After Enoch had lived a long time secluded from men, he once heard the
voice of an angel calling to him: "Enoch, Enoch, make thyself ready and
leave the house and the secret place wherein thou hast kept thyself
hidden, and assume dominion over men, to teach them the ways in which
they shall walk, and the deeds which they shall do, in order that they
may walk in the ways of God."
Enoch left his retreat and betook himself to the haunts of men. He
gathered them about him, and instructed them in the conduct pleasing to
God. He sent messengers all over to announce, "Ye who desire to know
the ways of God and righteous conduct, come ye to Enoch!" Thereupon a
vast concourse of people thronged about him, to hear the wisdom he
would teach and learn from his mouth what is good and right. Even kings
and princes, no less than one hundred and thirty in number, assembled
about him, and submitted themselves to his dominion, to be taught and
guided by him, as he taught and guided all the others. Peace reigned
thus over the whole world all the two hundred and forty-three years
during which the influence of Enoch prevailed.
At the expiration of this period, in the year in which Adam died, and
was buried with great honors by Seth, Enosh, Enoch, and Methuselah,
Enoch resolved to retire again from intercourse with men, and devote
himself wholly to the service of God. But he withdrew gradually. First
he would spend three days in prayer and praise of God, and on the
fourth day he would return to his disciples and grant them instruction.
Many years passed thus, then he appeared among them but once a week,
later, once a month, and, finally, once a year. The kings, princes, and
all others who were desirous of seeing Enoch and hearkening to his
words did not venture to come close to him during the times of his
retirement. Such awful majesty sat upon his countenance, they feared
for their very life if they but looked at him. They therefore resolved
that all men should prefer their requests before Enoch on the day he
showed himself unto them.
The impression made by the teachings of Enoch upon all who heard them
was powerful. They prostrated themselves before him, and cried "Long
live the king! Long live the king!" On a certain day, while Enoch was
giving audience to his followers, an angel appeared and made known unto
him that God had resolved to install him as king over the angels in
heaven, as until then he had reigned over men. He called together all
the inhabitants of the earth, and addressed them thus: "I have been
summoned to ascend into heaven, and I know not on what day I shall go
thither. Therefore I will teach you wisdom and righteousness before I
go hence." A few days yet Enoch spent among men, and all the time left
to him he gave instruction in wisdom, knowledge, God-fearing conduct,
and piety, and established law and order, for the regulation of the
affairs of men. Then those gathered near him saw a gigantic steed
descend from the skies, and they told Enoch of it, who said, "The steed
is for me, for the time has come and the day when I leave you, never to
be seen again." So it was. The steed approached Enoch, and he mounted
upon its back, all the time instructing the people, exhorting them,
enjoining them to serve God and walk in His ways. Eight hundred
thousand of the people followed a day's journey after him. But on the
second day Enoch urged his retinue to turn back: "Go ye home, lest
death overtake you, if you follow me farther." Most of them heeded his
words and went back, but a number remained with him for six days,
though he admonished them daily to return and not bring death down upon
themselves. On the sixth day of the journey, he said to those still
accompanying him, "Go ye home, for on the morrow I shall ascend to
heaven, and whoever will then be near me, he will die." Nevertheless,
some of his companions remained with him, saying: "Whithersoever thou
goest, we will go. By the living God, death alone shall part us."
On the seventh day Enoch was carried into the heavens in a fiery
chariot drawn by fiery chargers. The day thereafter, the kings who had
turned back in good time sent messengers to inquire into the fate of
the men who had refused to separate themselves from Enoch, for they had
noted the number of them. They found snow and great hailstones upon the
spot whence Enoch had risen, and, when they searched beneath, they
discovered the bodies of all who had remained behind with Enoch. He
alone was not among them; he was on high in heaven.[59]