5 min read

Enoch Fathered Methuselah, Then Left on a Horse of Fire

A horse paced in the air above the crowd. Enoch said it had come for him. Eight hundred thousand men followed him out of the city anyway.

Curated by Arthur · Told by Maggid ·
Table of Contents
  1. One Hundred Thirty Kings Bowed
  2. His Face Grew Too Hard to Look At
  3. The Horse Paced in the Air
  4. Snow Where the Men Had Stood

Enoch was sixty-five when the boy was born. He named him Methuselah. After that, not before, he walked with God. He turned away from the noise of the settlements, shut himself in a chamber, and stayed there a long time, serving and praying, while the child grew up outside the door.

Enoch Fathered Methuselah, Then Left on a Horse of Fire Click for full size

Then an angel called him by name twice. "Enoch, Enoch, make yourself ready. Leave the house and the secret place. Assume dominion over men, and teach them the ways they shall walk, so they may walk in the ways of God."

One Hundred Thirty Kings Bowed

Enoch left the retreat and went back to the haunts of men. He sent messengers through the camps: "Whoever wishes to know the ways of the Lord and good works, let him come to Enoch." They came. In droves. Kings came. Princes. Judges. One hundred and thirty of them assembled and asked him to reign, and he consented.

They bowed. They made him king. Peace sat on the earth for two hundred and forty-three years while he taught them wisdom and the ways of the Lord and settled their disputes. He left a record in their mouths and in their courts, statutes and judgments to do on the earth, because a father who has a son that will live nearly a thousand years cannot keep what he knows in a locked room.

His Face Grew Too Hard to Look At

In the year Adam died, nine hundred and thirty years old, Seth and Enosh and Enoch and Methuselah buried him with the pomp of kings in the cave God had shown him. Enoch resolved to withdraw again. He did it by inches. First three days in the chamber and one day among the people. Then six days hidden and one day in seven. Then once a month. Then once a year.

The kings still wanted his face. They could not bear it. Awful majesty sat on his countenance, and they feared for their lives if they only looked. So they waited for the day he showed himself, and on that day they packed every petition into the hours they had. When he came out they prostrated themselves and cried, "Long live the king! Long live the king!"

The Horse Paced in the Air

On one of those days, while he was still teaching, an angel called from heaven. God had resolved to install him as king over the angels, as until then he had reigned over men. Enoch gathered the inhabitants of the earth and told them the truth he had. "I have been summoned to ascend. I do not know on what day I shall go. Therefore I will teach you before I go hence."

He spent the days that were left on wisdom, piety, law, and order. Then the people lifted their eyes and saw the likeness of a great horse descend from the sky, pacing in the air. They told him. He said, "The horse is for me. The time has come. I leave you, and I shall not be seen again."

The horse stood before him. He mounted. He went on teaching from its back, exhorting them to serve God, while the animal waited under him as if it had all day.

Snow Where the Men Had Stood

Eight hundred thousand people followed him a day's journey. On the second day he turned in the saddle. "Go home. If you follow farther, you may die." Most of them heeded him and went back. A number stayed. He told them every day to return. They would not.

On the sixth day the remnant clung to him. "We will go with you to the place where you go. As the Lord lives, death only shall separate us." He stopped arguing. They went after him.

On the seventh day Enoch was carried into the heavens in a fiery chariot drawn by fiery chargers, a whirlwind of horses and fire. On the eighth day the kings who had turned back sent to count the men who had stayed. They came to the place. The earth there was filled with snow, and upon the snow were large stones of snow. They said to one another, come, let us break through, perhaps the men are dead under the ice.

They searched. They found no one. The ones who would not leave him were gone, and the king who had fathered Methuselah and taught a hundred and thirty kings was gone with them. What he left was not a body and not a grave. It was the teaching in the mouths of the ones who had turned back on the second day, and a patch of snow no one could explain.

EnochMethuselahProphecyJubileesAdamEveFloodEnosRepentanceGenesisPhiloTeshuvahJudgment
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From the tradition

Sources

2 sources

The texts behind this telling. Some cards carry a translation of the source; others are our own retelling of it, and each card says which. Every card links out to the original.

Legends of the Jews 3:10Legends of the Jews

Retold in our words. Read the original at the link below.The Legends of the Jews by Louis Ginzberg (1909) · Public Domain

Legends of the Jews turns to Enoch and the Angels.

In Legends of the Jews, after spending a long time in seclusion, Enoch heard an angel calling him. “Enoch, Enoch,” the angel said, “make yourself ready…and assume dominion over men, to teach them the ways in which they shall walk…that they may walk in the ways of God."

Enoch answered that call. He emerged from his retreat and began to teach people about God. He sent messengers far and wide, proclaiming, "Ye who desire to know the ways of God and righteous conduct, come ye to Enoch!" And they came. A vast crowd gathered around him, eager to learn from his wisdom. Even kings and princes – one hundred and thirty of them, no less – submitted to his rule, seeking his guidance.

For two hundred and forty-three years, peace reigned while Enoch taught and guided. It was a golden age, a time when humanity was focused on walking in God’s ways. This period ended the year that Adam died. Imagine the profound symbolism: as the first man's life drew to a close, Enoch, a beacon of righteousness, prepared for a new chapter. Adam was buried with great honors by Seth, Enosh, Enoch, and Methuselah.

But Enoch, being human, eventually yearned for a deeper connection with the Divine. He decided to withdraw from the world again, to dedicate himself fully to God. He didn't just vanish overnight, though. Instead, he gradually reduced his interactions. At first, he would spend three days in prayer and praise, returning to his disciples on the fourth day to instruct them. Then, he appeared only once a week, then once a month, and finally, just once a year.

Can you picture the awe that surrounded Enoch? Kings, princes, and commoners alike longed to see him, to hear his words. But during his times of retreat, they dared not approach him. According to the legends, such an "awful majesty" radiated from his face that they feared for their lives if they even looked at him! Instead, they presented their requests on the single day each year that he appeared. They prostrated themselves before him, crying, "Long live the king! Long live the king!"

Then, one day, while Enoch was giving audience, an angel appeared again. This time, the message was even more extraordinary: God had decided to install Enoch as king over the angels in heaven, just as he had reigned over men on Earth!

Enoch gathered everyone and said, "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." He spent his remaining days imparting wisdom, knowledge, and piety. He established laws and order, ensuring the well-being of his people.

And then, a gigantic steed descended from the skies. Enoch announced, "The steed is for me, for the time has come and the day when I leave you, never to be seen again." He mounted the steed, continuing to instruct and exhort the people as he rode. Eight hundred thousand people followed him for a day’s journey!

But Enoch knew that his ascent was not for everyone. On the second day, he urged his followers to turn back, warning them that death would overtake them if they continued. Most obeyed, but a dedicated few remained. Day after day, he pleaded with them to return, but they refused. On the sixth day, he made his final plea: "Go ye home, for on the morrow I shall ascend to heaven, and whoever will then be near me, he will die."

Still, some remained, declaring, "Whithersoever thou goest, we will go. By the living God, death alone shall part us."

And so, on the seventh day, Enoch was carried into the heavens in a fiery chariot drawn by fiery chargers. Imagine that scene – a mortal man, ascending to the heavens in a blaze of glory.

The next day, the kings who had turned back sent messengers to discover the fate of those who had stayed behind. They found snow and hailstones where Enoch had ascended, and beneath them, the bodies of all who had remained. Enoch alone was missing. He was on high, in heaven.

What does this story tell us? It speaks of the potential for human beings to achieve extraordinary spiritual heights. And it leaves us pondering: what kind of legacy are we creating here on Earth? What will our final ascent look like?

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Jasher 3Book of Jasher

Retold in our words. Read the original at the link below.The Book of Jasher, J. H. Parry edition (1887) · Public Domain

The Book of Jasher isn't part of the canonical Hebrew Bible, but it's referenced within it (Joshua 10:13 and (2 Samuel 1:1)8). It's considered by some to be a valuable historical source and by others a work of legend. Whatever its true nature, the stories within are captivating!

Our story picks up with Enoch at age 65. After the birth of his son, Methuselah, Enoch begins to walk with God, turning away from the wickedness of humanity. He immerses himself in divine instruction, knowledge, and understanding, choosing to withdraw from society for extended periods.

What was Enoch doing during these periods of seclusion? Well, according to the Book of Jasher, he was serving God and praying in his house. One day, an angel calls to him from Heaven, urging him to leave his solitude and reappear among humankind. The angel's mission is clear: Enoch is to teach humanity the path to God.

Enoch heeds the call. He emerges from his self-imposed exile and begins teaching the ways of the Lord. He sends out a proclamation: "Where is the man who wishes to know the ways of the Lord and good works? let him come to Enoch." And they came. In droves. People are hungry for spiritual guidance.

Enoch, it seems, becomes a leader. The Book of Jasher tells us that he "reigned over the sons of men according to the word of the Lord." People bowed before him and listened to his wisdom. Even kings, princes, and judges sought him out.

Imagine this scene: 130 kings and princes assemble, making Enoch their king. He brings peace and justice, guiding them in the ways of the Lord. For 243 years, Enoch reigns, leading by example and fostering peace across the land.: a world at peace, guided by wisdom.

But the story doesn't end there. We also learn of the death of Adam. In the fifty-sixth year of Lamech’s life, Adam passes away at the age of 930. Enoch, along with Methuselah and Adam's two sons, buries him with royal honors in the cave God had shown Adam. The Book of Jasher notes that the mourning for Adam was so profound that it established a lasting custom among humanity. It also states the reason for Adam's death: eating from the Tree of Knowledge, a consequence that affected all his descendants.

The Book of Jasher connects Adam’s death with Enoch’s decision to again withdraw from public life. In the same year Adam died, Enoch begins a pattern of temporary seclusion, spending three days in prayer and then returning to teach the people for one day. Later, he extends his absences to six days, then to a month, and eventually to a year.

Why this on-again, off-again approach?

The text suggests that as Enoch drew closer to the divine, a "Godlike awe" settled upon him. People feared to look at him, afraid of punishment. It's a fascinating depiction of the potential consequences of spiritual ascension.

Eventually, even this wasn't enough.

The story takes an even more extraordinary turn. An angel announces from heaven that Enoch is to ascend and reign over the sons of God, just as he reigned over the sons of men. Before his departure, Enoch gathers all the inhabitants of the earth. He imparts final instructions, teaching them wisdom, knowledge, and statutes to live by.

Then, a vision appears: a great horse descends from the sky. Enoch declares that the horse has come for him, signaling his imminent departure. He invites anyone who delights in knowing God to come to him before he's taken away.

What happens next is remarkable. Enoch ascends into heaven on this horse, accompanied by a massive crowd of followers – some 800,000 people! Initially, he urges them to return home, but some remain steadfast, declaring that only death will separate them.

On the seventh day, Enoch ascends into heaven in a whirlwind, with horses and chariots of fire. It's an awe-inspiring image, reminiscent of Elijah's ascent in the Bible (2 (Kings 2:1)1).

When the kings return to collect the remaining followers, they find only snow and large stones. The followers, and Enoch, are gone. He had ascended into heaven.

What does this all mean? The story of Enoch in the Book of Jasher presents a compelling picture of a righteous man who not only walked with God but ultimately transcended the earthly realm. It raises questions about the nature of leadership, the pursuit of wisdom, and the possibility of bridging the gap between the human and the divine. It’s a story that invites us to consider our own paths and what it truly means to "walk with God."

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