Chapter 70
stars, and the splendours of all, from whence they went forth before the face of the holy.
13
6
And he concealed the spirit of Enoch in the heaven of heavens.
14
7
There I beheld, in the midst of that light, a building raised with stones of ice;
8
And in the midst of these stone vibrations a of living fire. My spirit saw around the circle of this flaming habitation, on one of its extremities, that there were rivers full of living fire, which encompassed it.
9 Then
the Seraphim, the Cherubim, and Ophaninb surrounded it: these are those who never sleep, but watch the throne of his glory.
10 And
I beheld angels innumerable, thousands of thousands, and myriads and myriads, who surrounded that habitation.
11
Michael, Raphael, Gabriel, Phanuel and the holy angels who were in the heavens above, went in and out of it. Michael, Raphael, and Gabriel went out of that habitation, and holy angels innumerable.
12
With them was the Ancient of days, whose head was white as wool, and pure, and his robe was indescribable.
a. Vibrations. Literally, “tongues” (Laurence, p. 90). b. Ophanin. The “wheels” of Ezekiel 1:15–21 (Charles, p. 162).
46 • The Book of Enoch
Then I fell upon my face, while all my flesh was dissolved, and my spirit became changed.
I cried out with a loud voice, with a powerful spirit, blessing, glorifying, and exalting.
15And
those blessings, which proceeded from my mouth, became acceptable in the presence of the Ancient of days.
16
The Ancient of days came with Michael and Gabriel, Raphael and Phanuel, with thousands of thousands, and myriads and myriads, which could not be numbered.
17
Then that angel came to me, and with his voice saluted me, saying, You are the Son of man,c who art born for righteousness, and righteousness has rested upon you.
18
The righteousness of the Ancient of days shall not forsake you.
19
He said, On you shall he confer peace in the name of the existing world; for from thence has peace gone forth since the world was created.
20
And thus shall it happen to you for ever and ever.
21
All who shall exist, and who shall walk in your path of righ-
c. Son of man. Laurence’s original translation renders this phrase “offspring of man” Knibb (p. 166), and Charles (p. 185) indicate that it should be “Son of man,” consistent with the other occurrences of that term in the Book of Enoch.