Egyptian-Hebrew stream·The Book of Enoch (1 Enoch)·Book II — Book of Parables (Similitudes)·Chapter LIV — The Hosts of Azâzêl Cast In
Iron chains of immeasurable weight
Enoch beholds another vision: the valley of fire; iron chains of immeasurable weight prepared for the hosts of Azâzêl; the angels of punishment carrying them out at the great day.
Source context
- Theme
- detention of the angelic host, judgment of the kings and mighty, and the sealed valleys of punishment
Steiner
not engaged in the GA corpus
Cross-tradition
- Jewish apocalyptic — Enochic traditionThe sealing of fallen angels in burning valleys pending final judgment reflects a structural parallel with later Kabbalistic descriptions of the sitra achra — the bound adversarial powers held in containment until cosmic rectification (tikkun).
- Zoroastrian eschatologyThe motif of angelic wardens overseeing places of fiery punishment for the mighty shows cross-tradition congruence with Avestan descriptions of the Chinvat Bridge judgment, where daeva-powers are bound pending renovation of existence (frashokereti).
- Mesopotamian cosmologyThe imagery of sealed subterranean valleys where transgressing beings are detained shows cross-tradition congruence with Babylonian traditions of the underworld as a locked domain governed by divine decree.
Chapter LIV
CHAPTER LIV.
1And I looked and turned to another part of the earth, and saw there a deep valley with burning fire. 2. And they brought the kings and the mighty, and began to cast them into this deep valley. 3. And there mine eyes saw how they made these their instruments, iron chains of immeasurable weight. 4. And I asked the angel of peace who went with me, saying: 'For whom are these chains being prepared?'
[paragraph continues] 5. And he said unto me: 'These are being prepared for the hosts of Azâzêl, so that they may take them and cast them into the abyss of complete condemnation, and they shall cover their jaws with rough stones as the Lord of Spirits commanded.
6And Michael, and Gabriel, and Raphael, and Phanuel shall take hold of them on that great day, and cast them on that day into the burning furnace, that the Lord of Spirits may take vengeance on them for their unrighteousness in becoming subject to Satan and leading astray those who dwell on the earth.'
LIV. 7.-LV 2. *Noachic Fragment on the first World Judgement*.
7'And in those days shall punishment come from the Lord of Spirits, and he will open all the chambers of waters which are above the heavens, and of the fountains which are beneath the earth. 8. And all the waters shall be joined with the waters: that which is above the heavens is the masculine, and the water which is beneath the earth is the feminine. 9. And they shall destroy all who dwell on the earth and those who dwell under the ends of the heaven. 10. And **when** they have recognized their unrighteousness which they have wrought on the earth, then by these shall they perish.
Chapter LIV
CHAPTER LV.
1And after that the Head of Days repented and said: 'In vain have I destroyed all who dwell on the earth.' 2. And He sware by His great name: 'Henceforth I will not do so to all who dwell on the earth, and I will set a sign in the heaven: and this shall be a pledge of good faith between Me and them for ever, so long as heaven is above the earth. And this is in accordance with My command.'
LV. 3-LVI. 4. *Final Judgement of Azâzêl, the Watchers and their children*.
3When I have desired to take hold of them by the hand of the angels on the day of tribulation and pain **because of** this, I will cause My chastisement and My wrath to abide upon them, saith God, the Lord of Spirits. 4. Ye †mighty kings† who dwell on the earth, ye shall have to behold Mine Elect One, how he sits on the throne of glory and judges Azâzêl, and all his associates, and all his hosts in the name of the Lord of Spirits.'
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