Accension of Enoch

In one of the pages, I wrote of the patriarch Enoch, of the fallen angels known as the Watchers and their offspring
the Nephilm.
This new page is about Enoch visiting 10 heavens, to meet with God, and where he became the scribe. This journey of
Enoch was narrated in the book, known as 2 Enoch, also known as the Secret Book of Enoch.
This greatly influenced other legends of other mortal heroes visiting heavens, including that of Muhammad in his Night
Journey (Isra and Mi'raj), who visited 7 heavens instead of 10. The original story of the hero's journey to heaven, may
have come from SumerianAkkadian epic, Etana, who flew to the heavens on the back of the great eagle.
It is this journey through God's realm that will be the focus of this page and focus of my interests.
A large part of the story is told in the firstperson.

2 Enoch begins with him sleeping in bed, on the 1st day of the 1st month. Enoch was in great distress as he slept. In his
dream, he saw 2 huge beings, with wings of gold (angels).
Enoch described them as having faces that were brighter than the sun, eyes like fire, and there were even actual fire
coming out of their mouths. They also have hands as white as snow.
They called out to him by name, at which point he woke up and saw these angels standing by his bed. This brought
fear and shock to Enoch.
They told him to calm down, and told them the purpose of their visit. He was to undergo a journey to heaven, Enoch
was to inform his family (which included the names of 3 sons) not to look for him, until Enoch was returned to them.
So Enoch spoke to his family and made arrangement for his absence. Enoch also warned them not to turn away from
God.
Then the angels took Enoch and flew to the first heaven. (2 Enoch 12)
These two angels were Enoch's main guide for the first part of his journey. No names were given to these 2 angels (not
given until 2 Enoch 33, as Sariel and Raguel).

First Heaven:
In the first heaven, they took Enoch and stopped at the cloud. There he witnessed the following scene. A sea that was
larger than any earthly seas. Above Enoch could see the ether. There were storehouse that store snow and storehouse
that store dew, as well as angels that guarded these storehouses and distributed snows and dews to the clouds.
He met with some unspecified number of elders and rulers of the star orders, and 200 angels that rule the stars. (2
Enoch 36)

Second Heaven:
Then his 2 guides took him to the 2nd heaven. This heaven had darkness that was darker than any darkness on Earth.

Here, very dark angels were awaiting judgement and punishment for their sins. They were considered rebellious,
breaking God's commands, so were held prisoners in the 2nd heaven. Other rebel angels leaders or princes were
held in prison in the fifth heaven.
These angels were being tormented for their sins. They cried so much that even Enoch felt pity for them. Seeing
Enoch the tormented angels asked him to pray for them. Not knowing his own fate, Enoch wasn't sure he was the right
person to pray for them. (2 Enoch 7)

person to pray for them. (2 Enoch 7)

Third Heaven:
At the third heaven was a splendid and beautiful garden filled with flower and fruitbearing trees. The book
mentioned it several times, about how sweetly scented were these flowers or fruits.
It was Paradise the Garden of Eden. (2 Enoch 8)
But in the midst of the Garden, was one Tree that surpassed all other trees in size, in beauty, in the fragrance and for
variation of the fruits this Tree.
In the midst of the trees
that live there, in that
place where the Lord rests
when he goes Paradise,
there is a tree of
indescribable beauty and
fragrance, and embellished
more than everything that
exists. On every side it has
a golden appearance and it
is covered with a fiery
golden red color, and
carries produce from all
types of fruits. Its roots
are in the garden at the
earths end.
2 Enoch 8

Though this Tree has not been explicitly identified as Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil in this book, 1 Enoch does so
name this Tree as so (1 Enoch 32), the "Tree of Knowledge" or the "Tree of Wisdom". 1 Enoch 32, also described the
tree resembling the carob tree, with fruits, like "fine grapes". This is confirmed when the angel Michael told Enoch
that the fruits were the same ones that Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden.
There I saw from afar off,
trees more numerous and
greater than these trees.
They were sweet smelling,
large, finelooking and
elegant. The tree of
knowledge was there. If
any one eats from it, they
gain great wisdom.
It was like the carob tree,
bearing fruit which
resembled very fine
grapes, and its perfume
extended a great distance.
I exclaimed, How
beautiful is this tree, and
how delightful is its
appearance!
1 Enoch 32

One of the angels (Raphael) said that only the just and the obedient (to God) will reside in the Garden Paradise.
Raphael also informed Enoch that this was same fruit from the tree that Adam and Eve ate from, and was expel from

the Garden.
2 Enoch 8 also described springs of milk and honey and springs of fine oil or wine, watered Paradise. And the Garden
was cared by 300 angels.

The wicked people went to another part of the 3rd heaven in the northern side. It was a place of torture, where
those who led the life of crime, sin or greed, were punished here. Those that worshiped other gods or idols were sent
here too.
The northern 3rd heaven was a place of extreme contradictions. It was place of utter darkness, and yet at the same it
was a region of fire: rivers of fire, and fiery land. The fire radiated no light; it was "murky" fire. And though there was
fire everywhere, there were also ice and frost everywhere.
Here, there were terrifyinglooking angels with weapons and tools of tortures. (2 Enoch 810)

Fourth Heaven:
The fourth heaven was mainly concern with the description of the courses of the sun, moon and stars, all in relation to
the year or to the seasons.
Enoch also witnessed 4 immense stars. Each star has a thousand stars under it.
Like other myths, the sun has wheels, to traverse the sky.
Large numbers of angels had specific tasks involving the sun. 15 myriads of angels tend to the sun during the day, but
at night, there were as many 1000 myriads of angels. An unspecified number of sixwinged angels were at the wheels,
while 100 angels alight the sun.
There are also Phoenixes, with body, legs and tail of a lion, and head of crocodile. The Phoenixes also have wings like
angels. They could be heard singing the chorus with birds, and sounding so sweetly to Enoch's ears.
Enoch's two guides took him east where he witnessed 6 open gates of the sun. Each gate was immensely large,
measuring at 61 stadia. Depending on the time of year and the season, the sun would leave through one of these
gates, and head west to one of six corresponding gates on the western horizon. The two angels also took Enoch west,
to see the other gates. The gates in the west were guarded by 400 angels.
At sun set, the sun would enter one of these gates, and during the night, the sun will continue its journey, underground
(under the Earth's surface), before the sun reappearing at the eastern gate, next morning.
In between the horizons, there were unspecified number of armed (angel) soldiers that also sang. (2 Enoch 1117)

Fifth Heaven:
Then Enoch was taken to the next heaven the fifth heaven. Here, is another prison and place of punishment for
leaders of the Watchers.
The Watchers were described as being human in appearance, but they were giants. Their faces were shrivelled and
they were silent, offering no services. When Enoch inquired about the Watchers being silent and offered no services to
God, one of the guides said these Watchers were led by Satanail (Semjaza in 1 Enoch) took mortal women for wives,
and sired offspring, known as Nephilim.
Enoch reproach them for not giving offerings to God, which at this point, the Watchers broke their silence and sung
song that was heard by God. (2 Enoch 18)

Sixth Heaven:

There are seven bands of angels. In appearance, each angel has a face that was brighter than the sun. They all looked
the same in their facial expressions, behaviour and in how they dressed.
Like every other angels (that weren't fallen angels), they were involved in the courses of the celestial bodies (eg. sun,
moon, etc.)
However, the angels of the sixth heavens, were different to all those before; these were archangels.
Archangels administrate and oversee the tasks of angels, like giving out orders or instruction to other angels. Tasks
like that of the 4th heaven, with the courses of the sun and moon, regulate the calendar or seasons.
They do sing like the other angels, praising god. And they sing with Phoenixes and cherubim and sixwinged ones (I'm
assuming the "sixwinged ones" refer to the seraphim). (2 Enoch 19)

Seventh Heaven:
At the seventh heaven, Enoch witnessed a whole variety of angels. There were more archangels, seraphim, cherubim,
as well as authorities, orders, administrations, thrones and the manyeyed ones.
The host of angels frightened Enoch. His 2 guides tried to comfort him, and show him, at the distance, God was seated
on his throne at the tenth heaven.
All these angels would stand each of the ten steps to the throne, and sing with beautiful voices. (2 Enoch 2021)

Eighth Heaven:
But at this point, his guides left him, here at the seventh heaven. Enoch was then panicstricken, fell on his face.
God sent another angel, to guide him. It was the archangel, Gabriel. Gabriel took Enoch to the eighth heaven, which
brought the patriarch closer to god.
The eighth heaven was supposedly called Muzaloth, in Hebrew. Other than this, not much detail was given about the
eighth heaven. (2 Enoch 21)

Ninth Heaven:
Gabriel then took Enoch to the ninth heaven, which was called Kuchavim. The only thing it say about Kuchavim
(again supposedly a Hebrew name for this level of heaven) was that twelve constellations of the celestial circle (or
"circle of the firmament") were actually found here, as their home. (2 Enoch 21)

Tenth Heaven:
When Enoch had finally arrived in the tenth heaven Araboth he finally came face to face with his God. Seated on
his divine throne, he was described as glowing hot iron, which was both marvellous and terrible to look at.
When Enoch bowed down with face to the floor, God told him to "arise" and stand before him, without fear. Here, the
archangel Michael helped him to his feet. Michael was referred to as Archistratege, a title that mean he was the "chief
general" of God's armies.
God instructed Michael that Enoch to be clothed and anointed like the angels.
Then God called upon Pravuil, another archangel, but who was the wisest of all archangels. Pravuil's role was that of
librarian, archivist or a scribe.
Pravuil brought before Enoch books that contained every about what happen in heaven or on Earth, including God's
own actions.

God told Enoch to copy everything down. It took Enoch, 60 days and 60 nights, to write 366 books.
After completing the books, Enoch was given the honour to sit on God's left, with Gabriel. (2 Enoch 2224)

At this point, God began to relate to the creation of the world and creation of life, including Enoch's ancestors the
creation of Adam and Eve. It followed the basic framework of 6day creation in Genesis 1, but far more embellished.
(2 Enoch 2430)
God also spoke of the creation of Eden, and of Adam and Eve. (2 Enoch 3032)
God also foretold the flood that would destroy all life on Earth (minus those who were fortunate enough to be in the
Ark). (2 Enoch 34).
God told Enoch that when he return to Earth, he should give the books to his children, and to instruct them be good
and virtuous, and to never turn away from the only god. (2 Enoch 2432)

Then God told Enoch that he shall return to Earth, to his home and family. There he will informed everything that
Enoch had witnessed in heaven(s) to his children, and given them the books that Enoch had copied to them, which
they will pass on to their children, and future descendants. (2 Enoch 33, 35)
But Enoch will not stay long with his family for long; he would remain on Earth for only 30 days. God will again sent
angels to fetch him, where Enoch will return to God. (2 Enoch 3637)
At 2 Enoch 38, Enoch returned home, where he spend those 30 days teaching his children and household, sharing his
venture in heaven, and teaching them various things, including some laws.
After 30 days, Enoch returned to God. (2 Enoch 67)

Sources
TheApocryphaandPseudepigraphaoftheOldTestament
R.H.Charles
Oxford:ClarendonPress,1913(2vols)
Thesevolumeswereavailableinmylocallibrary,buttheyarenowgone,probablysold.
Fortunately,copiesofthesetranslationscanalsobefoundinacoupleofwebsites.
AtWesleyCollege,NoncanonicalLiterature,Ihaveusedthefollowingworksasmysourcesfrom
theabovesite:
BookofJubilee
BookofEnoch(1Enoch)
BookoftheSecretsofEnoch(2Enoch)
Tobit
ThefollowingtextswerefoundinPseudepigrapha,ApocryphaandSacredWritingssite:
1Enoch(EthiopicApocalypseofEnoch)
2Enoch(SlavonicBookoftheSecretsofEnoch)
Enoch(anotherversion)

DeadSeaScrolls
OnLineTextsRelatedtoBiblicalStudy

TalesofthePatriarchs(originallytitledGenesisApocryphon)(1QapGen=1Q20)
Fragment2Column2
ParaphrasebyLesleyFaulk&AmandaScott
Enoch(4Q201)
TheBookofGiants(4Q203,1Q23,2Q26,4Q530532,6Q8)
EnochandtheWatchers(4Q227)
GnosisArchive
TheBookofGiants(4Q203,1Q23,2Q26,4Q530532,6Q8)
EnochandtheWatchers(4Q227)

Genesis
InternetSacredTextArchive
Bible:KingJames'Version
NJPSNewJewishPublicationSociety
(HebrewBibletranslationofTanakh)
GoodNewsBible:TodayEnglishVersion
UnitedBibleSocieties
1976reprinted1986
Herearethefollowingtextsusedfromthisbible:
Genesis5,6
Hebrews11:56
Jude1415
Tanakh:ANewTranslationoftheHolyScriptures
AccordingtotheTraditionalHebrewText
TheNewJewishPublicationSociety1985

InternetSacredTextArchive:
TheLegendsoftheJews(Haggada)
trans.LouisGinzberg,1909
ThefollowingtextsusedisVolume1,chapters14,particularlychapter3,whichhaveafairbit
onEnoch.

TalesandMaximsfromtheMidrash
SamuelRapaport,1907
SeeGenesisRabbaaboutNaamah.

MedievalHebrew:FeaturingMidrash:
1917
SeetheBereshithorGenesisRabbaaboutNaamah.

Zohar:BereshithtoLekhLekha
NurhodeManhar,190014
SeeExpositionofBibleMysteriesandChapter32aboutNaamah.

ThefollowingareexternallinksfromGnosisArchive:
TalesofthePatriarchs(originallytitledGenesisApocryphon)(4Q158)
Fragment2Column2
ParaphrasebyWarrenRohde&RickBohn
Enoch(4Q201)translatedbyJ.C.Greenfield