ENOCH (ANCESTOR OF NOAH)
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'Enoch' (Hebrew: ''; Tiberian: '', Standard: '') is a name occurring twice in the generations of Adam. In one, he is described as having had a city named after him, but it is the other occurrence for which the name is famous. Despite the fame, the second mention of the name merely says that Enoch ''walked with God, and was not, for God took him'', that he lived 365 years, and the great-grandfather of Noah (Genesis 5:22-29). Despite the brief description, its highly esoteric nature lead Enoch to be one of the main two focal points for much of the 1st millennium BC Jewish mysticism. In Islam, he is usually referred to as Idris (إدريس), and regarded as a prophet. He is commemorated as one of the Holy Forefathers in the Calendar of Saints of the Armenian Apostolic Church on July 30.
In classical Rabbinical literature, there are divergent opinions of Enoch. After Christianity and Judaism had completely separated, the prevailing view regarding Enoch was that of Targum Pseudo-Jonathan, which thought of Enoch as a pious man, taken to heaven, and receiving the title of ''Safra rabba'' (''Great scribe''). However, while Christianity was in the process of detaching itself from Judaism, the Jewish view was often highly negative. In these views, for example held by Abbahu, Rashi, and Ibn Ezra, Enoch was held to frequently lapse in his piety, and thus removed before his time, by a divine plague, in order to avoid further lapses.
Amongst the minor Midrashim, esoteric attributes of Enoch are expanded upon. In the ''Sefer Hekalot'', Rabbi Ishmael is described as having visited the 7th heaven, where he meets Enoch, who claims that earth had, in his time, been corrupted by the demons Shammazai, and Azael, and so Enoch was taken to heaven to prove that God was not cruel. Similar traditions are recorded in Ecclesiasticus. Later elaborations of this interpretation treated Enoch as having been a pious ascetic, who, called to remix with others, preached repentance, and gathered (despite the fewness of people on the earth) a vast collection of disciples, to the extent that he was proclaimed king. Under his wisdom, peace is said to have reigned on earth, to the extent that he is summoned to heaven to rule over the ''sons of God''. In a parallel with Elijah, in sight of a vast crowd begging him to stay, he ascends to heaven on a horse.
The author of the Epistle to the Hebrews says "By faith Enoch was transferred, that he should not see death, and was not found, because God had transferred him; for before his transference he had the witness that he had pleased God well." (Hebrews 11:5)
The Epistle of Jude (1:14-15) cites a passage from the Book of Enoch which has much perplexed interpreters. The question is whether Jude took this passage from any book written by Enoch, which might be extant in his time, or whether he received it by tradition or by revelation. It is possible that he read it in a book attributed to Enoch, which though pseudepigraphal, might contain several truths; among others, this might be one which Jude favored with a supernatural degree of discrimination and might use for the purpose of instruction.
Justin, Athenagoras, Irenaeus, Clemens Alexandrinus, Lactantius, and others borrowed an opinion out of this book of Enoch, that the angels had connection with the daughters of men, of whom they had offspring ('the giants of the past).
Tertullian, in several places, speaks of this book with esteem; and would persuade us, that it was preserved by Noah during the deluge.
It has, however, been rejected by the church, and Origen, Jerome and Augustin, mention it as of no authority.
Specimens of an Ethiopian work known as the Book of Enoch have been brought into Europe, and translations of parts of it have been published.
It should seem to be founded, as to its historical tenor, on the Mosaic history of the antediluvians, and the judgments that might naturally be expected to follow such enormous wickedness, violence, audacities and gluttony, as were then practised by the giants, or people in power.
Some consider Enoch to be one of the Two Witnesses in the Book of Revelation due to the fact that he did not die according to Genesis 5:24. Two notable televangelists holding this view, for example, are Perry Stone and John Hagee, a belief each has stated at least once on their respective programs.
The Epistle of Jude speaks of how Enoch prophesied thus Enoch is a prophet in Christianity
The Qur'an presents Enoch in a similar manner, referring to him as Idris (which is Arabic for Enoch), meaning ''the instructor'', regarding him as a man of truth and a prophet, as well as a model of patience; popular Muslim traditions credit Idris as inventor of astronomy, writing, and arithmetic. Enoch is often described as having been compelled to defend his life with the sword, against the depraved children of earth. Amongst his lesser inventions, in popular Muslim tradition, were said to be scales, to enable just weights, and tailoring.
Amongst the Latter Day Saint movement and particularly in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Enoch is viewed as having founded an exceptionally righteous city, named Zion, in the midst of an otherwise wicked world. This view is encountered in the Mormon scripture (see Standard Works), the Pearl of Great Price and the Doctrine and Covenants, which states that not only Enoch, but the entire peoples of the city of Zion, were taken to heaven without death, because of their piety. (Zion is defined as "the pure in heart" and this city of Zion will return to the earth at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.) It further states that Enoch prophesied that one of his descendants, Noah, and his family would be the ones to survive a Great Flood and thus carry on the human race and preserve the Gospel after the wicked inhabitants of Earth were destroyed. The book of Moses in the Pearl of Great Price has several chapters that give an account of Enoch's preaching, visions and conversations with God. In these same chapters are details concerning the wars, violence and natural disasters in Enoch's day, and notable miracles performed by Enoch.
Three years previous to his death Adam called a meeting of his descendants. At this meeting, held at Adam-ondi-Ahman, Adam blessed all of his righteous posterity and prophesied of events to come. Enoch is credited with being the scribe at this meeting taking note of Adam’s blessings and prophesy. (D&C 107:53-57)
Several scholars, beginning with Halévy, Cheyne, and Black, have proposed that the reference to ''Daniel'' in the book of Ezekiel originally referred to ''Enoch'', and was emended later to shore up the Book of Daniel's authority.
The Book of Enoch refers to extensive apocryphal works attributed to Enoch, that originated between the 2nd century BC and the first century AD. These recount how Enoch is taken up to heaven and is appointed guardian of all the celestial treasures, chief of the archangels, and the immediate attendant on God's throne. He is subsequently taught all secrets and mysteries and, with all the angels at his beck, fulfills of his own accord whatever comes out of the mouth of God, executing His decrees. He teaches, conducts souls to the place of felicity, and is known as ''Prince of God's face'', ''Prince of the Torah'', ''Prince of Wisdom'', ''Prince of Reason'', and ''Prince of Glory''. Enoch was also seen as the inventor of writing, and teacher of astronomy and arithmetics, all three reflecting the interpretation of his name as meaning ''initiated''.
While many of these ''secrets'', which are subsequently given away in the books, are elaborations of parts of the Sefer ha-Yashar, others are elaborations on brief esoteric details in the torah, such as the tale of the Nephilim, which becomes a major theme in the Book of Enoch. Much esoteric literature of the period, like the Book of Enoch, either explicitly or implicitly, identifies Enoch as the Metatron, the angel which communicates God's word. In consequence, Enoch was seen, by this literature, and the ancient kabbala of Jewish mysticism, as having been the one which communicated God's revelation to Moses, in particular, the dictator of the Book of Jubilees.
Due to the association of Enoch in Jewish legend with learning and writing, the Ancient Greeks identified him as Hermes Trismegistus, a syncretic deity. Consequently, they also regarded him as the discoverer of the zodiac and of astronomy in general. Enoch also appeared in tales describing heroes being permanently taken by the Gods, such as Ganymede. In historical criticism, these stories are seen as being the influence behind more elaborate traditions such as Enoch travelling to heaven via a flying horse (compare pegasus).
Scholars link Enoch with the ancient Sumerian king Emmeduranki. The specific lifespan of Enoch, 365 years, corresponding to the duration of the solar year, is linked to Emmeduranki's association with the sun god Utu.
In Philip Pullman's ''His Dark Materials'' trilogy, the angel Metatron is revealed to have been Enoch when he lived on Earth.
In Neal Stephenson's ''Baroque Cycle'' trilogy and the earlier ''Cryptonomicon'', the character Enoch Root or Enoch the Red is alive through several centuries and may be suspected of being a supernatural being.
★ Adam and Eve (Mormonism)
★ Idris
★ ''Dictionary of the History of Ideas'': Cosmic Voyages
★ ''Catholic Encyclopedia Entry''
★ ''Jewish Encyclopedia Entry''
★ ''Mackey Encyclopedia''
★ "Encyclopedia of Mormonism
★ Comparison of Masonic legends of Enoch and Mormon scriptures description of Enoch
★ Dark Mirrors of Heaven: Enoch and the Watchers
Enoch in classical Rabbinical literature
In classical Rabbinical literature, there are divergent opinions of Enoch. After Christianity and Judaism had completely separated, the prevailing view regarding Enoch was that of Targum Pseudo-Jonathan, which thought of Enoch as a pious man, taken to heaven, and receiving the title of ''Safra rabba'' (''Great scribe''). However, while Christianity was in the process of detaching itself from Judaism, the Jewish view was often highly negative. In these views, for example held by Abbahu, Rashi, and Ibn Ezra, Enoch was held to frequently lapse in his piety, and thus removed before his time, by a divine plague, in order to avoid further lapses.
Amongst the minor Midrashim, esoteric attributes of Enoch are expanded upon. In the ''Sefer Hekalot'', Rabbi Ishmael is described as having visited the 7th heaven, where he meets Enoch, who claims that earth had, in his time, been corrupted by the demons Shammazai, and Azael, and so Enoch was taken to heaven to prove that God was not cruel. Similar traditions are recorded in Ecclesiasticus. Later elaborations of this interpretation treated Enoch as having been a pious ascetic, who, called to remix with others, preached repentance, and gathered (despite the fewness of people on the earth) a vast collection of disciples, to the extent that he was proclaimed king. Under his wisdom, peace is said to have reigned on earth, to the extent that he is summoned to heaven to rule over the ''sons of God''. In a parallel with Elijah, in sight of a vast crowd begging him to stay, he ascends to heaven on a horse.
Enoch in the New Testament
The author of the Epistle to the Hebrews says "By faith Enoch was transferred, that he should not see death, and was not found, because God had transferred him; for before his transference he had the witness that he had pleased God well." (Hebrews 11:5)
The Epistle of Jude (1:14-15) cites a passage from the Book of Enoch which has much perplexed interpreters. The question is whether Jude took this passage from any book written by Enoch, which might be extant in his time, or whether he received it by tradition or by revelation. It is possible that he read it in a book attributed to Enoch, which though pseudepigraphal, might contain several truths; among others, this might be one which Jude favored with a supernatural degree of discrimination and might use for the purpose of instruction.
Justin, Athenagoras, Irenaeus, Clemens Alexandrinus, Lactantius, and others borrowed an opinion out of this book of Enoch, that the angels had connection with the daughters of men, of whom they had offspring ('the giants of the past).
Tertullian, in several places, speaks of this book with esteem; and would persuade us, that it was preserved by Noah during the deluge.
It has, however, been rejected by the church, and Origen, Jerome and Augustin, mention it as of no authority.
Specimens of an Ethiopian work known as the Book of Enoch have been brought into Europe, and translations of parts of it have been published.
It should seem to be founded, as to its historical tenor, on the Mosaic history of the antediluvians, and the judgments that might naturally be expected to follow such enormous wickedness, violence, audacities and gluttony, as were then practised by the giants, or people in power.
Some consider Enoch to be one of the Two Witnesses in the Book of Revelation due to the fact that he did not die according to Genesis 5:24. Two notable televangelists holding this view, for example, are Perry Stone and John Hagee, a belief each has stated at least once on their respective programs.
The Epistle of Jude speaks of how Enoch prophesied thus Enoch is a prophet in Christianity
Enoch in the Qur'an and Muslim traditions
The Qur'an presents Enoch in a similar manner, referring to him as Idris (which is Arabic for Enoch), meaning ''the instructor'', regarding him as a man of truth and a prophet, as well as a model of patience; popular Muslim traditions credit Idris as inventor of astronomy, writing, and arithmetic. Enoch is often described as having been compelled to defend his life with the sword, against the depraved children of earth. Amongst his lesser inventions, in popular Muslim tradition, were said to be scales, to enable just weights, and tailoring.
Enoch in LDS theology
Amongst the Latter Day Saint movement and particularly in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Enoch is viewed as having founded an exceptionally righteous city, named Zion, in the midst of an otherwise wicked world. This view is encountered in the Mormon scripture (see Standard Works), the Pearl of Great Price and the Doctrine and Covenants, which states that not only Enoch, but the entire peoples of the city of Zion, were taken to heaven without death, because of their piety. (Zion is defined as "the pure in heart" and this city of Zion will return to the earth at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.) It further states that Enoch prophesied that one of his descendants, Noah, and his family would be the ones to survive a Great Flood and thus carry on the human race and preserve the Gospel after the wicked inhabitants of Earth were destroyed. The book of Moses in the Pearl of Great Price has several chapters that give an account of Enoch's preaching, visions and conversations with God. In these same chapters are details concerning the wars, violence and natural disasters in Enoch's day, and notable miracles performed by Enoch.
Three years previous to his death Adam called a meeting of his descendants. At this meeting, held at Adam-ondi-Ahman, Adam blessed all of his righteous posterity and prophesied of events to come. Enoch is credited with being the scribe at this meeting taking note of Adam’s blessings and prophesy. (D&C 107:53-57)
Views of Enoch
Several scholars, beginning with Halévy, Cheyne, and Black, have proposed that the reference to ''Daniel'' in the book of Ezekiel originally referred to ''Enoch'', and was emended later to shore up the Book of Daniel's authority.
The Book of Enoch
The Book of Enoch refers to extensive apocryphal works attributed to Enoch, that originated between the 2nd century BC and the first century AD. These recount how Enoch is taken up to heaven and is appointed guardian of all the celestial treasures, chief of the archangels, and the immediate attendant on God's throne. He is subsequently taught all secrets and mysteries and, with all the angels at his beck, fulfills of his own accord whatever comes out of the mouth of God, executing His decrees. He teaches, conducts souls to the place of felicity, and is known as ''Prince of God's face'', ''Prince of the Torah'', ''Prince of Wisdom'', ''Prince of Reason'', and ''Prince of Glory''. Enoch was also seen as the inventor of writing, and teacher of astronomy and arithmetics, all three reflecting the interpretation of his name as meaning ''initiated''.
While many of these ''secrets'', which are subsequently given away in the books, are elaborations of parts of the Sefer ha-Yashar, others are elaborations on brief esoteric details in the torah, such as the tale of the Nephilim, which becomes a major theme in the Book of Enoch. Much esoteric literature of the period, like the Book of Enoch, either explicitly or implicitly, identifies Enoch as the Metatron, the angel which communicates God's word. In consequence, Enoch was seen, by this literature, and the ancient kabbala of Jewish mysticism, as having been the one which communicated God's revelation to Moses, in particular, the dictator of the Book of Jubilees.
Association with other figures
Due to the association of Enoch in Jewish legend with learning and writing, the Ancient Greeks identified him as Hermes Trismegistus, a syncretic deity. Consequently, they also regarded him as the discoverer of the zodiac and of astronomy in general. Enoch also appeared in tales describing heroes being permanently taken by the Gods, such as Ganymede. In historical criticism, these stories are seen as being the influence behind more elaborate traditions such as Enoch travelling to heaven via a flying horse (compare pegasus).
Scholars link Enoch with the ancient Sumerian king Emmeduranki. The specific lifespan of Enoch, 365 years, corresponding to the duration of the solar year, is linked to Emmeduranki's association with the sun god Utu.
In Philip Pullman's ''His Dark Materials'' trilogy, the angel Metatron is revealed to have been Enoch when he lived on Earth.
In Neal Stephenson's ''Baroque Cycle'' trilogy and the earlier ''Cryptonomicon'', the character Enoch Root or Enoch the Red is alive through several centuries and may be suspected of being a supernatural being.
See also
★ Adam and Eve (Mormonism)
★ Idris
External links
★ ''Dictionary of the History of Ideas'': Cosmic Voyages
★ ''Catholic Encyclopedia Entry''
★ ''Jewish Encyclopedia Entry''
★ ''Mackey Encyclopedia''
★ "Encyclopedia of Mormonism
★ Comparison of Masonic legends of Enoch and Mormon scriptures description of Enoch
★ Dark Mirrors of Heaven: Enoch and the Watchers
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