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368 ENOCH AND THE ARCHANGEL MICHAEL
Metatron is interchangeably identified at times with Enoch and at
times with the archangel Michael. 19 Although the sources of such identifications
are thought by some to not predate the medieval period, the root
of it might go back as early as the Late Second Temple Period. In this
paper we shall first outline the tradition and then examine the possible
roots of the idea in the earlier period going back to Qumran.
I will argue below in agreement with Alexander that Milik’s argument
for a late identification of Enoch with Metatron is untenable. Indeed, the
identification of Enoch with angels has its roots going back to Second
Temple Jewish literature. In the Pseudepigrapha, Enoch is a heavenly
scribe (Jub. 4:23; 2 En. 53:2). Likewise Metatron/Enoch is the great
scribe in this period. 20 Enoch and Metatron both witness to human folly.
Enoch died at the young age of 365 years, and Metatron is depicted as a
youth. The name Metatron might mean “guide,” and Enoch was a guide
to his son Methuselah, Noah’s grandfather.
According to another tradition, Enoch is Michael, the intercessor, the
angel of mercy and tolerance (1 En. 40:9), hence his name: a term
believed to be derived from the Latin, metator. According to yet another
tradition, Michael taught Enoch the mysteries of justice and mercy (71:3).
The later mystical works call Michael the “Prince of the Presence” 21 and
“Prince of the Ministering Angels.” 22 He is “the mighty scribe,” 23 the lord
of the heavenly hosts, of all treasures and of secrets, 24 and bears the lesser
divine name. 25 The Zohar defines his nature exactly by declaring that he
is little lower than God. 26 Michael is identical in all respects with Enoch;
the “Hekalot” of which he is the chief personage is called also “The Book
of Enoch.” 27
The statement in Exodus, “My name is in him” (23:21) gave rise to
the speculation that Metatron carries the Tetragrammaton and that he is
the angel who was leading the Israelites during their travel to the land of
19. Ascen. Isa. 9:21; Tg. Yer. I Gen 5:24.
20. Tg. Yer. I Gen 5:24; b. Hag. 15a.
21. Jellinek, Bet ha-Midrash, 2:xvi, 55 et seq., v. 171; Abraham (Albert) Eliyahu
Harkavy, “Responsen der Gaonen,” in Ha-Sarid veha-Palit mi-Sifre ha-Mitsvot ha-Rishonim
li-vene Mikra (Likkute Kadmoniot 2; zur Geschichte des Karaismus und der Karaischen
Literatur; Studien und Mitteilungen aus der Kaisereisch Offentlich Bibliothek zu
Petersburgh; St. Petersburg, Russia: n.p., 1903), nos. 373–72; cf. Isa 63:9.
22. Jellinek, ibid., 5:172.
23. Ibid., 2:68.
24. Ibid., 2:114; 5:174.
25. Ibid., 2:61, 114, 117; 5:175.
26. Ps 8:6; Yal. Hadash, 7, no. 51; cf. especially Jellinek, ibid., 5:174.
27. “Enoch whose name is Metatron.” Hekalot, Ibid., 5:170–90, in v. cf. ibid. ii., p.
xvi. and vi. 58.