The Book of Enoch 20
Book I The Book of the Watchers Chapters 1–36 · 3rd century BCE
The oldest core of 1 Enoch: the descent of the two hundred Watchers, the birth of the giants, Enoch's intercession, and his guided journeys through the cosmos and the places of judgment.
Dating & manuscripts. Among the oldest apocalyptic writings in existence. Aramaic copies were found at Qumran (4QEnoch a-c), confirming its pre-Maccabean date - older than the Book of Daniel.
Chapters 6-11 preserve an older Semjaza/Shemihazah myth cycle later woven together with the Azazel/Asael tradition; scholars read them as composite, with a Noah fragment embedded. Angel names vary by manuscript (Semjaza/Shemihazah, Azazel/Asael).
In later tradition. This section's imagery echoes through later scripture and tradition: the Epistle of Jude (verses 14-15) quotes 1 Enoch 1:9 by name, and the Watchers legend shaped 2 Peter, the Book of Revelation, and the theology of the Qumran community and early Christianity.
The Book of Giants. A sixth Enochic work that expands the Watchers story from the giants' point of view - their violence, their prophetic dreams, and their doom. Known from Aramaic fragments at Qumran and, centuries later, adopted into Manichaean scripture. It is not part of the Ethiopic 1 Enoch preserved here.
1 Enoch is an anthology of five distinct works, composed over roughly three centuries.
Names and Functions of the Seven Archangels.
Uriel is one of the holy angels who watch and is over the world and over Tartarus.
1nd these are the names of the holy angels who watch.
2 Uriel, one of the holy angels, who is over the world and over Tartarus.
3 Raphael, one of the holy angels, who is over the spirits of men.
4 Raguel, one of the holy angels who takes vengeance on the world of the luminaries.
5 Michael, one of the holy angels, to wit, he that is set over the best part of mankind and over chaos.
6 Saraqael, one of the holy angels, who is set over the spirits, who sin in the spirit.
7 Gabriel, one of the holy angels, who is over Paradise and the serpents and the Cherubim.
8 Remiel, one of the holy angels, whom God set over those who rise.
Did You Know?
Uriel is one of the holy angels who watch and is over the world and over Tartarus.
Raphael is one of the holy angels who watch and is over the spirits of men.
Raguel is one of the holy angels who watch and takes vengeance on the world of the luminaries.
Michael is one of the holy angels who watch and is set over the best part of mankind and over chaos.
Gabriel is one of the holy angels who watch and is over Paradise and the serpents and the Cherubim.
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Commentary
In brief
The chapter names the holy angels who watch: Uriel over world and Tartarus, Raphael over spirits of men, Raguel takes vengeance on world of luminaries, Michael over best part of mankind and chaos, Saraqael over spirits who sin in the spirit, Gabriel over Paradise, serpents and Cherubim, and Remiel over those who rise.