We find him in Genesis, just a few lines. “Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him" (Genesis 5:24). Cryptic. What does it mean to "walk with God?" And what does it mean that he "was not?" Jewish tradition fills in those gaps, painting a portrait of a man who was not only righteous but also transformed into something… more.
According to Legends of the Jews, Enoch spent a long time in seclusion, away from the hustle and bustle of the world. Then, one day, an angel called to him. "Enoch, Enoch," the angel said, "make thyself ready… assume dominion over men, to teach them the ways in which they shall walk... that they may walk in the ways of God."
Imagine that. Called out of isolation to lead humanity.
Enoch emerged from his retreat and became a teacher, a guide. He sent messengers out, proclaiming, "Ye who desire to know the ways of God and righteous conduct, come ye to Enoch!" And people came. A vast crowd gathered around him, eager to learn. Kings and princes – one hundred and thirty of them! – submitted to his rule, seeking his wisdom.
For two hundred and forty-three years, peace reigned, all because of Enoch's influence. It's a fascinating picture of a leader who brought harmony and understanding to the world.
But this time of leadership couldn't last forever. The tradition tells us that as time went on, Enoch began to withdraw. First, he'd spend three days in prayer, then return to his disciples for instruction on the fourth. Then, it was once a week, then once a month, and finally, just once a year. Can you imagine the anticipation of those who waited for his wisdom?
And here's the thing: when he did appear, his presence was overwhelming. People were afraid to even look at him directly! They felt they might die if they did. This suggests a profound transformation happening within Enoch, a growing closeness to the Divine. It reminds us of Moses on Mount Sinai, his face radiating God's presence.
Then comes the truly mind-bending part.
One day, while Enoch was teaching, an angel appeared and announced that God had decided to make him king over the angels in heaven, just as he had been king over men on Earth!
So, Enoch gathered everyone together 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 instructing them in wisdom, knowledge, and God-fearing conduct, establishing law and order.
And then, a gigantic steed descended from the sky. "The steed is for me," Enoch said, "for the time has come." He mounted the steed, continuing to teach and exhort the people as he rode away. Eight hundred thousand people followed him for a day's journey! Wow.
Enoch urged them to turn back, warning them of the dangers ahead. Most listened, but some insisted on staying with him. He warned them again, but still, some refused to leave his side, declaring, "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. It's an image straight out of the most epic fantasies, isn’t it?
The next day, the kings who had turned back sent messengers to find out what happened to those who had stayed with Enoch. They found snow and hailstones, and beneath them, the bodies of all who had remained behind. Enoch was nowhere to be found. He was in heaven.
According to the Sefer Hekhalot, a mystical text, Enoch was transformed into the angel Metatron, the highest of the angels, the "lesser YHWH," serving as a celestial scribe and vizier.
What are we to make of this story? It's more than just a fantastical tale. It speaks to the potential for human transformation, for the possibility of ascending to a higher spiritual plane through righteousness and devotion. Enoch's story is a reminder that even within the seemingly ordinary lives we lead, there's a spark of the divine, waiting to be ignited. Could we, too, strive to "walk with God" so closely that we, in our own way, might be taken up?
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.
