The Book of Enoch 101
Book V The Epistle of Enoch Chapters 91–108 · 2nd - 1st century BCE
Enoch's testament to his children: woes against the wicked and rich, comfort for the righteous, the Apocalypse of Weeks, and a closing appendix on the miraculous birth of Noah.
Dating & manuscripts. The Apocalypse of Weeks is one of the earliest datable parts. Chapters 106-107 (the Birth of Noah) are a later appendix drawn from a separate Noah tradition.
In the manuscripts the Apocalypse of Weeks runs 93:1-10 then 91:11-17; Charles rearranged the verses to restore that order, which is why some editions number these chapters differently.
1 Enoch is an anthology of five distinct works, composed over roughly three centuries.
Exhortation to Fear God
The Most High can close the windows of heaven and withhold rain and dew from descending on the earth because of human deeds. Themes: Divine Judgment and the Flood
1bserve the heaven, ye children of heaven, and every work of the Most High, and fear ye Him and work no evil in His presence.
2 If He closes the windows of heaven, and withholds the rain and the dew from descending on the earth on your account, what will ye do then?
3 And if He sends His anger upon you because of your deeds, ye cannot petition Him; for ye spake proud and insolent words against His righteousness: therefore ye shall have no peace.
4 And see ye not the sailors of the ships, how their ships are tossed to and fro by the waves, and are shaken by the winds, and are in sore trouble ?
5 And therefore do they fear because all their goodly possessions go upon the sea with them, and they have evil forebodings of heart that the sea will swallow them and they will perish therein.
6 Are not the entire sea and all its waters, and all its movements, the work of the Most High, and has He not set limits to its doings, and confined it throughout by the sand ?
7 And at His reproof it is afraid and dries up, and all its fish die and all that is in it; But ye sinners that are on the earth fear Him not.
8 Has He not made the heaven and the earth, and all that is therein ? Who has given understanding and wisdom to everything that moves on the earth and in the sea.
9 Do not the sailors of the ships fear the sea ? Yet sinners fear not the Most High.
Did You Know?
The Most High can close the windows of heaven and withhold rain and dew from descending on the earth because of human deeds.
Those who speak proud and insolent words against the righteousness of the Most High cannot petition Him and shall have no peace.
Sailors of ships see their vessels tossed to and fro by the waves and shaken by the winds while in sore trouble.
The Most High has set limits to the doings of the sea and confined it throughout by the sand.
At the reproof of the Most High the sea is afraid and dries up and all its fish die and all that is in it.
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Commentary
In brief
The chapter recounts how the children of heaven are called to observe the works of the Most High and fear Him without working evil, warning that proud sinners against His righteousness shall have no peace if He withholds rain or sends anger, while sailors fear the sea He confines but sinners fear Him not.