Abstract

The Story of the Watchers has been transmitted from antiquity until today among the writings of different religious groups. In this thesis I will investigate the theological, historical and social implications of the transmission of this story during the Second Temple Period. This encompasses investigating the different influences on the population of ancient Judea during these times, and the internal theological developments of the Jewish community. I will focus on the relationship between theological developments and communal identity that influenced the choices of texts that were copied, modified and incorporated into communal literature. Ultimately, I will investigate why the Story of the Watchers was widely circulated and known, yet not included in the Hebrew Bible.