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Thursday, November 8, 2012

The Epistle of Enoch

Some scholars propose a date somewhere between the 170 BC and the 1st century BC.
This section can be studied as formed by five sub-sections, mixed by the final redactor:
Apocalypse of Weeks (93:1–10 91:11–17): this sub-section, dated usually the first half of 2nd century BC, narrates the history of the world using a ten periods (said "weeks") scheme, of which seven regard the past and three the future events (the final judgment). The climax is in the seventh part of the tenth week where new heaven shall appear andthere will be many weeks without number for ever, and all shall be in goodness and righteousness.
Exhortation (91:1–10 91:18–19) this short list of exhortations to follow the righteousness said by Enoch to his son Methuselah looks like to be a bridge to next sub-section.
Epistle (92:1–5 93:11–105:2): the first part of the epistle sketches the wisdom of the Lord, final reward of the justs and the punishment of the evils, and the two separated paths of righteousness and unrighteousness. Then we have six oracles against the sinners, the witness of the whole creation against them and the assurance of the fate after death.