Sons of God
Although the concept of fallen angels developed from Judaism during the Second Temple period, rabbis from the second century onward turned against the Enochian writings, probably in order to prevent fellow Jews from worship and veneration of angels. Thus, while many angels were individualized and sometimes venerated during the Second Temple period, the status of angels was degraded to a class of creatures on the same level of humans, thereby emphasizing the omnipresence of God. The 2nd-century rabbi Shimon bar Yochai cursed everyone who explained the term "Sons of God" as angels. He stated "Sons of God" were actually "sons of judges" or "sons of nobles". Evil was no longer attributed to heavenly forces, now it was dealt as an "evil inclination" ("yetzer hara") within humans. However, narrations of fallen angels do appear in later rabbinic writings. In some Midrashic works, the "evil inclination" is attributed to Samael, who is in charge of several "satans" in order to test humanity. Nevertheless, these angels are still subordinate to God; the reacceptance of rebel angels in Midrashic discourse was posterior and probably influenced by the role of fallen angels in Islamic and Christian lore.