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The Ascension of Enoch

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According to Jewish (Christian, and Islamic) tradition, Enoch was an ancient patriarch, the seventh descendant of Adam.

• This page is edited by Gabriele Boccaccini, University of Michigan

Overview

Enoch is mentioned in numerous Second Temple Jewish texts and is the protagonist and reputed author of books, such as 1 Enoch, 2 Enoch, and 3 Enoch.

The Mosaic tradition

The book of Genesis

In the Book of Genesis (5:21-24) Enoch is introduced as the seventh antediluvian patriarch, the son of Jared, the father of Methuselah and the great-grandfather of Noah. He lived "365 years" (a time span, that equals the length of the solar astronomical year, but is considerably short in comparison to the other antediluvian patriarchs). He "walked with ha-elohim (God or more likely, the angels)" (which could be a metaphoric reference to his righteousness or more likely, a reference to his acquaintance with the angels). Finally, he "was no more as Elohim (God) took him" (which seems to allude to his ascension in heaven rather than to his death).

Enoch/Enmeduranki in Babylonian mythology

Enoch is the Jewish version of the mythical Sumerian king Enmeduranki. In Sumerian mythology, Enmeduranki (Enmeduranna) is the seventh king of Sippar, the city of the Sun-god Shamash. The king is admitted to the divine court where he is initiated into the heavenly secrets by celestial beings. He then shares the received knowledge with human sages and his son.

The Enochic tradition

These elements are present and developed in the books of the Enochic tradition, and related literature.

Book of the Watchers

Enoch is introduced in the Book of the Watchers as a known figure after the narratives regarding the Fallen angels. Enoch has the same features as in the Book of Genesis: "Before these things Enoch was hidden, and no one of the children of men knew where he was hidden, and where he abode, and what had become of him. And his activities had to do with the Watchers, and his days were with the holy ones." (12:1-2). Enoch is now in heaven "blessing the Lord of majesty and the King of the ages" (12:3).

As Enoch has equal access to earth and heaven, and is in conversation with the angels, he can then act a mediator (12-16). The Watchers address him as "Enoch the scribe... scribe of righteousness" (12:4; ") and ask him to serve as messenger to "the Watchers of the heaven who have left the high heaven". Enoch accomplishes his mission; his message is a message of doom: "You shall have no peace nor forgiveness of sin" (12:5-6) ... "You shall have no peace" (16:4).

Enoch is then revealed all the secrets of earth and heaven. He sees "the prison of the angels" (21:10) and the valleys where "the spirits of the souls of the dead" are gathered "till the great judgement (comes) upon them" (22:3-4). The dead are assigned different places in proportion to their sinfulness or righteousness.

The throne of God is finally shown to Enoch.

Parables of Enoch

The Parables of Enoch describes the ascension of Enoch into heaven and his transformation into a celestial being. Enoch is reveled that he is the "Son of Man" foretold by Daniel, who will sit on the throne of God, performing the Judgment.

2 Enoch

In 2 Enoch, the angels appear to Enoch in a dream and lead him into a heavenly journey. Enoch ascends to heaven, has a vision of God and is commissioned to write his books. He is than given a time, back to earth, to instruct his children.

3 Enoch

3 Enoch describes the transformation of Enoch into Metatron, the supreme angel of rabbinic and Hekhalot literature. Enoch's metamorphosis in 3 Enoch parallels Enoch's appointment as the Son of Man in the Parables of Enoch (ch.71) and his transformation into angelic glory in 2 Enoch (ch.22).

Cognate "Enochic" literature

A certain number of Second Temple Jewish texts support the view of Enoch as an exalted figure of seer, prophet and mediator.

Book of Jubilees=

As in the Enoch literature, Jubilees presents Enoch as the first writer, sage and seer. Enoch is the author and beginner of a written tradition that parallels and supplements harmoniously the Mosaic traditions.

Pseudo-Eupolemos

This Samaritan author of the 2nd cent. BCE associated Enoch with astrology and heard that he revealed celestial information to his son Methuselah.

Independent traditions

Not everybody agreed with the exalted status of Enoch in ancient Judaism.

Book of Sirach

In the early 2nd cent. BCE, Sirach mentions Enoch twice in his hymn in praise of Israelite heroes: "Enoch pleased the Lord and was transferred, an example of a changed heart and mind for generations" (44:16) ... "No one was created on the earth who was like Enoch, for he was taken up from the earth" (49:14). Although Sirach seems to be familiar with some stories in the Enoch literature (the sin of the giants in 16:7), he does not refer to Enoch as a seer or revealer and warns his readers against mythic eschatology (16:17-23) and divination through dreams (34:1-8).

The Early Christian tradition

There are numerous allusions in the earliest Christian literature to the Enochic literature but very few references to the character of Enoch. The Letter to the Hebrews . The Letter of Jude mention Enoch as a prophet, author of authoritative scripture (Jude 14). The letter of Barnabas 4:16.

Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs

Rabbinic Judaism

Rabbinic Judaism maintained an ambiguous view of Enoch.

Enoch, in ancient sources

Genesis

Gen 5:18-24 -- [18] When Jared had lived one hundred sixty-two years he became the father of Enoch. [19] Jared lives after the birth of Enoch eight hundred years and had other sons and daughters... [21] When Enoch had lived sixty-five years, he became the father of Mathuselah. [22] Enoch walked with the elohim after the birth of Methuselah three hundred years, and had sons and daughters. [23] Thus all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty-five years. [24] Enoch walked with the elohim; then he was no more, because Elohim took him.

1 Enoch

Book of Sirach

Sir 44:16 -- Enoch pleased the Lord and was taken up, an example of repentance to all generations.

Sir 49:14 -- "No one was created on the earth who was like Enoch, for he was taken up from the earth"

2 Enoch

Gospel of Luke

Genealogy of Jesus -- Luke 3:37 -- ...the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan...

Hebrews

Hebrews 11:5 -- By faith Enoch was transferred, that he should not see death, and was not found, because God had transferred him; for before his transference he had the witness that he had pleased God well.

Epistle of Jude

Jude 1:14-15 -- It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord came with ten thousands of his holy ones...

Enoch in literature & the arts

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  Enoch and Elijah (17th cent. Poland), art

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  Ascension of Enoch (1728 Hoet), art

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  Traditional icon of Enoch the Prophet

• Enoch (arts) -- survey of fictional works

Enoch in scholarship

Enoch is a literary character. Studies on Enoch focus on three major aspects:

(a) the evolution of the character in ancient (Jewish, Christian, and Islamic) traditions;

(b) the literature attributed to the ancient patriarch (1 Enoch, 2 Enoch, 3 Enoch); and

(c) the intellectual movement generated by Enochic writings (see Enochic Judaism).

• See Enoch (research) -- survey of scholarly works

References

• Enoch / Andrei A. Orlov / In: The Eerdmans Dictionary of Early Judaism (2010 Collins / Harlow), dictionary, 579-581

• / [[]] / In: The Anchor Bible Dictionary (1992 Freedman), dictionary,

External links

• Wikipedia