Rewriting the Rewritten Tradition: Scribal Memory and the Watchers Tradition(s) in Jubilees 5

The relationship between Jubilees 5, Genesis 6 and 1 Enoch 6–11 has been rehearsed many times, but the jubilean author’s method generally has been assumed to be transcriptive from physical manuscripts. This article argues instead that the author drew upon his source material via mnemonic recall, which is consistent with his practice throughout the book. He did not transcribe and edit content from manuscripts but was composing anew. This suggests that the scribal methods of the day may bear more responsibility for the form of the Watcher tradition in Jubilees than the scribe’s theology.