Good Resource For Jewish Apocalypses

[volgadon]

The SBL publishes fantastic stuff. "Trajectories in Near Eastern Apocalyptic: A Postrabbinic Jewish Apocalypse Reader" by John C. Reeves is from 2005, presenting English translations of some rather important Jewish works from the 5th to 11th centuries. These are where most of the primary sources on the Messiah ben Joseph can be found, as well as discussions on the role of messiahs, the expectations for redemption, as well as the roots of later works such as the Zohar.

A Gallery of Jewish Apocalypses

1. Sefer Elijah

2. Sefer Zerubbabel

3. Pirqe de R. Eliezer §30 (end)

4. R. Šimon b. Yohai Complex

The Secrets of R. Šimon b. Yohai

The Prayer of R. Šimon b. Yohai

5. Apocalypses Featuring “Ten Signs” (Eser Otot)

Otot of R. Šimon b. Yohai

Ten Signs

Otot Ha-Mašiah (Signs of the Messiah)

Ten Further Things Pertaining to the

Days of the Messiah

6. Responsum of R. Hai Gaon on Redemption

7. Aggadat ha-Mašiah

8. Pirqe Mašiah

9. Midrash Wa-Yosha (end)

Thematic Excursuses

1. Metatron as Apocalyptic Persona

2. The Eschatological Appearance of the Staff of Moses

3. The “People of Moses”

[volgadon]

I figured I'd bump this old thread because I was recently browsing through the book again. Anyone seriously interested in Messianism should check it out. The only comparable collections are Kaufmann's "Midrashei Geulah" and Patai's "Messiah Texts." Kaufmann's book covers more or less the same texts as this book, but is in Hebrew as well as being a little dated. Unlike the "Messiah Texts" this anthology focuses on a set period and genre, allowing for more solid conclusions to be reached. There is still a lot to be done in regards to serious work on the Messiah ben Joseph traditions, since we tend to Mormonise them way too much. This anthology, IMNSHO, is a good antidote.