Cover -- Titel -- Table of Contents -- Preface to the Second, Revised Edition -- Preface to the First Edition -- Abbreviations -- Chapter 1: Introduction -- 1.1 The Problem -- 1.2 The Approach -- 1.2.1 Structure of the Thesis -- 1.2 Argument and Scope of the Present Study -- 1.4 Summary -- Chapter 2: 1 Enoch 1-36: The Book of Watchers: A Review of Recent Research -- 2.1 Introduction -- 2.2 History of the Texts -- 2.3 Structure of the Book of Watchers -- 2.4 Summary of the Content of the Book of Watchers -- 2.5 Focus of the Research -- Excursus: Notable terms in the Book of Watchers Watchers -- Shemihazah -- Azazel/Asa'el -- Giants -- Nephilim -- 2.6 Date, Place, and Authorship of the Book of Watchers -- Excursus: Job 4 and the Dating of Job and the Watcher Tradition -- 2.7 Source Critical Approach to the Book of Watchers -- 2.7.1 Milik -- 2.7.2 Kvanvig -- 2.7.3 Collins -- 2.7.4 Hanson -- 2.7.5 Nickelsburg -- 2.7.6 Newsom -- 2.7.8 Dimant -- 2.8 The Function of the Book of Watchers -- 2.8.1 Nickelsburg -- 2.8.2 Hanson -- 2.8.3 Newsom -- 2.8.4 Collins -- 2.8.5 Suter -- 2.9 Conclusion -- Chapter 3: Strategies of Interpreting Genesis 6:1-4 -- 3.1 Introduction 4.2.2 Bene Elohim as the Angels of the Nations -- 4.2.3 Bene Elohim as the Host of Heaven -- 4.3 The Asa'el/Instruction tradition -- 4.3.1 Asa'el versus Azazel -- 4.3.1.1 Origin of the Name of Asa'el -- 4.3.2 Asa'el and the Atonement Motif -- 4.3.3 Asa'el and the Prometheus Myth -- 4.3.4 Summary of the Instruction/Asa'el Tradition -- 4.4 The Shemihazah Tradition -- 4.4.1 Who is Shemihazah? -- 4.4.1.1 Origin of the Name of Shemihazah -- 4.4.2 Shemihazah's Role in the Instruction tradition -- 4.4.3 Shemihazah Tradition and the "Origin of Evil" -- Excursus: Marriage in Genesis 6.2 -- 4.5 Conclusion Chapter 5: The Rebellion Motif in the Book of Watchers -- 5.1 Introduction -- 5.2 Rebellion of the Angels -- 5.3 Interpreting the Consequences -- 5.3.1 The Corruption of the Earth -- 5.3.2 The Judgment of the Watchers -- 5.4 The Nature of the Gibborim -- 5.5 Aetiology of Evil Spirits -- Excursus: Mastema and Belial -- 5.6 A Developing Anthropology -- 5.6.1 Spirit in the Biblical Tradition -- 5.7 Giantology Versus Anthropology -- 5.8 Conclusion -- Chapter 6: Reception of the Watcher Tradition in the Dead Sea Scrolls -- 6.1 Introduction -- Excursus: Dualism in Relevant Qumran Fragments 3.2 Interpreting the Passage - Genesis 6.1-4 -- 3.2.1 Verse 1: אדב לרב על־פ -- ־ ה דמה ובנות ילדו להב -- 3.2.2 Verse 2 וירא בני־האלהים את-בנות האדם כי ט ויקחו להם רשים מכל אשד בחרו -- Excursus: The Greek "Sons of the Gods" -- 3.2.3 Verse 3 -- 3.2.4 Verse 4 -- 3.2.4.1 Nephilim -- 3.2.4.2 Gibborim -- 3.3 Conclusion -- 3.3.1 Verse 6.1 -- 3.3.2 Verse 6.2 -- 3.3.3 Verse 6.3 -- 3.3.4 Verse 6.4 -- 3.3.5 Summary -- Chapter 4: Reception of the "Sons of God" in the Book of Watchers -- 4.1 Introduction -- 4.2 Tradition of the Bene Elohim -- 4.2.1 Bene Elohim as the Watchers