junk
Puhvel (after Dumezil, I believe) Has pointed to the
tri-functional division of the Arch-Angels as due to IE influence - likely from
Persia.
Michael - "good like god" (1st function)
Gabriel - "strong like god" (2nd function)
Raphael - "healing like god" (3rd function)
There seems to have been some resistance to this tendency
towards tripartism amongst early Jewish religious leaders who warned their
people not to adopt foreign religious dogma.