In his commentary on Hebrews, James W. Thompson noted the following about Heb 2:14:
The claim that he destroyed the
one who has the power of death, that is, the devil (2:14c), is reminiscent both
of Paul’s declaration that Christ, at his resurrection, destroyed death (1 Cor
15:26, 54–55; cf. 2 Tim 1:10) and of ancient apocalyptic portrayals of the
Messiah’s victory over demonic forces (cf. As. Mos. 10.1; T. Levi 18.2; T. Dan
5.10; T. Jud. 25.3; Attridge 1989, 92). (James W. Thompson, Hebrews [Paideia
Commentaries on the New Testament; Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Academic, 2008],
75)
Here are the texts of the intertestamental literature referenced:
Then his kingdom will appear
throughout his whole creation.
Then the devil will have an end.
Yea, sorrow will be led away with
him. (Assumption of Moses 10:1)
And then the Lord will raise up a
new priest
to whom all the words of the Lord
will be revealed.
He shall effect the judgment of
truth over the earth for many days. (Testament of Levi 18:2)
And there shall arise for you from
the tribe of Judah and (the tribe of) Levi and the Lord's salvation.
He will make war against Beliar;
He will grant the vengeance of
victory as our goal. (Testament of Dan 5:10)
"And you shall be one people
of the Lord, with one language.
There shall no more be Beliar's
spirit of error, because he will be thrown into eternal fire. (Testament of
Judah 25:3)
Further Reading
Thomas J. Farrar, "The
Devil in the General Epistles, Part 1: Hebrews"
