Abram's Prayerwhich they used to observe the omens of the sun, moon, and stars, and every
heavenly sign" (8:3). These signs were probably used to predict the future.^12
Kainan copied these instructions from the stone "and sinned on the basis of
what was in it." The teachings of the watchers contrast with the teachings of
the patriarchs, which were received from the angels.^13 As far as the astrologi
cal teachings of the watchers are concerned, the author is probably referring
to an Enochic tradition. In 1 En 6-11 the watchers are not only involved in il
licit sexual practices and violence, but they are also involved in astrological
teachings. 1 En 8:3 says that "Barakiel taught astrologers, and Kokabel por
tents, and Tamiel taught astrology and Asradel taught the path of the
moon."^14 It is remarkable that of all the illicit angelic instructions of the
watchers mentioned in the Book of the Watchers (metalworking, cosmetics,
sorcery, pharmacology, spellbinding, and celestial divination), Jubilees in
cludes only one.^15
In 11:8 one can read that Abram's grandfather Nahor learned from his
father Serug "the studies of the Chaldeans: to practice divination and to au
gur by the signs of the sky." This forms the direct background for Abram's
predictions of the weather for the coming year in 12:16-18.^16 Although 11:8
does not show an explicit disapproval of "the studies of the Chaldeans," it is
striking that in the context of Serug's birth the threats of the evil spirits and
their leader Mastema are mentioned (11:4-5). This means that the studies of
the Chaldeans on the practice of divination are closely related to the influ-
- M. Segal, The Book of Jubilees: Rewritten Bible, Redaction, Ideology, and Theology,
JSJSup 117 (Leiden: Brill, 2007), 260 n. 8. - Although this is the first time in Jubilees that the watchers are connected with as
trological teachings, it should be remembered that Enoch was born immediately after the
watchers came down on earth (4:15-16). The first thing he wrote down was concerned with
calendrical and astronomical affairs: "the signs of the sky in accord with the fixed pattern of
their months, so that mankind would know the seasons of the years according to the fixed
patterns of each of their months" (4:17). The angels showed him the dominion of the sun
(4:21), after which the text continues with mention of the watchers and their illicit inter
course. - A. Lange points to the heavy emphasis on the rejection of astrology in 1 En 8:3,
which is developed further in Jub 8:3. Cf. A. Lange, "The Essene Position on Magic and Divi
nation," in Legal Texts and Legal Issues: Proceedings of the Second Meeting of the International
Organization for Qumran Studies; Published in Honour of Joseph M. Baumgarten, ed.
M. Bernstein, F. Garcia Martinez, and J. Kampen, STD J 23 (Leiden: Brill, 1997), 377-435 (here
400-402). - A. Y. Reed, Fallen Angels and the History of Judaism and Christianity (Cambridge:
Cambridge University Press, 2005), 92-93. Cf. Lange, "The Essene Position," 400. - Segal, The Book of Jubilees, 260.