Aggada -- Translations into English; Bible. Old Testament -- Legends; Jewish legends; Midrash -- Translations into English
In the fifth heaven he saw many hosts of the angels called Grigori.
Their appearance was like men, and their size was greater than the size
of the giants, their countenances were withered, and their lips silent.
On his question who they were, the angels leading him answered, "These
are the Grigori, who with their prince Salamiel rejected the holy
Lord." Enoch then said to the Grigori, "Why wait ye, brethren, and
serve ye not before the face of the Lord, and why perform ye not your
duties before the face of the Lord, and anger not your Lord to the
end?" The Grigori listened to the rebuke, and when the trumpets
resounded together with a loud call, they also began to sing with one
voice, and their voices went forth before the Lord with sadness and
tenderness.
In the seventh heaven he saw the seven bands of archangels who arrange
and study the revolutions of the stars and the changes of the moon and
the revolution of the sun, and superintend the good or evil conditions
of the world. And they arrange teachings and instructions and sweet
speaking and singing and all kinds of glorious praise. They hold in
subjection all living things, both in heaven and on earth. In the midst
of them are seven phoenixes, and seven cherubim, and seven six-winged
creatures, singing with one voice.
When Enoch reached the seventh heaven, and saw all the fiery hosts of
great archangels and incorporeal powers and lordships and
principalities and powers, he was afraid and trembled with a great
terror. Those leading him took hold of him, and brought him into the
midst of them, and said to him, "Be of good cheer, Enoch, be not
afraid," and they showed him the Lord from afar, sitting on His lofty
throne, while all the heavenly hosts, divided in ten classes, having
approached, stood on the ten steps according to their rank, and made
obeisance to the Lord. And so they proceeded to their places in joy and
mirth and boundless light, singing songs with low and gentle voices,
and gloriously serving Him. They leave not nor depart day or night,
standing before the face of the Lord, working His will, cherubim and
seraphim, standing around His throne. And the six-winged creatures
overshadow all His throne, singing with a soft voice before the face of
the Lord, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts; heaven and earth are
full of His glory." When he had seen all these, the angels leading him
said to him, "Enoch, up to this time we were ordered to accompany
thee." They departed, and he saw them no more. Enoch remained at the
extremity of the seventh heaven, in great terror, saying to himself,
"Woe is me! What has come upon me!" But then Gabriel came and said unto
him, "Enoch, be not afraid, stand up and come with me, and stand up
before the face of the Lord forever." And Enoch answered: "O my lord,
my spirit has departed from me with fear and trembling. Call the men to
me who have brought me to the place! Upon them I have relied, and with
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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