The Book of Enoch (1 Enoch, Charles translation) · 35 of 141 · tr. R.H. Charles
Chapter XVII
XVII-XXXVII. Enoch's Journeys through the Earth and Sheol . XVII-XIX. The First Journey . CHAPTER XVII. 1. And they took ⌈ and ⌉ brought me to a place in which those who were there were like flaming fire, and, when they wished, they appeared as men. 2. And they brought me to the place of darkness, and to a mountain the point of whose summit reached to heaven. 3. And I saw the places of the luminaries ⌈ and the treasuries of the stars ⌉ and of the thunder ⌈ and ⌉ in the uttermost depths , where were a fiery bow and arrows and their quiver, and ⌈⌈ a fiery sword ⌉⌉ and all the lightnings. 4. And they took me to the living waters, and to the fire of the west, which receives every setting of the sun. 5. And I came to a river of fire in which the fire flows like water and discharges itself into the great sea towards the west. 6. I saw the great rivers and came to the great ⌈ river and to the great ⌉ darkness, and went to the place where no flesh walks. 7. I saw the mountains of the darkness of winter and the place whence all the waters of the deep flow. 8. I saw the mouths of all the rivers of the earth and the mouth of the deep.
Themes
◆Divine Lighttheology
The uncreated luminous quality of the divine, sometimes experienced directly in mystical states; illumination as revelation.
The text is saturated with imagery of fire, luminaries, and lightnings that signify divine presence and power within the cosmic geography.
All passages →◇Psychopomp Journeycosmology
Guided passage of the soul through afterlife realms.
[auto] The passage centrally depicts Enoch being guided by angelic beings through cosmic and afterlife realms such as Sheol and the place of darkness.
All passages →Related passages · 4 parallels
◆egyptian|The Egyptian Heaven and Hell|Chapter 7 (part 4)
“On the other hand, the Tuat possessed the characteristics of all these names, for it was an "unseen" place, and it contained abysmal depths of darkness, and there were pits of fire in it wherein the damned, i.e., the enemies of Osiris and R…”
Both passages describe mystical journeys through otherworldly realms characterized by darkness, fire, and rivers. They share themes of exploring the afterlife and the supernatural, albeit within different cultural and religious contexts.
◆egyptian|The Egyptian Heaven and Hell|Chapter 12 (part 1)
“THIRD DIVISION OF THE TUAT.
II.
THE KINGDOM OF KHENTI-AMENTI-OSIRIS ACCORDING TO THE BOOK OF GATES.
Before AFU-RA can pass into the THIRD DIVISION it is necessary for him to pass through a Gate which is protected by two strong walls, wit…”
Both passages describe mystical journeys through the underworld or Tuat, featuring similar elements such as divine beings, fiery obstacles, and the concept of a tunnel or passage that must be traversed. The passages share a common theme of overcoming obstacles in the afterlife or underworld.
◆egyptian|The Egyptian Heaven and Hell|Chapter 25 (part 2)
“The region to the left of the Boat is one of fire, and representations of it which we have in the BOOK AM-TUAT and the BOOK OF GATES may well have suggested the beliefs in a fiery hell that have come down through the centuries to our own ti…”
Both passages describe a journey through the underworld or afterlife, featuring regions of fire and punishment for the damned. They share the theme of divine judgment and the presence of fiery elements in the afterlife, though they originate from different mystical traditions.
◆greek_mystery|Orphic Hymns|Hymn XVIII. THUNDRING JOVE
“XVIII. TO THUNDRING JOVE. The FUMIGATION from STORAX. O Father Jove, who shak'st with fiery light The world deep-sounding from thy lofty height: From thee, proceeds th' ætherial lightning's blaze, Flashing around intolerable rays. Thy sacre…”
Both passages describe divine power associated with thunder, lightning, and fire, highlighting the awe-inspiring and fear-inducing aspects of these natural phenomena. They share a mystical reverence for the divine forces that control these elements.