Go to Related Reading
About this book

1 Enoch

About this book
Chapter 8

1 And Azâzêl 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. 3 Semjâzâ taught spells and the cutting of roots, Armârôs taught how to break spells, Barâqîjâl taught astrology,⁠ Kôkabêl taught about the constellations,⁠ Êzêqêêl taught about the clouds, Araqiêl taught the signs of the earth, Shamsiêl taught the signs of the sun, and Sariêl taught the course of the moon. 4 And as men died, they cried out, and their cries ascended to heaven.

Texts in conversation

Compare 1 Enoch 8:3 and Jubilees 8:3

Pseudepigrapha, Apocalypses · Pseudepigrapha, Hebrew Bible Expansions

Share:

Summary

Jubilees echoes the story in 1 Enoch about the Watchers teaching forbidden knowledge to humans but focuses on astrology, omitting other sins like violence or sorcery. In both, these teachings are portrayed as a primary contribution to human corruption.

Passages

1 Enoch 8:3

Pseudepigrapha, Apocalypses
2 Widespread wickedness arose, and they engaged in fornication, were led astray, and corrupted all their ways. 3 Semjâzâ taught spells and the cutting of roots, Armârôs taught how to break spells, Barâqîjâl taught astrology, Kôkabêl taught about the constellations, Êzêqêêl taught about the clouds, Araqiêl taught the signs of the earth, Shamsiêl taught the signs of the sun, and Sariêl taught the course of the moon. 4 And as men died, they cried out, and their cries ascended to heaven.
300 BCE – 100 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in 1 Enoch

Jubilees 8:3

Pseudepigrapha, Hebrew Bible Expansions
2 And the son grew, and his father taught him writing, and he went to look for a place where he could establish a city for himself. 3 And he found a writing which earlier (generations) had carved on the rock, and he read what was on it, and he copied it and sinned because of it; for it contained the teaching of the Watchers in accordance with which they used to observe the omens of the sun and moon and stars in all the signs of heaven. 4 And he wrote it down and said nothing regarding it; for he was afraid to speak to Noah about it because he feared Noah would be angry with him because of it.
170–125 BCE (scholarly estimate) Read in Jubilees

References

"... After Kainan was instructed in the art of writing (Jubilees 8:2), he found an inscription on a rock that described the astrological teachings of the watchers “by which they used to observe the omens of the sun, moon, and stars, and every heavenly sign” (Jubilees 8:3). these signs were probably used to predict the future. Kainan copied these instructions from the stone “and sinned on the basis of what was in it.” The teachings of the Watchers contrast with the teachings of the patriarchs, which were received from the angels. as far as the astrological teachings of the watchers are concerned, the author is probably referring to an Enochic tradition. In 1 Enoch 6–11 the Watchers are not only involved in illicit sexual practices and violence, but they are also involved in astrological teachings. 1 Enoch 8:3 says, “Barakiel taught astrologers, and Kokabel portents, and Tamiel taught astrology and Asradel taught the path of the moon.” If Jubilees is referring here to the Enochic tradition, it is remarkable that of all the illicit angelic instructions of the watchers mentioned in the book of the Watchers (metalworking, cosmetics, sorcery, pharmacology, spellbinding, and celestial divination) Jubilees includes only one ..."
Jacques T. A. G. M. van Ruiten, Abraham in the Book of Jubilees: The Rewriting of Genesis 11:26–25:10 in the Book of Jubilees 11:14–23:8, JSJSup 161 (Leiden: Brill, 2012), 42–43.

References are not endorsements of their contents. Read each reference in full to understand its author's intentions in using these texts.

Your feedback

1 Enoch 8:3 and Jubilees 8:3

Leave a comment

Your questions and comments are welcome!

Comments

Glossary

Search the Library