3 Enoch

Odeberg1928 source English page 373

CH. XLVIII(C)] | SHORT ENOCH-METATRON PIECE 165 AEFGH: | IS: strong, I took him, I ap- took him and I appointed pointed him: (namely) Me- him’’—that is Enoch, the is justifiable both as regards the present book and as regards the Alph. R. ‘Agqiba: in the present book in view 01 its dealing with Enoch-Metatron, in Alph. R. ‘Agqiba, letter “Aleph, on account of its beginning with ’Aleph, representing the Notarigon (or mnemotechnical formula) for the three opening words אברתיו‎ (‘I made him strong’), לקחתיו‎ (‘I took him’), פקדתיו‎ (‘I appointed him’), .אלף = א'ל'פ‎ The close connection that seems to prevail between the two fragments is hence neither to be explained by the assumption that they originally belong to Alph. R. ‘Aqiba (and when borrowed by other writings having been regarded as a unit) nor by the same assumption applied to the present book. The explanation is presumably to be found in K, the only version that preserves the enumeration of the Divine Names in fragment B, an enumeration which must be presupposed as the original part of the fragment. In this enumeration of the Divine Names we find the word ‘’Aleph’ as one of the Names (the 55th from the beginning). The ‘’ Aleph’ as representing the sentence ‘I seized him, I took him, I appointed him (K)’ is now the starting-point and basis of the exposition of the fragment, ch. xlviii c. Hence it is possible to conjecture that the present fragment in reality 1s framed as a ‘midrash’ (in the proper sense) on the Divine Name ’ Aleph. On such a hypothesis the close connection between B and 6 would be easier to understand. Both B and c may have originated in the circles attaching great im- portance to the conception of Metatron, God’s representative—whose names are based upon the names of his Creator (cf. vs. 9, chh. 111. 2, iv. I, x. 3 seq., .11א‎ 5). Among the Divine Names the Aleph was chosen here as symbolizing the relation between the Holy One and His vice-regent, Metatron. ’Aleph is represented as the symbol of God’s sovereignty in Alph. R. ‘Aqiba, in passages preceding the version of B and c. ’Aleph as the name or one of the names of the Godhead is also vindicated by the Shi‘ur Qoma passage (cf. above on ch. xlviiis). Aleph, Beth, etc., as symbolical for the Godhead, expressing different aspects of the Divinity, are dwelt upon in TB. Shabbat, 104 a. ( Aleph-Beth is explained as referring to the instruc- tion in ‘Intelligence’, or the Tora.) As symbolical of Metatron the ’Aleph (and Beth) is expressly designed in Hek. R., BH. iii. 104; Metatron’s name is there “© Aleph, Beth’’, BB, GG, DD, HH, WW, ZZ, HH, Metatron etc. (cf. ch. xlviii D)”’. ‘The name * Alpha’ seems also to have been ascribed to Sandalphon acc. to Hek. Zot. (Bodl. MicH. 9, fol. 67 a)—that angel occupying a position similar to or identical with Metatron’s position (scil. in Hek. Zot.). (1) I made him strong...in the generation of the first Adam. The word “*ibbartiw’, here translated ‘I made him strong’, is of a doubtful interpretation. With reference to the expression ‘in the generation of the first Adam’ it is probable that the word was to express some activity from God’s part in regard to Metatron. But Metatron is evidently from the beginning of the fragment identified with Enoch. Hence the meaning seems to be to allude to God’s special care for Enoch during his life on earth, among the men of the generation of Adam. K has the easier reading ‘I seized him’, which of course is a mere synonym for ‘I took him’, and like the latter expression is made to refer to Enoch’s removal to heaven. For the details of the present exposition cf. on the parallel passages of the Enoch- Metatron section, chh. iii-xv. when I beheld the generation of the flood: ch. iv.3. I removed my Shekina etc.: ch. v. 13, 14. ichhe. Vi ats 3 iV63-‏ ו MOMS... Ch Chia xeon Vill t . For vs. 4 cf. ch.x.3 seq. I appointed him over the Chayyoth, the ’Ophan- nim etc. Cf. the angelic classes enumerated, ch. vii. Metatron is here represented distinctly as the Prince of the Merkaba-angels. (Contrast the angelological section, chh. xix seqq.)