2 Enoch 8:1-9:1
8 |About the
taking of Enoch to the 3rd heaven. Word “7.”|
1* And those men
took me from there, and they brought me up to the third heaven, and set me down
|there|. Then I looked downward, and I saw Paradise. And that place is
inconceivably pleasant.
2* And I saw the
trees in full flower. And their fruits were ripe and pleasant-smelling, with
every food in yield and giving off profusely a pleasant fragrance.
3 And in the
midst (of them was) the tree of life, at that place where the LORD takes a rest
when he goes into paradise. And that tree is indescribable for pleasantness and
fine fragrance, and more beautiful than any (other)
created thing that
exists. 4 And from every direction it has an appearance which is
gold-looking and crimson, and with the form of fire. And it covers the whole of
Paradise. And it has something of every orchard tree and of every fruit. And
its root is in Paradise at the exit that leads to the earth.
5* And paradise
is in between the corruptible and the incorruptible. And two streams come
forth, one a source of honey and milk, and a source which produces oil and
wine. And it is divided into 4 parts, and they go around with a quiet movement.
6 And they come out into the paradise of Edem, between the corruptible and
the incorruptible. And from there they pass along and divide into 40 parts. And
it proceeds in descent along the earth, and they have a revolution in their
cycle, just like the other atmospheric elements.
7* And there is
no unfruitful tree there, and every tree is well fruited, and every place is
blessed.
8 And there are
300 angels, very bright, who look after Paradise; and with never-ceasing voice
and pleasant singing they worship the LORD every day and hour. And I said, “How
very pleasant is this place!” And those men said to me:
9 |The
revelation to Enoch of the place of those who are righteous and kind. Word
“8.”|
1* “This place,
Enoch, has been prepared for the righteous,
who
suffer every kind of calamity in their life
and
who
afflict their souls,
and
who
avert their eyes from injustice
and
who
carry out righteous judgment
who
give bread to the hungry,
and
who
cover the naked with clothing,
and
who
lift up the fallen,
and
who
help the injured and the orphans,
who
walk without a defect before the face of
the LORD,
and
who
worship him only—
even for them this
place has been prepared as an eternal inheritance.” (F.I. Andersen, "2
(Slavonic Apocalypse of) Enoch," in James H. Charlesworth, The Old
Testament Pseudepigrapha, Volume 1: Apocalyptic Literature and Testaments
[New York: Yale University Press, 1983], 114–11)
2 Enoch 42:3
And I ascended to the
east, into the paradise of Eden, where rest is prepared for the righteous. And
it is open as far as the 3rd heaven; but it is closed off from this world.
(Ibid., 168)
Apocalypse of Moses 37:4-5
4* He lay three
hours, and so the Lord of all,
sitting on his holy throne, stretched out his hands and took Adam and handed
him over to the archangel Michael, saying to him, 5* “Take him up
into Paradise, to the third heaven, and leave (him) there until that great and
fearful day which I am about to establish for the world.” 6 And the archangel
Michael took Adam and brought him away and left him, just as God told him at
the pardoning of Adam. (M.D. Johnson, "Life of Adam and Eve," in James H.
Charlesworth, The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha, Volume 2: Expansions of the
“Old Testament” and Legends, Wisdom and Philosophical Literature, Prayers,
Psalms, and Odes, Fragments of Lost Judeo-Hellenistic Works [New York: Yale University
Press, 1985], 291 [The Apocalypse or Revelation of Moses is the Greek edition of The Life of Adam and Eve])
Apocalypse of Moses 40:1-2
1 Then he spoke to the
archangel Michael, “Go into Paradise in the third heaven and bring me three
cloths of linen and silk.” 2* And God said to
Michael, Gabriel, Uriel, and Raphael, “Cover Adam’s body with the cloths and
bring oil from the oil of fragrance and pour it on him.” And thus they did and
prepared his body (Ibid., 291)