V. Contents. — The book of Enoch is divided in the Ethiopic MSS. into twenty sections, wliicli are subdi- vided into 108 cha])ters; but copies differ in their spe- cification of chapters. Dillmann has properly depart- ed from the MSS., and endeavored to make divisions of sections, chapters, and verses which may represent the text pretty nearly as it is preserved among the Abyssinians.
In its present shape the book consists of a series of revelations supposed to have been given to Enoch and Noah, which extend to the most varied aspects of na-
EXOCH, BOOK OF 2i
tare and life, and are designed to offer a comprehen- sive vindication of the action of Providence. See Enoch. It is divided into iive parts. The Jirst part (chaps, i-xxxvi, Dillni.), after a general introduction (characterizing the book to which it belongs as a rev- elation of Enocii the seer respecting the future judg- ment of the world, and its results both towards the righteous and rebellious sinners, written to console the pious in the times of final tribulation), contains an ac- count of the fall of the angels (Gen. vi, 1), and of the judgment to come upon them and upon the giants, their offspring (vi-xvi); and this is followed bj-^ the description of the journey of Enoch through the earth and lower heaven in company with an angel, who showed to him many of the great mysteries of nature, the treasure-houses of the storms, and winds, and tires of heaven, the prison of the fallen, and the land of the blessed (xvii-xxxvi). The secnnd jmrf (xxxvii-lxxi) is stj'^led "a vision of wisdom," and consists of three "parables," in which Enoch relates the revelations of the higher secrets of heaven and of the spiritual world which were given to him. The first parable (xxxviii-xliv) gives chiefly a picture of the future blessings and manifestation of the righteous, with fur- ther details as to the heavenly bodies ; the second (xlv -Ivii) describes in splendid imagery the coming of Messiah, and the results which it should work among "the elect" and the gainsayers ; the third (Iviii-lxix) di'aws out at further length the blessedness of "the elect and holy," and the confusion and wretchedness of the sinful rulers of the world. The third part (Ixxii -Ixxxii) is styled "the book of the course of the lights of heaven," and deals with the motions of the sun and moon, and the changes of the seasons ; and with this the narrative of tlie journey of Enoch closes. The fourth pari (Ixxxiii-xci) is not distinguished by any special name, but contains the record of a dream which was granted to Enoch in his youth, in which he saw the history of the kingdoms of God and of the world up to the final establishment of the throne of ^Messiah. 1\\e fifth juirt (xcii-cv) contains the last addresses of Enoch to his children, in which the teaching of the former chapters is made the groundwork of earnest exhortation. The signs which attended the birth of Noali are next noticed (cvi-cvii) ; and another short "writing of Enoch" (cviii) forms the close to the whole book (comp. Dillmann, Einl. i sq. ; Liicke, Ver- such einer vollstdnd. Einl. i, 93 sq.).
VI. Design. — The leading object of the writer, who was manifestly imbued with deep piety, was to com- fort and strengthen his contemporaries. He lived in times of distress and persecution, when the enemies of religion oppressed the righteous. The outward cir- cumstances of the godly were such as to excite doubts of the divine equity in their minds, or, at least, to pre- vent it from having that hold on their faith which was necessary to sustain them in the hour of trial. In ac- cordance with this, the writer cxhiliits the reward of the righteous and the punishment of the wicked. To give greater authority to his afih-mations, he puts them into the mouths of Enoch and Noah. Thus they have all the weight belonging to the cliaractcr of an emi- nent propliet and saint. Various digressions are not without their bearing on the author's main purpose. The narrative of the fallen angels and their punish- ment, as also of the flood, exemplifies tlic retributive justice of Jehovah ; while the .Jewish history, contin- ued down to a late period, exhibits the final triumph of His people, notwithstanding all their vicissitudes. Doubtless the author lived amid a season of fier}- trial, and, looking abroad over the desolation, sought to cheer the sufl'erers by the consideration that they should be recompensed in the Messianic kingdom. As for their wicked oppressors, they were to experi- ence terrible judgments. The writer occasionalh' de- lights in uttering dire anathemas against the wicked. It is plain that the book grew out of the times and
ENOCH, BOOK OF
circumstances by which he was surrounded. It gives us a glimpse not only of the religious opinions, but also of the general features which characterized the whole period. The book belongs to the apocalyptic literature of the period between the close of the O.-T. canon and the advent of Messiah. It is therefore of the same class of composition as the fourth book of Esdras and the Jewish Sibyllines, The principal in- terest attaching to it arises from its contributing to our knowledge of the development of Jewish Messianic ideas subsequently to the writings of inspired proph- ets. In tracing the gradual unfolding and growth of those ideas among the Jewish people, we are the bet- ter prepared for the revelation of the N. T.