A cloud rose from a vast sea. Baruch watched it ascend — enormous, churning, filled with waters both black and bright, shot through with colors, and crowned at its summit by a bolt of lightning so intense it seemed alive. The cloud passed swiftly across the sky and covered the entire earth. Then it began to rain.
First came black waters — dark, many, lasting a long time. Then bright waters, but fewer. Then black again. Then bright. Twelve alternations in all, and the black waters always outnumbered the bright. At the very end, the cloud released the darkest waters of all — blacker than anything that had come before — and fire was mixed in with them. Wherever these final waters fell, they wrought devastation and destruction.
Then the lightning that had crowned the cloud seized it and hurled it to the earth. The lightning blazed so brightly it illuminated the entire world. It healed the regions devastated by the last black waters. It took hold of the whole earth and had dominion over it. Twelve rivers rose from the sea and surrounded the lightning, becoming subject to it.
Baruch awoke in terror.
He prayed for interpretation, and the angel Ramiel — the one who presides over true visions — was sent to him. Ramiel revealed the meaning of every drop.
The cloud itself was the duration of the entire world, created when God took counsel to make it. The first black waters were the transgression of Adam — the moment that untimely death, grief, anguish, pain, disease, and the demands of Sheol all came into being. The darkness of that first sin produced more darkness. Some angels descended and mingled with human women. Those who dwelt on earth perished in the great flood.
The first bright waters were Abraham and his descendants — the time when the unwritten law was named, when the works of the commandments were fulfilled, when belief in coming judgment was born and the promise of the world to come was first planted.
The pattern continued through all of history. Black waters for the sins of the nations in Egypt. Bright waters for Moses, Aaron, Miriam, and Joshua — the generation when the lamp of eternal law shone on all who sat in darkness. God showed Moses the measures of fire, the depths of the abyss, the weight of the winds, the number of raindrops, the suppression of anger, the root of wisdom, the height of the air, the greatness of Paradise, the mouth of Gehinnom, and the splendor of the angels.
Black waters for the wickedness of the Amorites and the sins of Israel under the judges. Bright waters for David and Solomon — the building of Zion, the dedication of the Temple, when wisdom was heard in the assembly and the land was glorified beyond all lands. Black waters for Jeroboam's golden calves, the curse of Jezebel, and the captivity of the ten tribes. Bright waters for Hezekiah — whose righteousness moved God to send Ramiel himself to destroy 185,000 of Sennacherib's commanders in a single night, burning their bodies from within while leaving their armor intact.
Black waters for Manasseh, who made an idol with five faces and was finally cast into a brazen horse that was heated until it melted. Bright waters for Josiah — the king who cleansed the land, restored the offerings, burned the bones of the wicked from their graves, and was so zealous that he left none uncircumcised. He would receive an eternal reward.
The darkest waters — the eleventh black — were the destruction of Jerusalem itself. Even the angels grieved. "Do you think there is no anguish among the angels," Ramiel asked, "that Zion was delivered up?"
The final bright waters represented a future restoration — a time when the people would be saved, their enemies would fall, Zion would be rebuilt, offerings restored, and priests would return to their ministry. But not fully. Not as in the beginning.
And the lightning that crowned the cloud, that blazed across the whole earth, that healed what the darkest waters had destroyed? That was the Messiah. He would summon all nations. Some he would spare. Some he would slay. Joy would be revealed. Rest would appear. Disease would withdraw. No one would die untimely. Wild beasts would come from the forest to serve humanity. Women would bear children without pain. The reapers would never grow weary. And the works of the righteous would advance of their own accord, in much tranquility.
For that time would be the end of what is corruptible — and the beginning of what is not.
And when I had said these things I fell asleep there, and I saw a vision, and lo! a cloud
was ascending from a very great sea, and I kept gazing upon it) and lo! it was full of
waters white and black, and there were many colors in those self-same waters, and as it
were the likeness of great lightning was seen at its summit. And I saw the cloud passing swiftly in quick courses, and it covered all the earth. And it came to pass after these things that that cloud began to pour upon the earth the
waters that were in it. And I saw that there was not one and the same likeness in the waters which descended from
it. For in the first beginning they were black and many (Or a time, and afterwards I saw that
the waters became bright, but they were not many, and after these things again I saw black
(waters), and after these things again bright, and again black and again bright. Now this was done twelve times, but the black were always more numerous than the bright. And it came to pass at the end of the cloud, that lo! it rained black waters, and they
were darker than had been all those waters that were before, and fire was mingled with
them, and where those waters descended, they wrought devastation and destruction. And after these things I saw how that lightning which I had seen on the summit of the
cloud, seized hold of it and hurled it to the earth. Now that lightning shone exceedingly, so as to illuminate the whole earth, and it healed
those regions where the last waters had descended and wrought devastation. And it took hold of the whole earth, and had dominion over it. And I saw after these things, and lo! twelve rivers were ascending from the sea, and they
began to surround that lightning and to become subject to it. And by reason of my fear I awoke.
54-55. Baruch's Prayer for an Interpretation of the Vision: Ramiel's advent for
this Purpose
Chapter 54
And I besought the Mighty One, and said:
'You alone, O Lord, know of aforetime the deep things of the world,
And the things which befall in their times You bring about by Your word, And against
the works of the inhabitants of the earth you do hasten the beginnings of the times,
And the end of the seasons you alone know. (You) for whom nothing is too hard,
But who do everything easily by a nod: (You) to whom the depths come as the heights,
And whose word the beginnings of the ages serve: (You) who reveal to those who fear you what is prepared for them,
That thenceforth they may be comforted. You show great acts to those who know not;
You break up the enclosure of those who are ignorant,
And lightest up what is dark,
And reveal what is hidden to the pure,
[Who in faith have submitted themselves to you and Your law.] You have shown to Your servant this vision;
Reveal to me also its interpretation. For I know that as regards those things wherein I besought you, I have received a response,
And as regards what I besought, you did reveal to me with what voice I should praise
you,
And from what members I should cause praises and hallelujahs to ascend to you. For if my members were mouths,
And the hairs of my head voices,
Even so I could not give you the reward of praise,
Nor laud you as is befitting,
Nor could I recount Your praise,
Nor tell the glory of Your beauty. For what am I amongst men,
Or why am I reckoned amongst those who are more excellent than I,
That I have heard all these marvelous things from the Most High,
And numberless promises from Him who created me? Blessed be my mother among those that bear,
And praised among women be she that bare me. For I will not be silent in praising the Mighty One,
And with the voice of praise I will recount His marvelous deeds. For who doeth like unto Your marvelous deeds, O God,
Or who comprehend Your deep thought of life. For with Your counsel you do govern all the creatures which Your right hand has created
And you have established every fountain of light beside you,
And the treasures of wisdom beneath Your throne have you prepared. And justly do they perish who have not loved Your law,
And the torment of judgment shall await those who have not submitted themselves to
Your power. For though Adam first sinned
And brought untimely death upon all,
Yet of those who were born from him
Each one of them has prepared for his own soul torment to come,
And again each one of them has chosen for himself glories to come. [For assuredly he who believeth will receive reward. But now, as for you, you wicked that now are, turn you to destruction, because you shall
speedily be visited, in that formerly you rejected the understanding of the Most High. For His works have not taught you,
Nor has the skill of His creation which is at all times persuaded you.] Adam is therefore not the cause, save only of his own soul,
But each of us has been the Adam of his own soul. But do You, O Lord, expound to me regarding those things which you have revealed to me,
And inform me regarding that which I besought you. For at the consummation of the world vengeance shall be taken upon those who have done
wickedness according to their wickedness,
And you will glorify the faithful according to their faithfulness. For those who are amongst your own you rule,
And those who sin you blot out from amongst your own.'
Chapter 55
And it came to pass when I had finished speaking the words of this prayer, that I sat
there under a tree, that I might rest in the shade of the branches. And I wondered and was astonished, and pondered in my thoughts regarding the multitude of
goodness which sinners who are upon the earth have rejected, and regarding the great
torment which they have despised, though they knew that they should be tormented because
of the sin they had committed. And when I was pondering on these things and the like, lo!
the angel Ramiel who presides over true visions was sent to me, and he said unto me: 'Why does your heart trouble you, Baruch,
and why does your thought disturb you? For if owing to the report which you have only heard of judgment you are so moved,
What (wilt you be) when you shall see it manifestly with your eyes? And if with the expectation wherewith you do expect the day of the Mighty One you are so
overcome,
What (wilt you be) when you shall come to its advent? And, if at the word of the announcement of the torment of those who have done foolishly
you are so wholly distraught,
How much more when the event will reveal marvelous things? And if you have heard tidings of the good and evil things which are then coming and are
grieved,
What (wilt you be) when you shall behold what the majesty will reveal, Which shall
convict these and cause those to rejoice.'
56-74. Interpretation of the Vision. The black and bright Waters symbolize the
World's History from Adam to the Advent of the Messiah.
Chapter 56
'Nevertheless, because you have besought the Most High to reveal to you the interpretation
of the vision which you have seen, I have been sent to tell you. And the Mighty One hath assuredly made known to you the methods of the times that have
passed, and of those that are destined to pass in His world from the beginning of its
creation even unto its consummation, of those things which (are) deceit and of those which
(are) in truth. For as you did see a great cloud which ascended from the sea, and went and covered the
earth, this is the duration of the world (= αιων) which the Mighty One
made when he took counsel to make the world. And it came to pass when the word had gone forth from His presence, that the duration of
the world had come into being in a small degree, and was established according to the
multitude of the intelligence of Him who sent it. And as you did previously see on the summit of the cloud black waters which descended
previously on the earth, this is the transgression wherewith Adam the first man
transgressed. For [since] when he transgressed
Untimely death came into being,
Grief was named
And anguish was prepared,
And pain was created,
And trouble consummated,
And disease began to be established,
And Sheol kept demanding that it should be renewed in blood,
And the begetting of children was brought about,
And the passion of parents produced,
And the greatness of humanity was humiliated,
And goodness languished. What therefore can be blacker or darker than these things? This is the beginning of the black waters which you have seen. And from these black (waters) again were black derived, and the darkness of darkness was
produced. For he became a danger to his own soul: even to the angels For, moreover, at that time when he was created, they enjoyed liberty. And became he a danger some of them descended, and mingled with the women. And then those who did so were tormented in chains. But the rest of the multitude of the angels, of which there is (no) number, restrained
themselves. And those who dwelt on the earth perished together (with them) through the waters of the
deluge. These are the black first waters.
Chapter 57
And after these (waters) you did see bright waters: this is the fount of Abraham, also his
generations and advent of his son, and of his son's son, and of those like them. Because at that time the unwritten law was named amongst them,
And the works of the commandments were then fulfilled,
And belief in the coming judgment was then generated,
And hope of the world that was to be renewed was then built up,
And the promise of the life that should come hereafter was implanted. These are the bright waters, which you have seen.
Chapter 58
'And the black third waters which you have seen, these are the mingling of all sins, which
the nations afterwards wrought after the death of those righteous men, and the wickedness
of the land of Egypt, wherein they did wickedly in the service wherewith they made their
sons to serve. Nevertheless, these also perished at last.
Chapter 59
'And the bright fourth waters which you have seen are the advent of Moses and Aaron and
Miriam and Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb and of all those like them. For at that time the lamp of the eternal law shone on all those who sat in darkness, which
announced to them that believe the promise of their reward, and to them that deny, the
torment of fire which is reserved for them. But also the heavens at that time were shaken from their place, and those who were under
the throne of the Mighty One were perturbed, when He was taking Moses unto Himself. For He showed him many admonitions together with the principles of the law and the
consummation of the times, as also to you, and likewise the pattern of Zion and its
measures, in the pattern of which the sanctuary of the present time was to be made. But then also He showed to him the measures of the fire, also the depths of the abyss, and
the weight of the winds, and the number of the drops of rain: And the suppression of anger, and the multitude of long-suffering, and the truth of
judgment: And the root of wisdom, and the riches of understanding, and the fount of knowledge: And the height of the air, and the greatness of Paradise, and the consummation of the
ages, and the beginning of the day of judgment: And the number of the offerings, and the earths which have not yet come: And the mouth of Gehenna, and the station of vengeance, and the place of faith, and the
region of hope: And the likeness of future torment, and the multitude of innumerable
angels, and the flaming hosts, and the splendor of the lightnings, and the voice of the
thunders, and the orders of the chiefs of the angels, and the treasuries of light, and the
changes of the times, and the investigations of the law. These are the bright fourth waters which you have seen.
Chapter 60
And the black fifth waters which you have seen raining are the works which the Amorites
wrought, and the spells of their incantations which they wrought, and the wickedness of
their mysteries, and the mingling of their pollution. But even Israel was then polluted by sins in the days of the judges, though they saw many
signs which were from Him who made them.
Chapter 61
And the bright sixth waters which thru did see, this is the time in which David and
Solomon were born. And there was at that time the building of Zion,
And the dedication of the sanctuary,
And the shedding of much blood of the nations that sinned then,
And many offerings which were offered then in the dedication of the sanctuary. And peace and tranquility existed at that time, And wisdom was heard in the assembly:
And the riches of understanding were magnified in the congregations, And the holy festivals were fulfilled in blessedness and in much joy. And the judgment of the rulers was then seen to be without guile,
And the righteousness of the precepts of the Mighty One was accomplished with truth. And the land [which] was then beloved by the Lord,
And because its inhabitants sinned not, it was glorified beyond all lands, And the
city Zion ruled then over all lands and regions. These are the bright waters which you have seen.
Chapter 62
And the black seventh waters which you have seen, this is the perversion (brought about)
by the counsel of Jeroboam, who took counsel to make two calves of gold: And all the iniquities which kings who were after him iniquitously wrought. And the curse of Jezebel and the worship of idols which Israel practiced at that time. And the withholding of rain, and the famines which occurred until women eat the fruit of
their wombs. And the time of their captivity which came upon the nine tribes and a half, because they
were in many sins. And Shalmanezzar king of Assyria came and led them away captive. But regarding the Gentiles it were tedious to tell how they always wrought impiety and
wickedness, and never wrought righteousness. These are the black seventh waters which you have seen.
Chapter 63
'And the bright eighth waters which you have seen, this is the rectitude and uprightness
of Hezekiah king of Judah and the grace (of God) which came upon him. For when Sennacherib was stirred up in order that he might perish, and his wrath troubled
him in order that he might thereby perish, for the multitude also of the nations which
were with him. When, moreover, Hezekiah the king heard those things which the king of Assyria was
devising, (i.e.) to come and seize him and destroy his people, the two and a half tribes
which remained: nay, more he wished to overthrow Zion also: then Hezekiah trusted in his
works, and had hope in his righteousness, and spoke with the Mighty One and said: "Behold, for lo! Sennacherib is prepared to destroy us, and he will be boastful and
uplifted when he has destroyed Zion." And the Mighty One heard him, for Hezekiah was wise,
And He had respect unto his prayer, because he was righteous. And thereupon the Mighty One commanded Ramiel His angel who speaks with you. And I went forth and destroyed their multitude, the number of whose chiefs only was a
hundred and eighty-five thousand, and each one of them had an equal number (at his
command). And at that time I burned their bodies within, but their raiment and arms I preserved
outwardly, in order that the still more wonderful deeds of the Mighty One might appear,
and that thereby His name might be spoken of throughout the whole earth. And Zion was saved and Jerusalem delivered: Israel also was freed from tribulation. And all those who were in the holy land rejoiced, and the name of the Mighty One was
glorified so that it was spoken of These are the bright waters which you have seen.
Chapter 64
'And the black ninth waters which you have seen, this is all the wickedness which was in
the days of Manasseh the son of Hezekiah. For he wrought much impiety, and he slew the righteous, and he wrested judgment, and he
shed the blood of the innocent, and wedded women he violently polluted, and he overturned
the altars, and destroyed their offerings, and drove forth their priests lest they should
minister in the sanctuary. And he made an image with five faces: four of them looked to the four winds, and the fifth
on the summit of the image as ah adversary of the zeal of the Mighty One. And then wrath went forth from the presence of the Mighty One to the intent that Zion
should be rooted out, as also it befell in your days. But also against the two tribes and a half went forth a decree that they should also be
led away captive, as you have now seen. And to such a degree did the impiety of Manasseh increase, that it removed the praise of
the Most High from the sanctuary. On this account Manasseh was at that time named 'the impious," and finally his abode
was in the fire. For though his prayer was heard with the Most High, finally, when he was cast into the
brazen horse and the brazen horse was melted, it served as a sign unto him for the hour. For he had not lived perfectly, for he was not worthy-but that thenceforward he might know
by whom finally he should be tormented. For he who is able to benefit is also able to torment.
Chapter 65
'Thus, moreover, did Manasseh act impiously, and thought that in his time the Mighty One
would not inquire into these things. These are the black ninth waters which you have seen.
Chapter 66
'And the bright tenth waters which you have seen: this is the purity of the generations of
Josiah king of Judah, who was the only one at the time who submitted himself to the Mighty
One with all his heart and with all his soul. And he cleansed the land from idols, and hallowed all the vessels which had been polluted,
and restored the offerings to the altar, and raised the horn of the holy, and exalted the
righteous, and honored all that were wise in understanding, and brought back the priests
to their ministry, and destroyed and removed the magicians and enchanters and necromancers
from the land. And not only did he slay the impious that were living, but they also took from the
sepulchers the bones of the dead and burned them with fire. [And the festivals and the Sabbaths he established in their sanctity], and their polluted
ones he burnt in the fire, and the lying prophets which deceived the people, these also he
burnt in the fire, and the people who listened to them when they were living, he cast them
into the brook Kidron, and heaped stones upon them. And he was zealous with zeal for the Mighty One with all his soul, and he alone was firm
in the law at that time, so that he left none that was uncircumcised, or that wrought
impiety in all the land, all the days of his life. Therefore he shall receive an eternal reward, and he shall be glorified with the Mighty
One beyond many at a later time. For on his account and on account of those who are like him were the honorable glories, of
which you were told before, created and prepared. These arc the bright waters which you
have seen.
Chapter 67
'And the black eleventh waters which you have seen: this is the calamity which is now
befalling "Zion. Do you think that there is no anguish to the angels in the presence of the Mighty One,
That Zion was so delivered up,
And that lo! the Gentiles boast in their hearts,
And assemble before their idols and say,
"She is trodden down who oftentimes trod down,
And she has been reduced to servitude who reduced (others)"? Dost you think that in these things the Most High rejoices,
Or that His name is glorified? [But how will it serve towards His righteous judgment?] Yet after these things shall the dispersed among the Gentiles be taken hold of by
tribulation,
And in shame shall they dwell in every place. Because so far as Zion is delivered up
And Jerusalem laid waste,
Shall idols prosper in the cities of the Gentiles,
And the vapor of the smoke of the incense of the righteousness which is by the law is
extinguished in Zion,
And in the region of Zion in every place lo! there is the smoke of impiety. But the king of Babylon will arise who has now destroyed Zion,
And he will boast over the people,
And he will speak great things in his heart in the presence of the Most High. But he also shall fall at last. These are the black waters.
Chapter 68
'And the bright twelfth waters which you have seen: this is the word. For after these things time will come when your people shall fall into distress, so that
they shall all run the risk of perishing together. Nevertheless, they will be saved, and their enemies will fall in their presence. And they will have in (due) time much joy. And at that time after a little interval Zion will again be rebuilt, and its offerings
will again be restored, and the priests will return to their ministry, and also the
Gentiles will come to glorify it. Nevertheless, not fully as in the beginning. But it will come to pass after these things that there will be the fall of many nations. These are the bright waters which you have seen.
Chapter 69
'For the last waters which you have seen which were darker than all that were before them,
those which were after the twelfth number, which were collected together, belong to the
whole world. For the Most High made division from the beginning, because He alone knows what will
befall. For as to the enormities and the impieties which should be wrought before Him, He foresaw
six kinds of them. And of the good works of the righteous which should be accomplished before Him, He foresaw
six kinds of them, beyond those which He should work at the consummation of the age. On his account there were not black waters with black, nor bright with bright; for it is
the consummation.
Chapter 70
'Hear therefore the interpretation of the last black waters which are to come [after the
black]: this the word. Behold! the days come, and it shall be when the time of the age has ripened,
And the harvest of its evil and good seeds has come,
That the Mighty One will bring upon the earth and its inhabitants and upon its rulers
Perturbation of spirit and stupor of heart. And they shall hate one another,
And provoke one another to fight,
And the mean shall rule over the honorable,
And those of low degree shall be extolled above the famous. And the many shall be delivered into the hands of the few,
And those who were nothing shall rule over the strong,
And the poor shall have abundance beyond the rich,
And the impious shall exalt themselves above the heroic. And the wise shall be silent,
And the foolish shall speak,
Neither shall the thought of men be then confirmed,
Nor the counsel of the mighty,
Nor shall the hope of those who hope be confirmed. And when those things which were predicted have come to pass,
Then shall confusion fall upon all men,
And some of them shall fall in battle,
And some of them shall perish in anguish, And some of them shall be destroyed by their own. Then the Most High peoples whom He has
prepared before,
And they shall come and make war with the leaders that shall then be left. And it shall come to pass that whoever gets safe out of the war shall die in the
earthquake,
And whoever gets safe out of the earthquake shall be burned by the fire,
And whoever gets safe out of the fire shall be destroyed by famine. [And it shall come to pass that whoever of the victors and the vanquished gets safe out of
and escapes all these things aforesaid will be delivered into the hands of My servant
Messiah.] For all the earth shall devour its inhabitants.
Chapter 71
'And the holy land shall have mercy on its own, And it shall protect its inhabitants at
that time. This is the vision which you have seen, and this is the interpretation. For I have come to tell you these things, because your prayer has been heard with the Most
High.
Chapter 72
'Hear now also regarding the bright lightning which is to come at the consummation after
these black (waters): this is the word. After the signs have come, of which you were told before, when the nations become
turbulent, and the time of My Messiah is come, he shall both summon all the nations, and
some of them he shall spare, and some of them he shall slay. These things therefore shall come upon the nations which are to be spared by Him. Every nation, which knows not Israel and has not trodden down the seed of Jacob, shall
indeed be spared. And this because some out of every nation shall be subjected to your people. But all those who have ruled over you, or have known you, shall be given up to the sword.
Chapter 73
'And it shall come to pass, when He has brought low everything that is in the world,
And has sat down in peace for the age on the throne of His kingdom,
That joy shall then be revealed,
And rest shall appear. And then healing shall descend in dew,
And disease shall withdraw,
And anxiety and anguish and lamentation pass from amongst men,
And gladness proceed through the whole earth. And no one shall again die untimely,
Nor shall any adversity suddenly befall. And judgments, and abusive talk, and contentions, and revenges,
And blood, and passions, and envy, and hatred,
And whatsoever things are like these shall go into condemnation when they are removed. For it is these very things which have filled this world with evils,
And on account of these the life of man has been greatly troubled. And wild beasts shall come from the forest and minister unto men
And asps and dragons shall come forth from their holes to submit themselves to a
little child. And women shall no longer then have pain when they bear,
Nor shall they suffer torment when they yield the fruit of the womb.
Chapter 74
'And it shall come to pass in those days that the reapers shall not grow weary,
Nor those that build be toil-worn;
For the works shall of themselves speedily advance
Together with those who do them in much tranquility. For that time is the consummation of that which is corruptible,
And the beginning of that which is not corruptible. Therefore those things which were predicted shall belong to it:
Therefore it is far away from evils, and near to those things which die not. This is the bright lightning which came after the last dark waters.'
75. Baruch's Hymn on the Unsearchableness of God's Ways and on His Mercies through
which the Faithful shall attain to a blessed Consummation
Chapter 75
