The Book of Enoch 27
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.
The Purpose of the Accursed Valley.
Enoch asked Uriel the purpose of the blessed land entirely filled with trees and the accursed valley between. Themes: Divine Judgment and the Flood
1hen said I: 'For what object is this blessed land, which is entirely filled with trees, and this accursed valley between?'
2 Then Uriel, one of the holy angels who was with me, answered and said: 'This accursed valley is for those who are accursed for ever: Here shall all the accursed be gathered together who utter with their lips against the Lord unseemly words and of His glory speak hard things. Etheopic Greek Here shall they be gathered together, and here shall be their place of judgement.
3 In the last times, in the days of true judgement, in the presence of the righteous for ever: here shall the godly bless the Lord of Glory, the Eternal King.
4 In the days of judgement over the former, they shall bless Him for the mercy in accordance with which He has assigned them (their lot).'
5 Then I blessed the Lord of Glory and set forth His glory and lauded Him gloriously.
Did You Know?
Enoch asked Uriel the purpose of the blessed land entirely filled with trees and the accursed valley between.
Uriel explained the accursed valley is for those accursed forever who utter with their lips unseemly words against the Lord.
In the last times of true judgement the godly shall bless the Lord of Glory the Eternal King before the righteous forever.
In the days of judgement over the former they shall bless Him for the mercy in accordance with which He has assigned them their lot.
Then Enoch blessed the Lord of Glory and set forth His glory and lauded Him gloriously.
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Commentary
In brief
Enoch asks Uriel about the blessed land filled with trees and the accursed valley between. Uriel replies that the valley is the place of judgment for the forever accursed who speak hard things against the Lord, where the godly bless the Eternal King for His mercy in the last times, and Enoch then lauds Him.