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1 Enoch

About this book
Chapter 9

1 Then Michael, Uriel, Raphael, and Gabriel looked down from heaven⁠ and saw much blood being shed on the earth, and all the lawlessness being committed on the earth.⁠ 2 They said to one another: 'The earth, left without inhabitants, cries out, and the voice of their crying reaches the gates of heaven.'⁠ 3 'And now to you, the holy ones of heaven, the souls of men plead, saying, "Present our case before the Most High."'⁠ 4 They said to the Lord of the ages:⁠ 'Lord of lords, God of gods, King of kings,⁠ and God of the ages,⁠ the throne of Your glory stands through all generations,⁠ and Your name is holy and glorious and blessed through all ages!⁠ 5 You have created all things, and over all things You have power. All things are open and visible in Your sight, and You see everything, and nothing can hide from You.⁠ 6 You see what Azâzêl has done, who has taught all unrighteousness on the earth and revealed the eternal secrets that were kept in heaven,⁠ which men were eager to learn.⁠ 7 And Semjâzâ, to whom You gave the authority to rule over his companions. 8 They have gone to the daughters of men on the earth, have lain with the women, have defiled themselves, and revealed to them all kinds of sins. 9 The women have borne giants, and as a result the whole earth has been filled with blood and unrighteousness. 10 And now the souls of those who have died are crying out and pleading at the gates of heaven, and their laments have risen up; they cannot stop because of the lawless acts committed on the earth.⁠ 11 You know all things before they happen, and You see these things and allow them, and You do not tell us what we should do about them.'⁠

Texts in conversation

Compare Enuma Elish VI and 1 Enoch 9:4

Ancient Near East, Babylonian · Pseudepigrapha, Apocalypses

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Summary

The title King of kings appears across the ancient Near East such as in Enuma Elish where it is used for Marduk. The Hebrew Bible and Jewish texts such as 1 Enoch use the title for Israel's God, showing how it was incorporated into later traditions.

Passages

Enuma Elish VI

Ancient Near East, Babylonian · The Seven Tablets of Creation
The great gods assembled, They exalted the destiny of Marduk and did obeisance. They invoked a curse on themselves And took an oath with water and oil, and put their hands to their throats. They granted him authority as King of Kings, They confirmed him as lord of the gods of heaven and netherworld. Anshar gave him his exalted name, Asalluhi “At the mention of his name, let us show submission! When he speaks, let the gods heed him, Let his command be superior in upper and lower regions. May the son, our avenger, be exalted, Let his lordship be superior and himself without rival.
1800–1750 BCE (scholarly estimate) Read in the Enuma Elish

1 Enoch 9:4

Pseudepigrapha, Apocalypses
1 Then Michael, Uriel, Raphael, and Gabriel looked down from heaven and saw much blood being shed on the earth, and all the lawlessness being committed on the earth. 2 They said to one another: 'The earth, left without inhabitants, cries out, and the voice of their crying reaches the gates of heaven.' 3 'And now to you, the holy ones of heaven, the souls of men plead, saying, "Present our case before the Most High."' 4 They said to the Lord of the ages: 'Lord of lords, God of gods, King of kings, and God of the ages, the throne of Your glory stands through all generations, and Your name is holy and glorious and blessed through all ages! 5 You have created all things, and over all things You have power. All things are open and visible in Your sight, and You see everything, and nothing can hide from You.
300 BCE – 100 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in 1 Enoch

References

"... “King of kings” (compare 1 Enoch 84:2 and 63:4) is a royal title with a long history in the ancient Near East. In Jewish literature this title is applied to the God of Israel in contexts that stress his sovereignty over earthly kings. Compare 2 Maccabees 13:4; 3 Maccabees 5:35; Philo Cherubim 99 (compare Special Laws 1.18); mishnah Sanhedrin 4:5 (the king mints coins with his image on them). Thus the title may be either a claim of sovereignty over other kings or the attribution to God of a title already employed by earthly monarchs ..."
George W. E. Nickelsburg, A Commentary on the Book of 1 Enoch Chapters 1-36, 81-108 (Minneapolis: Fortress, 2001), 211.

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

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Enuma Elish VI and 1 Enoch 9:4

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