) before the Yahweh of Jerusalem. 2) That Yahweh looks favorably upon them, and thus will be sure they will have an "eternal" office. 3) His "test" of the Rechabite representatives seems designed more as a "ritual", and designed to prove his point, rather than as an authentic test of their resolve. 4) That he links them with an Aramean migration into the territory, which may in fact "inform" modern audiences as to the source of the stories of Abraham the Aramean. >From these points, one might then ask if the Rechabim (which the Fathers of the post-New Testament period mention as still in existence): 1) were directly linked to the Enochian community that seems to have been very active between the return of the exiles from Persia until the end of the BCE period; 2) and if, like the Greek Suidas specifically says, the Rechabim actually are the roots of the Essene movement. If so, it would explain the non-Jewish character of the Essenes, since the Rechabim seem clearly to be a non-Jewish sub-set of those devoted to Yahweh. But this should not be too far-fetched. By definition, the Benjaminites and the Levites are ALSO non-Jewish (which is sometimes difficult to remember). But the Benjaminites and Levites are Hebrew. And perhaps there is a Hebrew linkage between the Rechabites and the "House of Judah" as well. Comments? Thoughts? George Brooks Tampa, FL For private reply, e-mail to "David Suter" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ---------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe from Orion, e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message: "unsubscribe Orion." Archives are on the Orion Web site, http://orion.mscc.huji.ac.il. (PLEASE REMOVE THIS TRAILOR BEFORE REPLYING TO THE MESSAGE)
