The Book of Enoch 79
Book III The Astronomical Book (Book of the Luminaries) Chapters 72–82 · 3rd century BCE
Uriel shows Enoch the laws of the sun, moon, and stars, and the gates through which they move - the basis for a 364-day solar calendar.
Dating & manuscripts. As old as the Book of the Watchers. The Aramaic copies from Qumran (4QEnastr) are far longer and more technical than the abridged Ethiopic text preserved here.
Its 364-day calendar is the same one defended by the Book of Jubilees and used by the Qumran community, setting it against the lunar calendar of the Jerusalem temple.
1 Enoch is an anthology of five distinct works, composed over roughly three centuries.
Recapitulation of the Laws of Luminaries
Uriel the archangel, leader of the luminaries, showed Enoch the complete law of all the stars of heaven.
1nd now, my son, I have shown thee everything, and the law of all the stars of the heaven is completed.
2 And he showed me all the laws of these for every day, and for every season of bearing rule, and for every year, and for its going forth, and for the order prescribed to it every month and every week:
3 And the waning of the moon which takes place in the sixth portal: for in this sixth portal her light is accomplished, and after that there is the beginning of the waning:
4 And the waning which takes place in the first portal in its season, till one hundred and seventy-seven days are accomplished: reckoned according to weeks, twenty-five (weeks) and two days.
5 She falls behind the sun and the order of the stars exactly five days in the course of one period, and when this place which thou seest has been traversed.
6 Such is the picture and sketch of every luminary which Uriel the archangel, who is their leader, showed unto me.
Did You Know?
Uriel the archangel, leader of the luminaries, showed Enoch the complete law of all the stars of heaven.
The moon's light is accomplished in the sixth portal, after which begins the waning of her light.
Waning in the first portal lasts till one hundred and seventy-seven days, or twenty-five weeks and two days.
The moon falls behind the sun and the order of the stars exactly five days in one period.
Laws of the stars were shown for every day, season of bearing rule, year, month, and week.
← → arrow keys to navigate chapters · spacebar to play/pause audio
Commentary
In brief
The chapter recounts Enoch completing his revelation of the laws of the stars of heaven to his son, detailing the moon's waning in the sixth portal and then the first over one hundred and seventy-seven days, during which she falls behind the sun and stars by five days, as Uriel the archangel shows him.