3.3.1.ȱFirstȱEnochȱ1–36:ȱTheȱBookȱofȱWatchersȱ
Theȱ Bookȱ ofȱ Watchersȱ inȱ 1ȱ Enochȱ containsȱ theȱ oldestȱ knownȱ heavenlyȱ ascentȱinȱJewishȱliterature.45ȱTheȱtextȱknownȱtodayȱasȱ1ȱEnochȱisȱanȱanȬ thologyȱofȱrevelationsȱtoȱtheȱBiblicalȱfigureȱEnochȱwhichȱcanȱbeȱeasilyȱ dividedȱintoȱfiveȱrelativelyȱindependentȱworks.46ȱAtȱQumran,ȱAramaicȱ ȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱ
44ȱȱ PhiloȱalsoȱmakesȱclearȱthatȱMosesȱcannotȱseeȱGod’sȱessenceȱinȱSpec.ȱ1.48–49.ȱ 45ȱȱ Forȱanȱintroductionȱtoȱ1ȱEnoch,ȱseeȱGeorgeȱW.ȱE.ȱNicklesburg,ȱ1ȱEnochȱ1:ȱAȱCommenȬ
taryȱonȱtheȱBookȱofȱ1ȱEnoch,ȱChaptersȱ1–36;ȱ81–108ȱ(ed.ȱK.ȱBaltzer;ȱHermeneia;ȱMinneȬ apolis:ȱFortressȱPress,ȱ2001),ȱ1–125.ȱOtherȱimportantȱworksȱonȱtheȱEnochȱtraditionȱinȱ generalȱ includeȱ Jamesȱ VanderKam,ȱ Enochȱ andȱ theȱ Growthȱ ofȱ anȱ Apocalypticȱ Traditionȱ (CBQMSȱ 16;ȱ Washington,ȱ D.C.:ȱ Catholicȱ Biblicalȱ Associationȱ ofȱ America,ȱ 1984);ȱ VanderKamȱ Enoch:ȱ Aȱ Manȱ forȱ Allȱ Generationsȱ (Studiesȱ onȱ Personalitiesȱ ofȱ theȱ Oldȱ Testament;ȱColumbia,ȱS.C.:ȱUniversityȱofȱSouthȱCarolinaȱPress,ȱ1995).ȱȱ
46ȱȱ Theȱbookȱisȱtypicallyȱdividedȱasȱfollows:ȱtheȱBookȱofȱWatchers,ȱ1–36;ȱtheȱParables,ȱ37–
71;ȱ theȱ Astronomicalȱ Booksȱ orȱ Bookȱ ofȱ Heavenlyȱ Luminaries,ȱ 72–82;ȱ theȱ Dreamȱ Visions,ȱ 83–90;ȱtheȱEpistleȱofȱEnoch,ȱ91–107ȱ(chapterȱ108ȱisȱunderstoodȱasȱaȱlaterȱaddition);ȱseeȱ
ȱ AscentsȱofȱOtherȱOldȱTestamentȱFiguresȱ 109ȱ
fragmentsȱdatingȱfromȱtheȱfirstȱandȱsecondȱcenturiesȱB.C.E.ȱhaveȱbeenȱ foundȱofȱallȱtheseȱtexts,ȱexceptȱforȱtheȱsecondȱpart,ȱtheȱParables,47ȱwhichȱ willȱreceiveȱseparateȱtreatmentȱbelowȱ(§3.3.3).ȱTheȱoldestȱfragmentsȱofȱ theȱ Bookȱ ofȱ Watchersȱ (1ȱ Enochȱ 1–36)ȱ dateȱ “fromȱ theȱ firstȱ halfȱ ofȱ theȱ secondȱ centuryȱ B.C.,”48ȱ indicatingȱ thatȱ thisȱ workȱ itselfȱ isȱ evenȱ older,ȱ perhapsȱdatingȱbackȱtoȱtheȱthirdȱcenturyȱB.C.E.49ȱUnfortunately,ȱofȱtheȱ passagesȱmostȱpertinentȱtoȱtheȱcurrentȱinvestigation,ȱnoȱAramaicȱfragȬ mentsȱsurvive.ȱHowever,ȱallȱofȱchaptersȱ1–32ȱsurviveȱinȱGreekȱtranslaȬ tionsȱwhichȱservedȱatȱleastȱasȱtheȱpartialȱbasisȱofȱtheȱlaterȱtranslationsȱ intoȱEthiopic,50ȱtheȱonlyȱlanguageȱinȱwhichȱtheȱentiretyȱofȱ1ȱEnochȱsurȬ vives.51ȱȱ
ȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱ
E.ȱ Isaac,ȱ “1ȱ (Ethiopicȱ Apocalypseȱ of)ȱ Enoch,”ȱ inȱ Theȱ Oldȱ Testamentȱ Pseudepigraphaȱ (2ȱ vols.;ȱ ed.ȱ J.ȱ H.ȱ Charlesworth;ȱ Newȱ York:ȱ Doubleday,ȱ 1983–1985),ȱ 5–12,ȱ esp.ȱ 7;ȱ seeȱ alsoȱ J.ȱ T.ȱ Milik,ȱ Theȱ Booksȱ ofȱ Enoch:ȱ Aramaicȱ Fragmentsȱ ofȱ Qumrânȱ Caveȱ 4ȱ (Oxford:ȱ ClarendonȱPress,ȱ1976),ȱ4–107.ȱEachȱofȱtheseȱworksȱthemselvesȱhaveȱtheirȱownȱcomȬ positionalȱhistoriesȱandȱcanȱbeȱfurtherȱsubdivided.ȱȱȱ
47ȱȱ Milik,ȱBooksȱofȱEnoch,ȱ4–7.ȱOfȱtheȱfragmentsȱthatȱsurvive,ȱonlyȱaboutȱoneȬfifthȱ“canȱbeȱ broughtȱ intoȱ moreȱ orȱ lessȱ closeȱ relationshipȱ withȱ theȱ Ethiopicȱ text,”ȱ andȱ theseȱ areȱ damagedȱ(MichaelȱA.ȱKnibb,ȱTheȱEthiopicȱBookȱofȱEnoch:ȱAȱNewȱEditionȱinȱtheȱLightȱofȱ theȱ Aramaicȱ Deadȱ Seaȱ Fragmentsȱ [2ȱ vols.;ȱ Oxford:ȱ Clarendonȱ Press,ȱ 1978],ȱ 12).ȱ Knibbȱ furtherȱobserves,ȱ“TheȱAramaicȱtextȱofȱEnochȱknownȱtoȱusȱfromȱtheȱQumrânȱmanuȬ scripts—withȱ theȱ exceptionȱ ofȱ theȱ Bookȱ ofȱ Astronomyȱ toȱ whichȱ referenceȱ willȱ beȱ madeȱ inȱ aȱ moment—agreesȱ inȱ generalȱ termsȱ withȱ theȱ Greekȱ andȱ Ethiopicȱ texts,”ȱ withȱonlyȱtwoȱnotableȱexceptionȱ(ibid.ȱ12–13).ȱAstronomicalȱBooksȱexistedȱinȱaȱmuchȱ longerȱ versionȱ atȱ Qumranȱ (ibid.ȱ 13).ȱ Forȱ criticalȱ editionsȱ ofȱ theȱ fragments,ȱ seeȱ SteȬ phenȱPfann,ȱPhilipȱAlexander,ȱetȱal.,ȱQumranȱCaveȱ4:ȱ20:ȱCrypticȱTextsȱandȱMiscellaneaȱ Pt.ȱ 1ȱ (DJDȱ 36;ȱ Oxford:ȱ Clarendonȱ Press,ȱ 2000),ȱ 3–171ȱ (theȱ pertinentȱ textsȱ areȱ editedȱ byȱ L.ȱ Stuckenbruck,ȱ F.ȱ G.ȱ Martinez,ȱ andȱ E.ȱ J.ȱ C.ȱ Tigchelaar);ȱ andȱ Émileȱ Peuch,ȱ Qumrânȱ Grotteȱ 4:ȱ XXII:ȱ Textesȱ Araméenȱ premiéreȱ partie:ȱ 4Q529–549ȱ (DJDȱ 31;ȱ Oxford:ȱ ClarendonȱPress,ȱ2001),ȱ9–115.ȱ
48ȱȱ Milik,ȱBooksȱofȱEnoch,ȱ22.ȱ
49ȱȱ Seeȱibid.,ȱ28;ȱseeȱalsoȱMichaelȱE.ȱStone,ȱ“TheȱBookȱofȱEnochȱandȱJudaismȱinȱtheȱThirdȱ CenturyȱB.C.E.,”ȱCBQȱ40ȱ(1978):ȱ479–92;ȱandȱNickelsburg,ȱ1ȱEnoch,ȱ25,ȱwhoȱsuggestsȱ theȱdecadesȱbeforeȱtheȱMaccabeanȱperiod.ȱSeeȱalsoȱhisȱdiscussionȱofȱtheȱdevelopmentȱ ofȱWatchers,ȱwhichȱisȱitselfȱaȱcompositeȱworkȱ(25–26).ȱSinceȱmostȱofȱmyȱobservationsȱ areȱbasedȱonȱchaptersȱ14–15,ȱwhichȱNickelsburgȱregardsȱasȱpartȱofȱoneȱofȱtheȱearlyȱ mythsȱ(chaptersȱ12–16)ȱuponȱwhichȱWatchersȱisȱbased,ȱthisȱcompositeȱnatureȱshouldȱ notȱhaveȱsignificantȱconsequencesȱforȱtheȱpresentȱinvestigation.ȱȱȱȱ
50ȱȱ Nickelsburg,ȱ1ȱEnoch,ȱ15–17;ȱKnibbȱobservesȱthatȱallȱtheȱGreekȱwitnesses,ȱexceptȱforȱ theȱ excerptsȱ fromȱ Georgeȱ Syncellus,ȱ generallyȱ agreeȱ withȱ theȱ Ethiopicȱ translationȱ (EthiopicȱBook,ȱ19).ȱKnibbȱarguesȱthatȱwhileȱtheȱGreekȱwasȱtheȱprimaryȱbasisȱforȱtheȱ Ethiopicȱtranslation,ȱtheȱtranslator(s)ȱwereȱalsoȱreferringȱtoȱanȱAramaicȱcopyȱasȱwellȱ (ibid.ȱ38–46).ȱThisȱleadsȱKnibbȱtoȱtheȱconclusionȱthatȱtheȱEthiopicȱshould,ȱatȱtimes,ȱbeȱ preferredȱtoȱtheȱGreekȱ(ibid.ȱ45–46).ȱThoughȱNickelsburg,ȱ1ȱEnoch,ȱrefutesȱtheȱarguȬ mentȱthatȱtheȱEthiopianȱtranslatorȱmayȱhaveȱhadȱaccessȱtoȱanȱAramaicȱcopyȱ(15–16),ȱ heȱnotesȱthatȱ“atȱtimesȱtheȱextantȱGreekȱisȱinferiorȱtoȱtheȱGreekȱVorlageȱofȱtheȱEthioȬ
110ȱȱȱ AscentȱtoȱHeavenȱinȱAncientȱJudaismȱandȱChristianityȱ
1.ȱEnochȱdoesȱnotȱpassȱthroughȱvariousȱheavens.ȱHeȱentersȱheavenȱ andȱfindsȱhimselfȱbeforeȱaȱgreatȱhouse.ȱFirst,ȱheȱentersȱanȱouterȱcourtȬ yardȱsurroundedȱbyȱtonguesȱofȱfire,ȱandȱthenȱheȱentersȱtheȱhouse’sȱwallȱ ofȱ hail.52ȱ Enochȱ fallsȱ inȱ fearȱ onlyȱ toȱ seeȱ doorsȱ openȱ andȱ toȱ discoverȱ aȱ secondȱ house.ȱ Enoch’sȱ “heaven”ȱ isȱ thusȱ theȱ heavenlyȱ templeȱ withȱ itsȱ threeȱ correspondingȱ areas:ȱ theȱ courtyard,ȱ theȱ greatȱ house,ȱ andȱ theȱ secondȱhouse,ȱwhichȱmustȱbeȱtheȱholyȱofȱholies.53ȱHimmelfarbȱhasȱobȬ served,ȱhowever,ȱthatȱtheȱdescriptionȱofȱtheȱtempleȱinȱ1ȱEnochȱ14ȱ“doesȱ notȱseemȱtoȱcorrespondȱinȱdetailȱtoȱanyȱparticularȱtempleȱdescribedȱinȱ theȱ Hebrewȱ Bible.ȱ Theȱ onlyȱ instanceȱ ofȱ technicalȱ terminologyȱ isȱ theȱ descriptionȱofȱtheȱactivitiesȱofȱtheȱangelicȱpriests.”54ȱ
ThoughȱEnochȱdoesȱnotȱenterȱtheȱsecondȱhouse,ȱheȱdescribesȱit,ȱandȱ heȱknowsȱthatȱtheȱGreatȱGloryȱdwellsȱwithin.ȱHeȱdescribesȱthisȱsecondȱ houseȱasȱfollows:ȱ
Andȱ itsȱ foundationȱ wasȱ fire,ȱ andȱ aboveȱ itȱ wereȱ flashesȱ ofȱ lightningȱ andȱ shootingȱstars,ȱandȱtheȱroofȱwasȱflamingȱfire.ȱIȱobservedȱandȱIȱsawȱaȱhighȱ
ȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱ
pic”ȱ(18).ȱMatthewȱBlack,ȱTheȱBookȱofȱEnochȱorȱ1ȱEnoch:ȱAȱNewȱEnglishȱEditionȱ(SVTPȱ7;ȱ Leiden:ȱBrill,ȱ1985),ȱ4,ȱarguesȱforȱaȱHebrewȱoriginal.ȱ
51ȱȱ WhenȱIȱmustȱreferȱtoȱpassagesȱwhichȱsurviveȱonlyȱinȱEthiopic,ȱIȱwillȱreferȱtoȱBlack’sȱ translationȱ(BookȱofȱEnoch),ȱsinceȱheȱbasesȱhisȱtranslationȱonȱaȱfamilyȱofȱmanuscriptsȱ superiorȱ toȱ thoseȱ usedȱ byȱ Knibb,ȱ Ethiopicȱ Book.ȱ Theȱ Ethiopicȱ manuscriptsȱ fallȱ intoȱ twoȱmajorȱfamilies,ȱEthȱIȱandȱEthȱII.ȱTheȱformerȱareȱearlier,ȱandȱtheȱlatterȱrepresentȱ anȱ attemptedȱ revisionȱ (Knibb,ȱ Ethiopicȱ Book,ȱ 28).ȱ Thoughȱ Knibbȱ cautionsȱ againstȱ overemphasizingȱtheȱsuperiorityȱofȱEthȱIȱandȱchoosesȱtoȱuseȱanȱEthȱIIȱmanuscriptȱasȱ theȱbasisȱofȱhisȱedition,ȱheȱnotesȱthatȱEthȱIȱisȱcloserȱtoȱtheȱGreekȱthanȱEthȱIIȱ(ibid.ȱ36,ȱ 28).ȱ Blackȱ continuesȱ toȱ maintainȱ withoutȱ reserveȱ “theȱ superiorityȱ ofȱ theȱ Ethȱ 1ȱ textȬ type”ȱ(BookȱofȱEnoch,ȱ6).ȱ
52ȱȱ AlthoughȱcommentatorsȱappearȱtoȱagreeȱthatȱEnochȱentersȱtheȱwallsȱsurroundedȱbyȱ tonguesȱofȱfireȱandȱthenȱfindsȱaȱhouseȱwithȱanotherȱhouseȱwithinȱit;ȱsee,ȱforȱexample,ȱ C.ȱR.ȱA.ȱMorrayȬJones,ȱAȱTransparentȱIllusion:ȱTheȱDangerousȱVisionȱofȱWaterȱinȱHekhaȬ lotȱ Mysticism:ȱ Aȱ SourceȬCriticalȱ andȱ TraditionȬHistoricalȱ Inquiryȱ [JSJSupȱ 59;ȱ Leiden:ȱ Brill,ȱ 2002],ȱ 30),ȱ thisȱ interpretationȱ doesȱ notȱ appearȱ asȱ obviousȱ toȱ me.ȱ Theseȱ wallsȱ mayȱwellȱbeȱtheȱwallsȱofȱtheȱ“greatȱhouse,”ȱforȱtheirȱdescriptionȱisȱveryȱsimilar,ȱandȱ Enochȱonlyȱexplicitlyȱspeaksȱofȱenteringȱtheȱtonguesȱofȱfireȱwhichȱencircleȱtheȱwallsȱ (14:9–10).ȱ
53ȱȱ Onȱ Enoch’sȱ ascentȱ asȱ anȱ ascentȱ intoȱ theȱ tripartiteȱ heavenlyȱ temple,ȱ seeȱ especiallyȱ Himmelfarb,ȱ Ascentȱ toȱ Heaven,ȱ 14–16;ȱ DeanȬOtting,ȱ Heavenlyȱ Journeys,ȱ 49–50;ȱ NickȬ elsburg,ȱ1ȱEnoch,ȱ30;ȱȱMorrayȬJones,ȱTransparentȱIllusion,ȱ30;ȱhowever,ȱitȱisȱnotȱnecesȬ saryȱtoȱmaintain,ȱasȱMorrayȬJonesȱdoes,ȱthatȱinȱ1ȱEnochȱ14ȱ“theȱtripartiteȱstructureȱofȱ thisȱ templeȱ embodiesȱ aȱ cosmologyȱ ofȱ threeȱ heavens”ȱ (30).ȱ Indeed,ȱ onceȱ Enochȱ reachesȱtheȱheavenlyȱtemple,ȱupwardȱmotionȱceases,ȱandȱtheȱtripartiteȱtempleȱdoesȱ notȱequateȱwithȱaȱthreeȬlevelȱcosmology,ȱevenȱifȱthisȱmayȱproveȱtoȱbeȱtheȱcaseȱwithȱ laterȱtexts.ȱȱȱȱ
54ȱȱ AscentȱtoȱHeaven,ȱ15.ȱ
ȱ AscentsȱofȱOtherȱOldȱTestamentȱFiguresȱ 111ȱ throneȱ(qro&non u(yhlo&n),55ȱandȱitsȱformȱwasȱasȱifȱofȱcrystal,56ȱandȱaȱwheelȱasȱ ofȱtheȱsunȱshining57ȱandȱaȱmountainȱofȱCherubim.ȱAndȱbeneathȱtheȱthroneȱ cameȱoutȱflamingȱriversȱofȱfire,58ȱandȱIȱwasȱnotȱableȱtoȱlook.ȱAndȱtheȱGreatȱ Gloryȱwasȱseatedȱuponȱit;59ȱHisȱgarmentȱwasȱlikeȱtheȱformȱofȱtheȱsun,ȱmoreȱ radiantȱandȱwhiterȱthanȱanyȱsnow.ȱAndȱnoȱangelȱwasȱableȱtoȱpassȱintoȱthisȱ houseȱandȱtoȱseeȱHisȱfaceȱonȱaccountȱofȱtheȱhonorȱandȱglory,ȱandȱnoȱfleshȱ wasȱ ableȱ toȱ seeȱ theȱ fireȱ flamingȱ aroundȱ Him;ȱ andȱ greatȱ fireȱ stoodȱ besideȱ Him,ȱandȱnoȱoneȱdrawsȱnearȱHim.ȱRoundȱaboutȱaȱmyriadȱofȱmyriadsȱstoodȱ beforeȱHim,ȱandȱHisȱeveryȱwordȱwasȱdeed.ȱ 14:16–21ȱ
Thisȱ descriptionȱ fusesȱ elementsȱ ofȱ theȱ OTȱ visionsȱ alreadyȱ describedȱ (§3.1).60ȱHowever,ȱtheȱvisionȱhasȱbeenȱexplicitlyȱtransferredȱtoȱtheȱheavȬ enlyȱ temple,ȱ whereȱ God’sȱ gloryȱ resides,ȱ andȱ theȱ authorȱ displaysȱ anȱ interestȱ inȱ thisȱ heavenlyȱ dwellingȱ placeȱ unlikeȱ anyȱ encounteredȱ thusȱ far.61ȱȱȱ
Laterȱ inȱ theȱ narrative,ȱ Enochȱ isȱ takenȱ onȱ aȱ tourȱ toȱ “theȱ endȱ ofȱ theȱ greatȱearth”ȱandȱbeyondȱ(seeȱ18:10)ȱinȱwhichȱheȱseesȱdetailsȱofȱgeograȬ phyȱ(17:4–8;ȱ21:1–3;ȱ26:1–6;ȱ28:1–33:1),ȱtheȱworkingsȱofȱtheȱcosmosȱ(17:3;ȱ 18:1–5;ȱ23:4;ȱ33:1–36:4),ȱplacesȱofȱpunishmentȱforȱangelsȱ(18:12–16;ȱ21:1–
10),ȱ theȱ hollowsȱ whereȱ humanȱ soulsȱ awaitȱ judgmentȱ (22:1–14);ȱ heȱ learnsȱtheȱnamesȱofȱangelsȱ(20:1–8).62ȱInȱtheȱcourseȱofȱhisȱtravels,ȱEnochȱ
ȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱ
55ȱȱ CompareȱIsaȱ6:1ȱ(MT).ȱ
56ȱȱ CrystalȱisȱalsoȱfeaturedȱinȱEzekȱ1:22,ȱthoughȱitȱisȱ usedȱtoȱ describeȱtheȱ“firmament”ȱ andȱprobablyȱmeantȱ“ice.”ȱȱ
57ȱȱ CompareȱEzekȱ1:27;ȱseeȱalsoȱ1:4,ȱ15–21.ȱ
58ȱȱ CompareȱDanȱ7:10;ȱthoughȱnotȱaȱriverȱofȱfire,ȱfireȱalsoȱfeaturesȱinȱEzekȱ1:4,ȱ13,ȱ27.ȱ 59ȱȱ CompareȱEzekȱ1:28,ȱ3:23.ȱ
60ȱȱ Forȱaȱmuchȱfullerȱdiscussionȱofȱtheȱparallelsȱbetweenȱ1ȱEnochȱ14ȱandȱEzekȱ1–2ȱasȱwellȱ asȱcorrespondencesȱwithȱEzekȱ40–44,ȱseeȱNickelsburg,ȱ1ȱEnochȱ1,ȱ254–56;ȱGeorgeȱW.ȱ E.ȱNickelsburg,ȱ“Enoch,ȱLevi,ȱandȱPeter:ȱRecipientsȱofȱRevelationȱinȱUpperȱGalilee,”ȱ JBLȱ100ȱ(1981):ȱ575–600;ȱseeȱ576–77ȱandȱ580–82;ȱforȱotherȱcomparisonsȱwithȱEzekȱ1–3,ȱ seeȱHelgeȱS.ȱKvanvig,ȱ“HenochȱundȱdenȱMenschensohn:ȱDasȱVerhältnisȱvonȱHenȱ14ȱ zuȱDanȱ7,”ȱSTȱ38ȱ(1984):ȱ101–33;ȱseeȱ101–13;ȱforȱcomparisonȱwithȱDanȱ7ȱseeȱNickelsȬ burg,ȱ1ȱEnochȱ1,ȱ32,ȱandȱesp.ȱKvanvig,ȱ“Henoch,”ȱ119–30,ȱwhoȱarguesȱthatȱDanȱ7ȱisȱ dependentȱuponȱ1ȱEnochȱ14ȱ(101–33).ȱ
61ȱȱ Forȱ furtherȱ discussionȱ ofȱ theȱ differences,ȱ seeȱ Nickelsburg,ȱ 1ȱ Enochȱ 1,ȱ 259;ȱ seeȱ alsoȱ
“Enoch,ȱLevi,ȱandȱPeter,”ȱ576–82;ȱJohnȱJ.ȱCollins,ȱ“TheȱApocalypticȱTechnique:ȱSetȬ tingȱandȱFunctionȱinȱtheȱBookȱofȱWatchers,”ȱCBQȱ44ȱ(1982):ȱ91–111;ȱseeȱ102–03;ȱandȱ esp.ȱGruenwald,ȱApocalypticismȱandȱMerkavahȱMysticism,ȱ32–41,ȱallȱofȱwhomȱdescribeȱ waysȱinȱwhichȱ1ȱEnochȱ14ȱrepresentsȱaȱtransitionalȱstageȱbetweenȱtheȱpropheticȱmaȬ terialȱpreservedȱinȱtheȱOTȱandȱtheȱlaterȱspeculationsȱofȱtheȱMerkabahȱmystics.ȱ 62ȱȱ OnȱEnoch’sȱtourȱofȱtheȱearth,ȱseeȱKelleyȱCoblentzȱBautch,ȱAȱStudyȱofȱtheȱGeographyȱofȱ
1ȱEnochȱ17–19:ȱ“NoȱOneȱHasȱSeenȱWhatȱIȱHaveȱSeen”ȱ(JSJSupȱ81;ȱLeiden:ȱBrill,ȱ2003).ȱ
112ȱȱȱ AscentȱtoȱHeavenȱinȱAncientȱJudaismȱandȱChristianityȱ
seesȱ “theȱ Paradiseȱ ofȱ righteousness”ȱ (32:3,ȱ Black).63ȱ Enoch’sȱ attentionȱ focusesȱ onȱ theȱ treeȱ ofȱ knowledgeȱ whichȱ growsȱ here;ȱ heȱ receivesȱ littleȱ informationȱ aboutȱ theȱ purposeȱ ofȱ thisȱ Paradiseȱ andȱ neverȱ learnsȱ whetherȱorȱnotȱhumanȱbeingsȱwillȱeventuallyȱreturnȱthere.64ȱThisȱParaȬ diseȱ isȱ locatedȱ onȱ theȱ earth,ȱ toȱ theȱ east.65ȱ ȱ Itȱ isȱ nearȱ theȱ “endȱ ofȱ theȱ earth.”ȱ
2.ȱEnochȱisȱneverȱtoldȱtoȱkeepȱwhatȱheȱlearnsȱaȱsecret.ȱIndeed,ȱtheȱ closingȱ ofȱ theȱ bookȱ suggestsȱ thatȱ heȱ hopesȱ hisȱ revelationsȱ willȱ leadȱ othersȱ toȱ glorifyȱ Godȱ (36:4).ȱ Theȱ visionȱ ofȱ theȱ heavenlyȱ temple,ȱ howȬ ever,ȱdefiesȱwords.ȱEnoch’sȱdescriptionȱofȱtheȱtempleȱasȱaȱhouseȱwithȱaȱ foundationȱandȱroofȱjuxtaposesȱwithȱtheȱimagesȱofȱfire,ȱshootingȱstars,ȱ andȱlightningȱheȱusesȱtoȱdescribeȱhisȱsurroundings.ȱHeȱwarnsȱhisȱreadȬ ers,ȱ “Theȱ wholeȱ [house]ȱ wasȱ surpassingȱ inȱ gloryȱ andȱ inȱ honorȱ andȱ inȱ greatness,ȱsoȱthatȱitȱisȱnotȱpossibleȱforȱmeȱtoȱspeakȱtoȱyouȱconcerningȱitsȱ gloryȱ andȱ greatnessȱ (mh_ du&nasqai/ me e0ceipei=n u(mi=n peri\ th~j do&chj kai\
peri\ th~j megalwsu&nhj au)tou~)”ȱ(14:16).ȱAȱsimilarȱtensionȱbecomesȱevenȱ moreȱ explicitȱ whenȱ Enochȱ speaksȱ ofȱ theȱ Oneȱ onȱ theȱ throne.ȱ Heȱ deȬ scribesȱtheȱthroneȱandȱmentionsȱtheȱriverȱofȱfireȱyetȱclaimsȱheȱwasȱnotȱ ableȱtoȱsee.ȱOnlyȱthenȱdoesȱheȱstateȱthatȱ“theȱGreatȱGlory”ȱwasȱseatedȱ onȱtheȱthrone,ȱandȱheȱrefrainsȱfromȱcallingȱthisȱfigureȱ“God.”ȱHeȱavoidsȱ descriptionȱofȱthisȱfigureȱandȱclaimsȱheȱcannotȱlookȱatȱhim,ȱthoughȱheȱ describesȱ theȱ garment.66ȱ Enochȱ insistsȱ thatȱ notȱ evenȱ angelsȱ enterȱ thisȱ houseȱandȱseeȱHisȱface;ȱhumanȱbeingsȱcannotȱevenȱlookȱatȱtheȱfire.ȱȱ
DespiteȱEnoch’sȱbriefȱdescriptionȱofȱtheȱgarmentȱandȱtheȱthrone,ȱtheȱ textȱsuggestsȱthatȱEnochȱremainsȱprostrateȱallȱthisȱtime.ȱEventually,ȱheȱ isȱraisedȱupȱ“byȱoneȱofȱtheȱholyȱones”ȱandȱbroughtȱtoȱtheȱthresholdȱofȱ theȱ doorȱ toȱ thisȱ innerȱ house,ȱ butȱ heȱ keepsȱ hisȱ headȱ bowedȱ downȱ (14:25).67ȱ Despiteȱ hisȱ difficultyȱ lookingȱ atȱ theȱ Greatȱ Glory,ȱ Enochȱ canȱ
ȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱ
63ȱȱ Soȱalsoȱtheȱ“GardenȱofȱJustice”ȱ(77:3,ȱNeugebauer),ȱwhichȱexistsȱonȱtheȱearthȱaccordȬ ingȱ toȱ thisȱ mythicalȱ geographyȱ (Neugebauerȱ isȱ responsibleȱ forȱ aȱ portionȱ ofȱ theȱ translationȱfoundȱinȱBlack,ȱBookȱofȱEnoch).ȱ
64ȱȱ Nickelsburg,ȱ 1ȱ Enochȱ 1,ȱ 327,ȱ maintainsȱ thatȱ whileȱ thisȱ Paradiseȱ isȱ theȱ placeȱ whereȱ AdamȱandȱEveȱfirstȱlived,ȱitȱisȱnotȱtheȱfutureȱabodeȱofȱtheȱrighteous.ȱȱ
65ȱȱ Earlier,ȱEnochȱhasȱseenȱtheȱTreeȱofȱLife,ȱwhichȱgrowsȱnearȱaȱmountainȱthatȱservesȱasȱ theȱearthlyȱthroneȱofȱGod;ȱapparently,ȱitȱisȱlocatedȱinȱtheȱsouthȬeastȱȱ(24:2–25:7).ȱInȱ theȱBookȱofȱtheȱHeavenlyȱLuminaries,ȱEnochȱseesȱtheȱ“GardenȱofȱJustice”ȱ(77:3,ȱNeugeȬ bauer),ȱwhichȱalsoȱexistsȱonȱtheȱearthȱbutȱtoȱtheȱnorth.ȱ
66ȱȱ CompareȱIsaȱ6:1ȱ(MT).ȱ
67ȱȱ ThereȱappearsȱtoȱbeȱsomeȱtensionȱbetweenȱtheȱGreekȱandȱEthiopicȱversionsȱatȱ15:1;ȱ theȱ Ethiopicȱ suggestsȱ thatȱ evenȱ thoughȱ heȱ keptȱ hisȱ faceȱ lowered,ȱ itȱ tooȱ wasȱ raisedȱ up;ȱtheȱGreekȱversionȱdoesȱnotȱincludeȱthisȱclause.ȱȱ
ȱ AscentsȱofȱOtherȱOldȱTestamentȱFiguresȱ 113ȱ
hear,68ȱandȱtheȱGreatȱGloryȱsummonsȱhimȱforwardȱtoȱtellȱhimȱthatȱtheȱ punishmentȱ decreedȱ forȱ theȱ watchersȱ cannotȱ beȱ reversedȱ (15:1–4).69ȱȱ Ultimately,ȱtheȱtextȱoffersȱaȱvivid,ȱsevere,ȱandȱfrighteningȱpictureȱofȱtheȱ gloryȱandȱdangerȱofȱtheȱheavenlyȱtemple,ȱbutȱcluesȱthroughoutȱtheȱtextȱ makeȱclearȱthatȱthisȱimageryȱisȱapproximateȱandȱnotȱtoȱbeȱtakenȱasȱexȬ actȱdetailȱofȱwhatȱ“wasȱreallyȱthere.”ȱȱȱ
3.ȱEnochȱisȱborneȱtoȱheavenȱbyȱtheȱwindsȱ(14:8–9),ȱandȱaccordingȱtoȱ Nickelsburg,ȱ heȱ isȱ hastenedȱ byȱ “shootingȱ starsȱ andȱ lightningȱ flashes”ȱ (14:8).70ȱAlthoughȱEnochȱascendsȱonȱtheȱwindsȱandȱspeaksȱofȱhimselfȱinȱ corporealȱ termsȱ asȱ prostratingȱ himselfȱ andȱ ableȱ toȱ seeȱ andȱ hear,ȱ theȱ ascentȱ occursȱ asȱ partȱ ofȱ aȱ dreamȱ (14:2).ȱ Byȱ depictingȱ theȱ ascentȱ asȱ aȱ dream,ȱ theȱ authorȱ keepsȱ theȱ visionȱ oneȱ stepȱ removedȱ fromȱ concreteȱ reality.ȱ Nonetheless,ȱ theȱ authorȱ describesȱ bothȱ theȱ emotionsȱ ofȱ Enochȱ andȱ theȱ strangeȱ physicalȱ sensationȱ ofȱ simultaneousȱ heatȱ andȱ coldȱ (14:13–14).ȱ Indeed,ȱ Enochȱ emphasizesȱ thatȱ outȱ ofȱ fearȱ heȱ shookȱ andȱ trembled.71ȱȱ
4.ȱTheȱascentȱdoesȱnotȱdirectlyȱaddressȱissuesȱofȱpowerȱorȱsuffering.ȱ Asȱ notedȱ above,ȱ Enochȱ tremblesȱ andȱ fallsȱ inȱ fearȱ beforeȱ theȱ vision.ȱ Also,ȱ theȱ visionsȱ andȱ revelationsȱ heȱ receivesȱ bestowȱ aȱ specialȱ statusȱ uponȱ him.ȱ Heȱ claimsȱ toȱ beȱ theȱ onlyȱ humanȱ everȱ toȱ learnȱ suchȱ things:ȱ
“Andȱ I,ȱ Enoch,ȱ sawȱ allȱ theȱ sightsȱ alone,ȱ theȱ boundariesȱ ofȱ allȱ things,ȱ andȱnotȱoneȱamongȱhumanȱbeingsȱmayȱseeȱasȱIȱsaw”ȱ(19:3).72ȱȱȱ
5.ȱ Theȱ immediateȱ purposeȱ ofȱ Enoch’sȱ ascentȱ isȱ toȱ learnȱ theȱ fateȱ ofȱ theȱWatchersȱandȱtoȱreturnȱwithȱtheȱmessageȱofȱtheirȱpendingȱcondemȬ nation.ȱ Likeȱ theȱ prophetsȱ ofȱ theȱ OT,ȱ Enoch’sȱ ascentȱ entailsȱ aȱ commisȬ
ȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱ
68ȱȱ “AndȱIȱheardȱtheȱvoice,ȱ‘Doȱnotȱbeȱafraid,ȱEnochȱ.ȱ.ȱ.ȱcomeȱhere,ȱandȱhearȱmyȱvoiceȱ (kai\ th~j fwnh~j au)tou~ h!kousa: mh_ fobhqh~|j, (Enw&xȱ.ȱ.ȱ. pro&selqe w{de, kai\ th~j fwnh~j mou a!kouson)’”ȱ(16:1).ȱ
69ȱȱ AlthoughȱtheȱGreatȱGloryȱsummonsȱEnochȱforwardȱyetȱagainȱ(16:1),ȱitȱisȱneverȱmadeȱ explicitȱthatȱEnochȱactuallyȱmovesȱfurtherȱin.ȱDoesȱheȱenterȱtheȱhouseȱthatȱnotȱevenȱ angelsȱenter,ȱthusȱshowingȱthatȱheȱisȱaboveȱtheȱangels?ȱȱ
70ȱȱ “Shootingȱ starsȱ andȱ lightningȱ flashesȱ wereȱ hasteningȱ meȱ andȱ speedingȱ meȱ along”ȱ (14:8,ȱNickelsburg);ȱseeȱtheȱnotes,ȱesp.ȱb–c,ȱforȱexplanationsȱofȱhisȱtranslationȱofȱthisȱ difficultȱsentenceȱ(1ȱEnoch,ȱ257).ȱȱ
71ȱȱ Rowland,ȱ Openȱ Heaven,ȱ 231–34,ȱ citesȱ thisȱ passageȱ andȱ otherȱ similarȱ onesȱ inȱ theȱ apocalypticȱliteratureȱasȱevidenceȱthatȱtheȱvisionsȱare,ȱatȱsomeȱlevel,ȱrelatedȱtoȱreal,ȱ mysticalȱexperiences.ȱRowland’sȱargumentȱisȱevenȱmoreȱconvincingȱwhenȱoneȱconȬ sidersȱthatȱinȱtheȱMithrasȱLiturgy,ȱanȱascentȱtextȱthatȱwasȱclearlyȱmeantȱtoȱbeȱputȱintoȱ practice,ȱtheȱ textȱprescribesȱtheȱemotionsȱandȱ sensationsȱ theȱascenderȱshouldȱexpeȬ rienceȱ(seeȱforȱexampleȱlinesȱ539–41,ȱ623,ȱ627;ȱseeȱ§2.4.4).ȱ
72ȱȱ Forȱtheȱlastȱphrase,ȱtheȱGreekȱisȱveryȱemphaticȱthatȱnoȱothersȱmayȱseeȱasȱdidȱEnoch:ȱ kai\ ou) mh_ i!dh| ou)de\ ei[j a)nqrw&pwn w(j e0gw_ i!don.
114ȱȱȱ AscentȱtoȱHeavenȱinȱAncientȱJudaismȱandȱChristianityȱ
sion.73ȱHisȱascentȱandȱtravelsȱoverȱtheȱearthȱalsoȱserveȱtoȱlegitimizeȱtheȱ largerȱbodyȱofȱteachingsȱandȱtheologyȱinȱtheȱtext.74ȱ
3.3.2.ȱTestamentȱofȱLeviȱ
WhatȱweȱtodayȱknowȱasȱtheȱTestamentȱofȱLevi,ȱfoundȱinȱtheȱTestamentsȱofȱ theȱTwelveȱPatriarchs,ȱexistsȱonlyȱinȱGreekȱandȱdisplaysȱChristianȱinfluȬ ence.ȱIȱremainȱunconvinced,ȱhowever,ȱthatȱChristianȱinfluenceȱinȱT.ȱLeviȱ isȱ soȱ pervasiveȱ asȱ toȱ renderȱ itȱ unfitȱ toȱ serveȱ asȱ aȱ witnessȱ toȱ preȬ Christianȱ Jewishȱ tradition.75ȱ Althoughȱ ofȱ necessityȱ Iȱ mustȱ makeȱ myȱ argumentsȱfromȱtheȱGreekȱtext,ȱtheȱbasicȱtraditionsȱmostȱimportantȱforȱ myȱpurposes—theȱascentȱtoȱheavenȱ(2:5–5:2)ȱandȱtheȱvisionȱ(8:1–19)—
canȱbeȱfirmlyȱestablishedȱasȱpreȬChristianȱtraditions,ȱthanksȱtoȱtheȱAraȬ maicȱ Leviȱ Documentȱ (ALD)ȱ foundȱ atȱ Qumran,76ȱ evenȱ thoughȱ itsȱ extantȱ remainsȱprovideȱfewȱdetailsȱofȱtheseȱevents.77ȱȱȱȱ
ȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱ
73ȱȱ TheȱOneȱonȱtheȱthroneȱtellsȱhim,ȱ“Goȱandȱsayȱtoȱthoseȱwhoȱsentȱyouȱ.ȱ.ȱ.ȱ(poreu&qhti kai\ ei]pe toi=j pe/myasi/n seȱ.ȱ.ȱ.ȱ)”ȱ(15:2).ȱȱ
74ȱȱ CompareȱCollins,ȱ“ApocalypticȱTechnique,”ȱ103.ȱ
75ȱȱ ToȱquoteȱH.ȱC.ȱKee,ȱwhoȱisȱspeakingȱwithȱregardȱtoȱT.ȱ12ȱPatr.ȱinȱitsȱentirety,ȱ“Theȱ Christianȱ interpolations,ȱ whichȱ numberȱ notȱ moreȱ thanȱ twelve,ȱ andȱ whichȱ occurȱ inȱ theȱlatterȱpartȱofȱthoseȱtestamentsȱthatȱcontainȱthem,ȱareȱconceptuallyȱperipheralȱtoȱ theȱmainȱthrustȱofȱtheȱdocumentȱandȱareȱliterarilyȱincongruous,ȱsoȱthatȱtheyȱmayȱbeȱ readilyȱdifferentiatedȱfromȱtheȱoriginalȱGreekȱtext”ȱ(“TestamentsȱofȱtheȱTwelveȱPaȬ triarchs,”ȱ inȱ OTP,ȱ 1:775–81,ȱ esp.ȱ 1:777).ȱ Soȱ alsoȱ Marcȱ Philonenko,ȱ Lesȱ interpolationsȱ chrétiennesȱdesȱTestamentsȱdesȱdouzeȱpatriarchesȱetȱlesȱmanuscritsȱdeȱQoumrânȱ(Cahiersȱdeȱ laȱ revueȱ d’histoireȱ etȱ deȱ philosophieȱ religieusesȱ 35;ȱ Paris:ȱ Pressesȱ Universitairesȱ deȱ France,ȱ1960),ȱ60.ȱThoseȱwhoȱargueȱthatȱT.ȱLeviȱshouldȱonlyȱbeȱstudiedȱasȱaȱChristianȱ documentȱare:ȱMarinusȱdeȱJonge,ȱPseudepigraphaȱofȱtheȱOldȱTestamentȱasȱPartȱofȱChrisȬ tianȱ Literature:ȱ Theȱ Caseȱ ofȱ theȱ Testamentȱ ofȱ theȱ Twelveȱ Patriarchsȱ andȱ theȱ Greekȱ Lifeȱ ofȱ AdamȱandȱEveȱ(SVTP;ȱLeiden:ȱBrill,ȱ2003),ȱ82;ȱseeȱalsoȱdeȱJonge,ȱ“TheȱMainȱIssuesȱinȱ theȱ Studyȱ ofȱ theȱ Testamentsȱ ofȱ theȱ Twelveȱ Patriarchs,”ȱ inȱ Jewishȱ Eschatology,ȱ Earlyȱ ChristianȱChristology,ȱandȱtheȱTestamentȱofȱtheȱTwelveȱPatriarchs:ȱCollectedȱEssaysȱofȱMaȬ rinusȱdeȱJongeȱ(ed.ȱH.ȱJ.ȱdeȱJonge;ȱNovTSupȱ63;ȱLeiden:ȱBrill,ȱ1991),ȱ147–63;ȱseeȱ160–
63;ȱ Michaelȱ E.ȱ Stone,ȱ “Aramaricȱ Leviȱ Documentȱ andȱ Greekȱ Testamentȱ ofȱ Levi,”ȱ inȱ Emanuel:ȱ Studiesȱ inȱ theȱ Hebrewȱ Bible,ȱ Septuagint,ȱ andȱ Deadȱ Seaȱ Scrollsȱ inȱ Honorȱ ofȱ EmanuelȱTovȱ(ed.ȱS.ȱM.ȱPaulȱetȱal.;ȱVTSupȱ94;ȱLeiden:ȱBrill,ȱ2003),ȱ429–37;ȱseeȱesp.ȱ429.ȱ 76ȱȱ Thisȱ documentȱ isȱ attestedȱ byȱ fragmentsȱ fromȱ theȱ Cairoȱ Geniza,ȱ fragmentsȱ fromȱ Qumran,ȱ andȱ byȱ insertionsȱ inȱ aȱ Greekȱ manuscriptȱ (e)ȱ ofȱ T.ȱ 12ȱ Patr.ȱ foundȱ inȱ theȱ Koutloumousiouȱ monasteryȱ onȱ Mountȱ Athos.ȱ Theseȱ Greekȱ insertionsȱ haveȱ beenȱ shownȱ toȱ overlapȱ atȱ timesȱ withȱ theȱ Aramaicȱ fragmentsȱ foundȱ inȱ theȱ genizaȱ andȱ atȱ Qumran.ȱAtȱtheȱveryȱleast,ȱallȱofȱtheseȱfragmentsȱserveȱasȱaȱwitnessȱtoȱtheȱsameȱorȱaȱ veryȱsimilarȱtraditionȱ(seeȱMarinusȱdeȱJonge,ȱ“TheȱTestamentȱofȱLeviȱandȱ‘Aramaicȱ Levi,’”ȱinȱJewishȱEschatology,ȱEarlyȱChristianȱChristology,ȱandȱtheȱTestamentȱofȱtheȱTwelveȱ Patriarchs:ȱ Collectedȱ Essaysȱ ofȱ Marinusȱ deȱ Jongeȱ [ed.ȱ H.ȱ J.ȱ deȱ Jonge;ȱ NovTSupȱ 63;ȱ LeiȬ den:ȱBrill,ȱ1991],ȱ244–62;ȱseeȱ245–46;ȱ“MainȱIssues,”ȱ152;ȱseeȱfurtherȱM.ȱE.ȱStoneȱandȱ
ȱ AscentsȱofȱOtherȱOldȱTestamentȱFiguresȱ 115ȱ
ȱ AscentsȱofȱOtherȱOldȱTestamentȱFiguresȱ 115ȱ