Texts in Conversation
1 Enoch reshapes Isaiah’s image of a restored city built from precious stones at the end of the exile, incorporating the image of a towering mountain complex with jewels in an apocalyptic and eschatological vision of the future.
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Isaiah 54:11
Hebrew Bible
10 Even if the mountains are removed and the hills displaced, my devotion will not be removed from you, nor will my covenant of friendship be displaced,”says the Lord, the one who has compassion on you. 11 “O afflicted one, driven away, and unconsoled! Look, I am about to set your stones in antimony and lay your foundation with lapis lazuli. 12 I will make your pinnacles out of gems, your gates out of beryl, and your outer wall out of beautiful stones. 13 All your children will be followers of the Lord, and your children will enjoy great prosperity.
1 Enoch 24:2
Pseudepigrapha
1 And from there I went to another place on the earth, and he showed me a mountain range of fire that burned day and night. 2 I went beyond it and saw seven magnificent mountains, each distinct from the others, with stones that were magnificent and beautiful, overall glorious in appearance and fair exterior: three towards the east, stacked one on top of the other, and three towards the south, each one upon the other, with deep rough ravines, none of which connected with any other. 3 The seventh mountain was in the midst of these, and it was the tallest, resembling the seat of a throne, with fragrant trees encircling the throne. 4 Among these trees was one that I had never smelled before, unlike any other; it had a scent beyond all scents, and its leaves, blooms, and wood never wither; its fruit was beautiful and resembled the dates of a palm.
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Notes and References
"... The mountain range described here closely approximates the range in 18:6–9 in its orientation, its construction of precious stones, and the centrality and towering height of the thronelike mountain. Also similar are the references to fire. While the text of verse 2 is uncertain, the author appears to think of the six mountains as an enormous dais, with steps rising from the south and the east, which supports the throne of God at its northwest apex. The text recalls descriptions of the New Jerusalem that speak of foundations and walls of precious stones. (Compare Isaiah 54:11-12, Tobit 13:16-17, Revelation 21:12-21) The reference to the ravines is unclear. If the text is correct as it stands, the ravines do not flow into one another. If the reading τὰ ὄρη of ᾶ is correct but misplaced, the ravines do not come near the throne mountain. Verse 3ab, and its reference to the throne of God, is the first of two foci in the vision ..."
Nickelsburg, George W. E.
A Commentary on the Book of 1 Enoch Chapters 1-36, 81-108
(p. 313) 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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