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the-book-of-enoch-r-h-charles - Fallen Angels

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2 Tlie Booh <strong>of</strong> Enoch [Sect, i<br />

text will be found in 79-82 and 91-93. Since 12-16 were known<br />

to tlie autlior <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Book <strong>of</strong> Jubilees and were written in Aramaic<br />

tliey were probably pre-Maccabean. In <strong>the</strong>se chapters <strong>the</strong> tran-<br />

scendence <strong>of</strong> God is pictured in an extreme degree. He dwells in<br />

heaA'en in a crystal palace <strong>of</strong> fire, into which not even an angel<br />

may enter, H'^^s^ whereas in 6-11, 20-36 <strong>the</strong> old Hebrew stand-<br />

point is fairly preserved. The Messianic Kingdom will be established<br />

on earth, and all sin vanish, 10""^^; <strong>the</strong> chambers <strong>of</strong> blessing in<br />

heaven will be opened, 11'; Jerusalem will be <strong>the</strong> centre <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

Messianic Kingdom, 25=, and God Himself will come down to visit<br />

<strong>the</strong> earth with blessing and will sit on His throne on earth, 25^<br />

men will enjoy patriarchal lives and die in happy old age, 10' 25".<br />

17-19 stand by <strong>the</strong>mselves, exhibiting, as <strong>the</strong>y do, strong traces <strong>of</strong><br />

Greek influence in <strong>the</strong> adoption <strong>of</strong> Greek conceptions <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> under-<br />

world (cf. 17= sqi-)—a thing that a Chasid could not have done<br />

after <strong>the</strong> Llaccabean revolt. And yet, though <strong>the</strong>se chapters betray<br />

Greek influences, <strong>the</strong>y attest <strong>the</strong>ir close relationship with 20-36 ;<br />

IS^-a is a doublet <strong>of</strong> 241-^, 18" <strong>of</strong> 21''-i", ISi^-i" <strong>of</strong> 21i-«, and 19^<br />

<strong>of</strong> 10".<br />

20-36 springs apparently from one and <strong>the</strong> same hand. The<br />

connexion <strong>of</strong> 20 with 21-36 is loose it is true, and yet <strong>the</strong> functions<br />

ascribed to <strong>the</strong> Archangels in 20 are tolerably borne out in 21-36.<br />

These chapters also were known to <strong>the</strong> author <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Book <strong>of</strong> Jubilees.<br />

They were written in Aramaic. Their date, <strong>the</strong>refore, is most<br />

l^robably pre-Maccabean.<br />

Only 1-5 have now to be dealt with. It is difficult to say any-<br />

thing definite regarding <strong>the</strong>m. They look like an introduction to<br />

<strong>the</strong> entire <strong>book</strong> written by <strong>the</strong> final editor. Their phraseology<br />

connects <strong>the</strong>m with every Section <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>book</strong> but 72-82. Thus <strong>the</strong><br />

phrases ' <strong>the</strong> Holy One ', 1^, ' <strong>the</strong> elect ', 1^, ' <strong>the</strong> Holy Great One ', 1^,<br />

'<strong>the</strong> eternal God' (or '<strong>the</strong> God <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> world'), IS '<strong>the</strong> Watchers',<br />

1', ' <strong>the</strong> righteous ', 1*, ' His holy ones ', I'', ' proud and hard words ',<br />

5*, ' hard-hearted 5*,<br />

', ' Ye shall find no peace ', 5'', are found in some<br />

cases in every Section <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>book</strong>, and in all cases in one or more.<br />

In 5'' <strong>the</strong> righteous look forward to a Messianic Kingdom on earth,<br />

in which <strong>the</strong>y should enjoy patriarchal lives in blessedness and peace.<br />

There is one passage which helps us to determine <strong>the</strong> terminus<br />

a quo. In 5' <strong>the</strong> words<br />

' They shall complete <strong>the</strong> number <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> days <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir life<br />

And <strong>the</strong>ir lives shall be increased in peace<br />

And <strong>the</strong> years <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir joy shall be multiplied<br />

'<br />

;<br />

for

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