The Book of Enoch

Where Science Meets the Old Testament, for the Come Follow Me lesson February 2-8; Moses 7

For me, Moses chapter 7 is very interesting. Part of the chapter is clearly vision and part of it appears to be narrative of what was happening to and around Enoch. In other parts, it is not clear whether the text describes vision, actual events, or is metaphorical.

For example, we are told in Moses 7:13-14, “And so great was the faith of Enoch that he led the people of God, and their enemies came to battle against them; and he spake the word of the Lord, and the earth trembled, and the mountains fled, even according to his command; and the rivers of water were turned out of their course; and the roar of the lions was heard out of the wilderness; and all nations feared greatly, so powerful was the word of Enoch, and so great was the power of the language which God had given him. There also came up a land out of the depth of the sea, and so great was the fear of the enemies of the people of God, that they fled and stood afar off and went upon the land which came up out of the depth of the sea.”

What does it mean that “the mountains fled”? Did Enoch actually move mountains? If so, to what purpose? Or is this statement simply metaphorical to suggest how powerful Enoch’s faith was. The fleeing mountains were apparently associated with the earth trembling—as in an earthquake? Did the trembling earth cause the mountains to flee?

We also read that “the rivers of water were turned out of their course”. Were the rivers diverted because an earthquake “moved” the mountains into their path. The combination of the earth trembling, the mountains moving (or falling down, “fleeing”?) could describe an earthquake where the mountainside collapsed into a river, diverting its course into another pathway.

We are also told that “the roar of the lions was heard out of the wilderness”. Lion roars are common where lions live in their natural habitat—unless you are in American, where there are no lions, in which case, this phrase is likely metaphor.

None of the above, however, can even hold a candle for strangeness compared to “There also came up a land out of the depth of the sea, and so great was the fear of the enemies of the people of God, that they fled and stood afar off and went upon the land which came up out of the depth of the sea.” If this was new land pushing up from the sea, then wouldn’t it have been too hot for people to go upon it right away? If Enoch were in the Americas, the western edge of the Atlantic, along the US eastern seaboard, is not an area of active island uplift. All of that is occurring along the eastern edge of the Pacific.

If the setting for Enoch’s adventures is the Middle East and the east sea (in Moses 6) is the Dead Sea or Sea of Galilee, it is highly unlikely for an island to pop up there, as those seas are sinking, because they lie in the “pull-apart” basin created by the separating tectonic plates in that region. If the island is metaphorical, it is strange. If the text is describing some real event, it is down-right bazaar.

The extant Book of Enoch (actually three books) is an ancient Jewish text. It is canonical in some Jewish and Christian sects, and parts are among the Dead Sea Scrolls. Jude 1:14-15 refers to some sayings of Jude. It contains information on the “Watchers”, and the origins of demons, giants (Moses 7:15 mentions giants), and two hundred fallen angels. It talks about Noah and the pending flood. The book says that Enoch wanted to know everything. He went to the ends of the earth. He saw how the stars were made and counted the portals out of which they proceed. The book describes heaven as having crystal walls with tongues of fire, and a house built of fire. It also addresses the thousand-year reign of the Messiah. There’s a whole lot of discussion of metaphorical sheep and cattle. The twelve winds and their portals are discussed, along with the four quarters of the world; the seven mountains, the seven rivers, seven great islands, and the seven stars. The waxing and waning moon are also described.

The Book of Enoch has a lot of alchemical references, that of secret knowledge. For example, Enoch saw the secrets of lightning and thunder, winds, clouds, and dew. He saw how the sun and moon “do not leave their orbit”. He saw how lightning comes from stars. He saw a mountain of iron, one of copper, another of silver, another of gold, and one of lead. He said, “…silver is produced from the dust of the earth, and…soft metal originates in the earth…lead and tin are not produced from the earth…it is a fountain that produces them…” Enoch talked about the “waters which are above the heaven [masculine], and of the fountains which are beneath the earth [feminine] coming together. “And they shall destroy all who dwell on the earth…”

In the book, Enoch talked about the length of days and months. He described the sun rising through “portals”. He says the sun’s light is “sevenfold brighter than that of the moon; but as regards size they are both equal.” The year is divided into four seasons. There are “…four leaders who divide the four parts of the year…and…twelve leaders…who divide the months…” Enoch names the four leaders: Mîlkî’êl, Hel’emmêlêk, Mêl’êjal and Nârêl. He follows the same order as the alchemists: spring is hot and wet, summer is hot and dry, autumn is cold and dry, and winter is cold and wet. They are under the direction of the sun, moon and five stars. For alchemists, the four forces of hot, cold, dry, and wet drive the connections between the four elements: earth, air, fire, and water.    

My oldest son, Rhett, gave me a copy of the Book of Enoch a few years ago for Christmas, I read it and it currently resides in my library. My copy was translated in 1917 by R. H. Charles. It is indeed bazaar; way more bazaar than Moses 7. Because of that, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.  

Trent Dee Stephens, PhD

trentdeestephens.com

stephenstrent7@gmail.com