Go to Related Reading
About this book

1 Enoch

About this book
Chapter 80

1 In those days, the angel Uriel said to me, 'Look, Enoch, I have shown you everything, and I have revealed to you that you should see this sun, this moon, and the leaders of the stars of heaven and all those who guide their paths, their duties, timings, and departures.⁠ 2 In the days of the sinners, the years will be shortened,⁠ and their seed will be delayed on their lands and fields. All things on the earth will change and will not appear at their proper times; the rain will be withheld, and the heavens will keep it back. 3 During these times, the fruits of the earth will be late, and will not grow at their proper times, and the fruits of the trees will be delayed in their time. 4 The moon will change her course and not appear at her scheduled times. 5 In those days, the sun will be seen, and it will travel in the evening on the extremity of the great chariot in the west and will shine more brightly than is typical for the order of light. 6 Many leaders of the stars will deviate from their established order. They will change their orbits and duties and not appear at their designated seasons.⁠ 7 The entire order of the stars will be hidden from the sinners, and the thoughts of those on the earth will be mistaken about them, leading them to go astray and even regard them as gods. 8 Evil will be multiplied upon them, and punishment will come upon them to destroy all.'

Texts in conversation

Compare 1 Enoch 80:1 and 3 Enoch 17:6

Pseudepigrapha, Apocalypses

Share:

Summary

In 1 Enoch, angels are described guiding the stars along their courses in the sky. In 3 Enoch, the angels command large companies of angels for the same task, further expanding and organizing this tradition.

Passages

1 Enoch 80:1

Pseudepigrapha, Apocalypses
1 In those days, the angel Uriel said to me, 'Look, Enoch, I have shown you everything, and I have revealed to you that you should see this sun, this moon, and the leaders of the stars of heaven and all those who guide their paths, their duties, timings, and departures. 2 In the days of the sinners, the years will be shortened, and their seed will be delayed on their lands and fields. All things on the earth will change and will not appear at their proper times; the rain will be withheld, and the heavens will keep it back. 3 During these times, the fruits of the earth will be late, and will not grow at their proper times, and the fruits of the trees will be delayed in their time.
300 BCE – 100 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in 1 Enoch

3 Enoch 17:6

Pseudepigrapha, Apocalypses · Hebrew Book of Enoch
6 Under them is RAHATIEL, the prince who is appointed over the constellations. And he is accompanied by 72 great and honoured angels. And why is he called RAHATIEL? Because he makes the stars run (marhit) in their orbits and courses 339 thousand parasangs every night from the East to the West, and from the West to the East. For the Holy One, blessed be He, has made a tent for all of them, for the sun, the moon, the planets and the stars in which they travel at night from the West to the East. 7 Under them is KOKBIEL, the prince who is appointed over all the planets. And with him are 365,000 myriads of ministering angels, great and honoured ones who move the planets from city to city and from province to province in the Raqia' of heavens.
400–600 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in 3 Enoch

References

“... bodies are classified into four groups: sun, moon, constellations, and stars (i.e. planets). They are assigned to the second heaven (Raqia*), and their orbits (in diminishing length) are given. In 46:1- 4 and probably also in 5:8, the heavenly bodies are animate beings; here they are inert masses which the angels trundle through the heavens. For this latter idea see lEn 80:1; 4Ezra 6:3; 3Bar 6:2. Astronomy forms an element in some apoc­ alyptic texts; see e.g. lEn 72-82. It is, strictly speaking, a motif of Ma'aseh Bere'Sit (see "The­ ological Importance"). ...”
Philip S. Alexander, “3 (Hebrew Apocalypse of) Enoch,” in The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha, ed. James H. Charlesworth (Garden City, NY: Doubleday & Company, 1983), 1:269–270.

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

Tags

Your feedback

1 Enoch 80:1 and 3 Enoch 17:6

Leave a comment

Your questions and comments are welcome!

Comments

Glossary

Search the Library