The Book of Enoch 39
Book II The Book of Parables (Similitudes) Chapters 37–71 · late 1st century BCE - early 1st century CE
Three parables revealing the heavenly Son of Man / Elect One, seated on the throne of glory to judge the kings and the mighty. The most theologically influential - and most debated - section.
Dating & manuscripts. Notably ABSENT from the Qumran fragments, unlike every other section. This absence anchors the long scholarly debate over the Parables' date and the origin of their 'Son of Man' figure.
Chapters 46 and 48 draw directly on Daniel 7 for the titles 'Head of Days' and 'Son of Man'. The section also contains Noahic interpolations (e.g. 60, 65-69).
1 Enoch is an anthology of five distinct works, composed over roughly three centuries.
The Abode of the Righteous and of the Elect One: the Praises of
Elect and holy children will descend from the high heaven and their seed will become one with the children of men.
1nd it shall come to pass in those days that elect and holy children will descend from the high heaven, and their seed will become one with the children of men.
2 And in those days Enoch received books of zeal and wrath, and books of disquiet and expulsion. And mercy shall not be accorded to them, saith the Lord of Spirits.
3 And in those days a whirlwind carried me off from the earth, And set me down at the end of the heavens.
4 And there I saw another vision, the dwelling-places of the holy, And the resting-places of the righteous.
5 Here mine eyes saw their dwellings with His righteous angels, And their resting-places with the holy. And they petitioned and interceded and prayed for the children of men. And righteousness flowed before them as water, And mercy like dew upon the earth: Thus it is amongst them for ever and ever. 6 And in that place mine eyes saw the Elect One of righteousness and of faith, 7 a. And I saw his dwelling-place under the wings of the Lord of Spirits. 6 b. And righteousness shall prevail in his days, And the righteous and elect shall be without number before Him for ever and ever. 7 b. And all the righteous and elect before Him shall be strong as fiery lights, And their mouth shall be full of blessing, And their lips shall extol the name of the Lord of Spirits, And righteousness before Him shall never fail, And uprightness shall never fail before Him.
6 And in that place mine eyes saw the Elect One of righteousness and of faith, And righteousness shall prevail in his days, And the righteous and elect shall be without number before Him for ever and ever.
7 And I saw his dwelling-place under the wings of the Lord of Spirits. And all the righteous and elect before Him shall be strong as fiery lights, And their mouth shall be full of blessing, And their lips shall extol the name of the Lord of Spirits, And righteousness before Him shall never fail, And uprightness shall never fail before Him.
8 There I wished to dwell, And my spirit longed for that dwelling-place: And there heretofore hath been my portion, For so hath it been established concerning me before the Lord of Spirits.
9 In those days I praised and extolled the name of the Lord of Spirits with blessings and praises, because He hath destined me for blessing and glory according to the good pleasure of the Lord of Spirits.
10 For a long time my eyes regarded that place, and I blessed Him and praised Him, saying: ‘Blessed is He, and may He be blessed from the beginning and for evermore.
11 And before Him there is no ceasing. He knows before the world was created what is for ever and what will be from generation unto generation.
12 Those who sleep not bless Thee: they stand before Thy glory and bless, praise, and extol, saying: “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of Spirits: He filleth the earth with spirits.”’
13 And here my eyes saw all those who sleep not: they stand before Him and bless and say: ‘Blessed be Thou, and blessed be the name of the Lord for ever and ever.’
14 And my face was changed; for I could no longer behold.
Did You Know?
Elect and holy children will descend from the high heaven and their seed will become one with the children of men.
A whirlwind carried Enoch off from the earth and set him down at the end of the heavens.
Enoch saw the Elect One of righteousness and of faith dwelling under the wings of the Lord of Spirits.
The righteous and elect before Him shall be strong as fiery lights with mouths full of blessing.
Those who sleep not stand before His glory saying Holy holy holy is the Lord of Spirits.
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Commentary
In brief
Elect and holy children descend from heaven and their seed becomes one with the children of men as Enoch receives books of zeal and wrath. A whirlwind carries him to the end of the heavens where he sees the dwelling-places of the holy and the Elect One under the wings of the Lord of Spirits.