Mastema

Lore & Background

In the Book of Jubilees, Mastema is the chief of the demons and spirits that come from the Nephilim, not the chief of the Nephilim themselves. He requests permission from God to spare some of these spirits and put them under his control (Jubilees 10:8). Although leading a group of demons, the text implies he is an angel working for God, as he does not fear imprisonment along with the Nephilim. His function is similar to Satan in the Book of Job, as a servant of God. Another devilish entity, Belial, is mentioned twice in Jubilees, but the text does not identify him with Mastema; they are generally treated as separate figures in Second Temple literature.

Mastema appears to various prophets and puts them to the test. He initiates the binding of Isaac, substitutes Yahweh in that story, hardens Pharaoh's heart (Jub. 48:15–17), and is behind the attack on Moses at the inn (Jubilees 48:1-3). He sends ravens to devour seeds from the fields at the time of Terah (Jubilees 11:10). Mastema is chained while the Israelites leave Egypt, then released to encourage the Egyptians to pursue Israel to their doom in the Red Sea. The deaths of the Egyptian firstborn are attributed to 'all the powers of Mastema', and he is also behind the powers of Pharaoh's sorcerers.

Reader's Guide

Mastema represents a step in developing the concept of the Devil as independent from God during the Second Temple period. By substituting Yahweh's malevolent role throughout the Torah with one of his angels, God is absolved of otherwise evil actions. Yet the authors of Jubilees assert that ultimately evil is caused by God, as God explicitly grants Mastema demons. God allows evil to exist only for a limited period, without committing evil himself.

Although a prince of evil, Mastema never harms God's servants. Whenever he acts, it is only by God's permission, or he is immediately restrained. Harm to God's people is not associated with Mastema; he and his demons only succeed against non-Israelite nations. The text inverts audience expectations by nullifying the power of the agent of evil as long as they stay loyal to Jewish tradition.

Parallels exist between Mastema and Iblis in the Quran, who likewise requests God to tempt humanity and receives hosts of demons, subordinate to God and unable to harm God's servants. The name appears in the Dead Sea Scrolls, where 'angel of mastema' occurs, though the definite article indicates it may not be a proper name. In the Serek ha-Yahad, God 'made Belial for the pit, an angel of mastema', though it is unclear if this refers to a type of angel or a proper name.

Did You Know?

• In the Book of Jubilees, Mastema initiates the binding of Isaac, substituting Yahweh in that narrative.
• Mastema is said to have been chained while the Israelites left Egypt, then released to encourage the Egyptians to pursue them to their doom in the Red Sea.