Texts in Conversation
1 Enoch 8:1 describes how one of the Watchers teaches humans to craft jewelry, cosmetics, and dyed garments, linking these arts to the spread of corruption. This narrative alludes to the language of Isaiah 3:18, where a long list of women's ornaments is referenced in judgment.
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Isaiah 3:18
Hebrew Bible
16 The Lord says, “The women of Zion are proud. They walk with their heads high and flirt with their eyes. They skip along and the jewelry on their ankles jingles. 17 So the Lord will afflict the foreheads of Zion’s women with skin diseases; the Lord will make the front of their heads bald.” 18 At that time the Lord will remove their beautiful ankle jewelry, neck ornaments, crescent-shaped ornaments, 19 earrings, bracelets, veils, 20 headdresses, ankle ornaments, sashes, sachets, amulets, 21 rings, nose rings, 22 festive dresses, robes, shawls, purses,
Date: 7th-5th Centuries B.C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
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1 Enoch 8:1
Pseudepigrapha
1 And Azâzal taught men to make swords, knives, shields, and breastplates, and revealed to them the metals of the earth and how to work with them, as well as how to make bracelets, ornaments, and the use antimony, beautifying the eyelids, along with all kinds of precious stones and various dyes. 2 Widespread wickedness arose, and they engaged in fornication, were led astray, and corrupted all their ways. Semjâzâ taught spells and the cutting of roots, Armârôs taught how to break spells, Barâqîjâl taught astrology, Kôkabîal taught about the constellations, Ezêqêal taught about the clouds, Araqiêal taught the signs of the earth, Shamsiêal taught the signs of the sun, and Sariêal taught the course of the moon. And as men died, they cried out, and their cries ascended to heaven.
Date: 200-50 B.C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
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Notes and References
"... 1 Enoch 8:1-2 ... Asael also taught men how to obtain and work materials useful for the beautification of women: silver, gold, and precious stones for jewelry and ornaments; minerals for eye paint; dyes for colored garments. Although the Bible can mention fine clothing and ornaments for women without disparagement (compare Ezekiel 16:10-14), the classical reference to these things occurs in a scathing denunciation of the seductive conduct of the women of Jerusalem (Isaiah 3:16-24). As the end of the present verse indicates, these connotations are here also ..."
Nickelsburg, George W. E.
A Commentary on the Book of 1 Enoch Chapters 1-36, 81-108
(p. 194) Fortress Press, 2001
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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