The "assumption" of the righteous dead in the 'Wisdom of Solomon' and the Sayings-Gospel "Q"

The Wisdom of Solomon applies language from the Genesis reference to Enoch' s assumption (Gen. 5:24 LXX) to the dead "righteous one" (Wis. 4:7-17). Thi s unusual use of the motif of assumption, normally thought of as an escape from death, is facilitated by "topoi" drawn from Hellenistic consolation ma terials; however, the typical corollary of assumption in the Jewish traditi on - heavenly or eschatological exaltation - is also applied to the righteo us one in Wis. 5:1-5. This innovation is particularly instructive for Q, wh ich may understand Jesus' post-mortem vindication and exaltation in terms o f assumption (Q 13:35).