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

148 The Book of Enoch [Sect.lii
Again, it is to be observed that tliis addition consists of tristichs,
and is thus different in form from the rest of 72-82. It can hardly
be connected with any of tlie other writers of our book. The
regularity of nature till the day of the new creation is an article
of their creed, though in later apocalypses this view is partially
abandoned.
Nor, again, can 81 belong to this book. Before entering on this
question, however, let us consider 821"^, which forms, according to
most critics, the close of this treatise, vv. 9-20 being regarded as
a Noachic interpolation, but wrongly: see 82' (note). These verses,
82i~8, manifestly do belong to 72-79. The same formula occurs in
821, I my gQji Methuselah,' as in 76i* and in 79' (according to some
MSS.). The wisdom dealt with in 82^"* is the same scientific lore
as in 72-79. And the blessing of the author of 82 ^^^ is for the man
who sins not in calculating the seasons, 82*.
72-79 and 82 constitute the original Book of the Heavenly
Luminaries. But, whereas the blessing of the author of 72-79, 82
is for the man who knows the right reckoning of the years, the
blessing of 81* is for the man '
who
dies in righteousness . . . con-
cerning whom there is no book of unrighteousness written '. These
two blessings, in fact, give the keynote of the respective contents
of the book of the Heavenly Luminaries and 81, and disclose the
motives of their respective authors. This chapter did not, any more
than 80, belong to this treatise originally. In fact, we find on
examination that it is of the nature of a mosaic, and came probably
from the editor of the complete Enoch. The phrase ' those seven
lioly ones', in 81^, j)oints to some previous statement apparently;
but none such is to be found. The words may be drawn from
9021, 22_ T]j3 heavenly tablets in Sl^. ^ may come from 93^ 103^.
The expression 'Lord of the world', 811"^ may be suggested by
82', ' Lord of the whole creation of the world,' &c.
Again, we observe that 81*' " are written with reference to
82i| ^ and 91^. This latter verse introduces the Section beginning
in the. present form of Enoch with 91. We shall see later that 91
does not really form the beginning of the last book of Enoch, but
that it has been dislocated from its right position by the author of 81
to serve his editorial purposes.
Finally, with regard to 82, it is evident that it does not stand in
its original position. The Book of the Heavenly Luminaries rightly
concludes with 79, which closes thus: 'Such is tlae picture and
sketch of every luminary, which Uriel the archangel, who is their