Mastema is an adversarial figure in the Book of Jubilees. The text gives him authority over a portion of the harmful spirits, a role in proposing Abraham’s test, and a part in the opposition to Moses. His activity remains subject to divine permission and restraint.
The spirits left after Noah’s prayer
In Jubilees 10:1–14, harmful spirits afflict Noah’s descendants. Noah asks that they be bound. Mastema, called their chief, requests that some remain available to him. A tenth are left, while the rest are confined. The account also describes heavenly instruction given to Noah to counter the spirits’ harm.
This explains a continuing presence of evil within the book’s narrative after the Flood. It does not make Mastema an equal rival to God or establish a covenant between two independent powers.
Abraham and Moses
Jubilees 17:15–18 presents Mastema proposing a test of Abraham’s devotion through Isaac. The passage adds an adversarial speaker to the retelling of the biblical episode.
In 48:2–18, Mastema opposes Moses and supports the Egyptian sorcerers. The chapter also describes his temporary confinement and later release. The binding is not simply a scene of keeping him restrained throughout the crossing of the sea; the text gives a more particular sequence.
These are features of Jubilees and should be labeled accordingly. Similarities with the roles of Satan or Belial can be studied, but the shared adversarial function does not authorize exchanging the names in every text or assigning unchecked Dead Sea Scrolls references to Mastema.
Explore related entries
Read Belial, Azazel, Samael, Abezethibou, the fallen-angel catalogue, or the guide to source traditions.