Interesting Facts

• Mastêmâ is identified as the chief of the spirits.
• He pleaded with God to allow a portion of the evil spirits to remain with him to exercise his will on the sons of men.
• Mastêmâ stated that these spirits are for corruption and leading astray before God’s judgment, because of the great wickedness of mankind.
• At his request, God allowed one-tenth of the evil spirits to remain with him, while nine parts descended into the place of condemnation.
• Mastêmâ is depicted as actively working to bring about wrong and sin, transgression, corruption, destruction, and the shedding of blood upon the earth.
• He incited the idea to test Abraham’s faithfulness by demanding the sacrifice of Isaac.
• Mastêmâ is referred to as a “prince“.
• He was put to shame when Abraham offered the ram instead of Isaac.
• Mastêmâ sent ravens and birds to devour the seed sown in the land, causing destitution and barrenness.

Genealogy

• The provided sources do not offer any genealogical information regarding Mastêmâ, such as his parentage, birth, marital connections, or offspring. He is consistently presented as the chief or prince of spirits, indicating a spiritual rather than a physical lineage within the context of human genealogy.

Historical Context

The actions of Mastêmâ are primarily situated in the antediluvian and early post-flood periods, extending into the time of Abraham. His initial request to retain a portion of evil spirits occurs after God commanded the binding of all of them. This event seems to follow the flood, as Noah prays for God to prevent wicked spirits from ruling over his sons, referencing the actions of the Watchers who were the fathers of these spirits before the flood. Mastêmâ‘s influence continues into the time of Abraham, where he actively seeks to test Abraham’s faith and later attempts to hinder the blessing promised to Jacob. This places his activities within a theological context where divine testing and the struggle between righteousness and corruption are prominent themes. The famine and barrenness caused by the birds sent by Mastêmâ illustrate the consequences of spiritual opposition impacting the physical world.

Narrative

Mastêmâ plays a significant adversarial role in the narratives presented in the Book of Jubilees and Jasher. Following the flood, when God ordered the binding of all evil spirits, Mastêmâ intercedes, arguing that he needs some of them to execute his will on humanity due to their inherent wickedness. This establishes him as a key figure in the ongoing struggle between good and evil in the post-flood world. His request is partially granted, with one-tenth of the spirits remaining under his command. Subsequently, Mastêmâ is depicted as actively inciting evil and destruction. A pivotal moment in his narrative is his instigation of the test of Abraham, suggesting to God that Abraham’s love for Isaac outweighs his devotion. During the attempted sacrifice, Mastêmâ‘s efforts to thwart God’s will and cause Abraham to fail are evident, though ultimately unsuccessful, leading to his being put to shame. Later, Mastêmâ‘s malevolent influence is seen in the natural realm through the devastation caused by the birds he sends. While not always directly interacting with humans (except perhaps subtly), his actions and suggestions shape critical events and highlight the persistent presence of opposition to divine purposes throughout these early biblical narratives.