2 Baruch

The Syrian Apocalypse of Baruch (also: 2 Baruch, abbreviated 2Bar or syrBar ) belongs to the so-called Pseudepigrapha of the Old Testament. There is a Jewish Scriptures, the AD probably in the late 1st century BC or early 2nd century AD was, apparently between the destruction of the Temple in the year 70 AD and the Bar Kochba Riot 132-135

The writing is attributed to the biblical figure Baruch is certainly not written by him. The book is still counted neither the Jewish to the Christian canon, but is included in some versions of the Syriac Bible ( the Peshitta ).

Textual tradition

The existence of the book was known by a Latin quotation at the church father Cyprian of Carthage, as well as in extracts from medieval lectionaries of the Syrian Orthodox Church. A complete version in Syriac was discovered in 1866 in the Biblioteca Ambrosiana in Milan, as well as an Arabic translation in 1974, which is from the Syriac text dependent. Furthermore, Greek fragments have been found among the Oxyrhynchus papyri.

Content

The book is divided into 87 chapters and two parts: chapters 1-77 contain the actual Apocalypse, chapter 78-87 the letter of Baruch to the 9 1/2 tribes.

The Apocalypse describes as a vision of Baruch, the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar II in 586 BC, ( what appears to be a response to the destruction of the Temple in the year 70 AD group). Baruch learns that the earthly temple is indeed destroyed, the eternal worship of God, but continues through the angels in heaven, so that the temple does not have to be rebuilt. So Ultimately, it is a letter of consolation for their sanctuary forfeited previous Jewish faith community.

  • Chapter 1-5: God opens Baruch that Jerusalem's destruction is imminent, and asks him to leave the city with the remaining pious. Baruch does not understand how the federal promises of God can apply ( to Moses and David) on when the city and temple perish. God declares that the ground buildings are not true and that Israel's rejection will not last forever. Baruch, Jeremiah, and the pious left Jerusalem and mourn and fast.
  • Chapter 6-8: The Chaldeans surround the city. Baruch is performed in a vision of the city walls and sees four angels, throw the torches to the city, while a fifth angel throws the sacred temple vessels to the ground. The earth opens up and swallows the device until the end of days.
  • Chapter 9-12: Seven days after the capture of Jerusalem Baruch has another vision: He is revealed that Jeremiah to go with the prisoner to Babylon, while he should remain in the ruined city, where he will receive further revelations about the future.
  • Chapter 13-20: Baruch fasts seven days and has another vision of the future punishment of the heathen, and the ungodly. He accuses God the destiny of men, but God replies that the people in the Law ( of Moses ) had a guideline for their lives.
  • Chapter 21-30: After a further seven days' fast Baruch sees the open sky. He is admonished for his doubts and then he discovers that after Adam's fall, the number of all people is predetermined so that the end will come when their number is met. Baruch asks when that will be, and receives in response a statement of the twelve age that will end with the time of the Messiah and the resurrection of the dead.
  • Chapter 31-34: Baruch gather the elders of the people and gives them that Zion will be indeed rebuilt, but again destroyed, only then it will arise again for all eternity.
  • Chapter 35-40: Baruch has another vision, as he sits mournfully in the ruins of the temple. In it he saw as the Messiah, the fourth empire of people ( probably the Roman Empire ) overcomes.
  • Chapter 41-46: Baruch receives revelations about the fate of converts and apostates. He should warn the people and prepare for further visions. He foresees his own death.
  • Chapter 47-52: This is the central part of the book. He starts with a great prayer of Baruch in the face of God's majesty. God reveals to him the oppressions of mankind during the last days, the resurrection and the final fate of the righteous and that of the wicked. So Baruch recognizes that one does not have to mourn for the dead.
  • Chapter 53-74: The Angel Ramiel Baruch brings another vision with the six dark ( evil ) and the six bright ( good ) ages of mankind. Then comes a great darkness, the time after the destruction of the Second Temple, which is illuminated by the arrival of the Messiah.
  • Chapter 75-77: Baruch thanked God that he was allowed to see these secrets. God instructed Baruch to warn the people, and to prepare himself to his ascension. Baruch wrote two letters: the to the 9 1/2 tribes and the 2 1/2 in exile (which is narrated in the Book of Baruch ).
  • Chapter 78-87: The Epistle of Baruch to the 9 1/2 tribes. Baruch exhorts the people to believe in the promise of the future and the coming of the Messiah, despite the current woes.

Related Literature

Some traditions that are used in 2 Baruch, also found in other writings, such as the Liber Antiquitatum Biblicarum of Pseudo- Philo, in the Paralipomena Jeremiae ( 4 Baruch ), in the Apocalypse of Abraham, and in the Apocalypse of Moses. In addition, 2 Baruch and 4 Ezra are related.

Bar Kokhba revolt Lectionary 2 Esdras 3 Baruch
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