1 Enoch 89

One of those four went to that white bull and taught him a secret, and the bull was not frightened. He had been born a bull and became a man. He built himself a great boat and lived in it. Three bulls lived with him in that boat, and they were covered over.

1And one of those four went to that white bull and instructed him in a secret, without his being terrified: he was born a bull and became a man, and built for himself a great vessel and dwelt thereon; and three bulls dwelt with him in that vessel and they were covered in.

NoteThe four are the archangels named in the preceding chapters, who act on God's orders. This vision works by a fixed code: human beings appear as animals, and heavenly beings appear as men. So a figure who 'became a man' has crossed over into that higher class; it is not a change of species within the story. The white bull is Noah, the secret is the coming flood, the great boat is the ark, and the three bulls are his three sons. 'Covered over' means the boat was roofed in.

2Again I lifted my eyes toward the sky and saw a high roof, with seven rushing streams of water on it, and those streams poured much water into an enclosure.

2And again I raised mine eyes towards heaven and saw a lofty roof, with seven water torrents thereon, and those torrents flowed with much water into an enclosure.

NoteThe roof is the solid dome of the sky, imagined as holding back an ocean above it; the seven torrents are its sluices or floodgates. The 'enclosure' is a walled pen, the image this vision uses for the inhabited earth where the herds and flocks live.

3I looked again, and springs opened on the surface of that great enclosure, and that water began to swell and rise over the surface. I watched that enclosure until its whole surface was covered with water.

3And I saw again, and behold fountains were opened on the surface of that great enclosure, and that water began to swell and rise upon the surface, and I saw that enclosure till all its surface was covered with water.

NoteSprings opening on the surface of the ground is the flood coming from below as well as from above.

4The water and the darkness and the mist grew greater on it. As I looked at how high that water was, it had risen above the height of that enclosure and was pouring over that enclosure, and it stood on the earth.

4And the water, the darkness, and mist increased upon it; and as I looked at the height of that water, that water had risen above the height of that enclosure, and was streaming over that enclosure, and it stood upon the earth.

5All the cattle of that enclosure were gathered together, and I watched until they sank and were swallowed up and died in that water.

5And all the cattle of that enclosure were gathered together until I saw how they sank and were swallowed up and perished in that water.

6But that boat floated on the water, while all the oxen and elephants and camels and donkeys sank to the bottom with all the animals, so that I could no longer see them. They were not able to escape, but died and sank into the depths.

6But that vessel floated on the water, while all the oxen and elephants and camels and asses sank to the bottom with all the animals, so that I could no longer see them, and they were not able to escape, (but) perished and sank into the depths.

NoteThese are not ordinary livestock. In the earlier chapters of this vision the elephants, camels and donkeys are the three kinds of giants fathered by the fallen watchers on human women; the oxen are ordinary human beings. The flood wipes out both together.

7Again I saw in the vision until those streams of water were taken away from that high roof, and the deep cracks in the earth were leveled up and other deep pits were opened.

7And again I saw in the vision till those water torrents were removed from that high roof, and the chasms of the earth were levelled up and other abysses were opened.

NoteThe cracks being leveled and new pits opened are drainage: the earth is being reshaped so the flood water has somewhere to go.

8Then the water began to run down into these, until the earth could be seen. That boat came to rest on the earth, and the darkness went away and light appeared.

8Then the water began to run down into these, till the earth became visible; but that vessel settled on the earth, and the darkness retired and light appeared.

9But that white bull which had become a man came out of that boat, and the three bulls with him. One of those three was white like that bull, one of them was red as blood, and one was black. And that white bull went away from them.

9But that white bull which had become a man came out of that vessel, and the three bulls with him, and one of those three was white like that bull, and one of them was red as blood, and one black: and that white bull departed from them.

NoteThe three bulls are Noah's sons. The colors are usually matched to Shem, Japheth and Ham in that order, but the text names no one and the matching is a guess. 'That white bull went away from them' marks Noah dropping out of the story.

10They began to bring forth wild animals and birds, so that different kinds arose: lions, tigers, wolves, dogs, hyenas, wild boars, foxes, squirrels, pigs, falcons, vultures, kites, eagles, and ravens. And among them a white bull was born.

10And they began to bring forth beasts of the field and birds, so that there arose different genera: lions, tigers, wolves, dogs, hyenas, wild boars, foxes, squirrels, swine, falcons, vultures, kites, eagles, and ravens; and among them was born a white bull.

NoteWild beasts and birds of prey stand for the nations of the world; clean, herded animals (bulls, and later sheep) stand for the line that leads to Israel. The species list translates Ethiopic animal names, several of which are uncertain, so 'squirrels' and 'kites' are best guesses at words that may have named other creatures. The white bull born among them is Abraham.

11They began to bite one another. But that white bull which was born among them fathered a wild donkey and a white bull with it, and the wild donkeys grew in number.

11And they began to bite one another; but that white bull which was born amongst them begat a wild ass and a white bull with it, and the wild asses multiplied.

NoteThe wild donkey is Ishmael, ancestor of the desert peoples who multiply here; the white bull born with him is Isaac. In Genesis 16 Ishmael is himself described as a wild donkey of a man.

12But that bull which was born from him fathered a black wild boar and a white sheep. The boar fathered many boars, but that sheep fathered twelve sheep.

12But that bull which was born from him begat a black wild boar and a white sheep; and the former begat many boars, but that sheep begat twelve sheep.

NoteIsaac's two sons. The black wild boar is Esau, ancestor of the Edomites, and boars mean Edom for the rest of the vision; the white sheep is Jacob, and his twelve sheep are the twelve sons whose names the tribes carry. The switch from cattle to sheep is the point at which the line becomes a flock, the image used for Israel from here on.

13When those twelve sheep had grown, they handed over one of them to the donkeys, and those donkeys in turn handed that sheep over to the wolves, and that sheep grew up among the wolves.

13And when those twelve sheep had grown, they gave up one of them to the asses, and those asses again gave up that sheep to the wolves, and that sheep grew up among the wolves.

NoteJoseph, sold by his brothers to passing traders and handed on into Egypt. The donkeys are the Ishmaelite traders; the wolves are the Egyptians, and wolves mean Egypt through the next fifteen verses.

14And the Lord brought the eleven sheep to live with it and to graze with it among the wolves. They grew in number and became many flocks of sheep.

14And the Lord brought the eleven sheep to live with it and to pasture with it among the wolves: and they multiplied and became many flocks of sheep.

NoteJacob's remaining sons and their households going down into Egypt to settle.

15The wolves began to fear them, and they crushed them until they destroyed their little ones, and they threw their young into a river of much water. But those sheep began to cry aloud because of their little ones, and to complain to their Lord.

15And the wolves began to fear them, and they oppressed them until they destroyed their little ones, and they cast their young into a river of much water: but those sheep began to cry aloud on account of their little ones, and to complain unto their Lord.

NoteThe river is the Nile, and the drowning of the young is the killing of the Hebrew baby boys ordered at the start of Exodus.

16A sheep that had been saved from the wolves fled and escaped to the wild donkeys. And I saw the sheep, how they mourned and cried and begged their Lord with all their strength, until that Lord of the sheep came down at the voice of the sheep from a high dwelling place, and came to them and led them to pasture.

16And a sheep which had been saved from the wolves fled and escaped to the wild asses; and I saw the sheep how they lamented and cried, and besought their Lord with all their might, till that Lord of the sheep descended at the voice of the sheep from a lofty abode, and came to them and pastured them.

NoteThe sheep that escapes is Moses, who killed an Egyptian and fled to Midian, out among the desert peoples pictured as wild donkeys. The Lord coming down at the sound of their crying is the scene at the burning bush.

17He called that sheep which had escaped the wolves, and spoke with it about the wolves, that it should warn them not to touch the sheep.

17And He called that sheep which had escaped the wolves, and spake with it concerning the wolves that it should admonish them not to touch the sheep.

18The sheep went to the wolves as the Lord had said, and another sheep met it and went with it. The two went and entered together into the gathering of those wolves, and spoke with them and warned them not to touch the sheep from then on.

18And the sheep went to the wolves according to the word of the Lord, and another sheep met it and went with it, and the two went and entered together into the assembly of those wolves, and spake with them and admonished them not to touch the sheep from henceforth.

NoteThe second sheep is Aaron, sent along with Moses. The 'gathering of the wolves' is Pharaoh's court, where the two make their demand.

19After that I saw the wolves, and how they crushed the sheep with all their power; and the sheep cried aloud.

19And thereupon I saw the wolves, and how they oppressed the sheep exceedingly with all their power; and the sheep cried aloud.

20The Lord came to the sheep, and they began to strike those wolves. The wolves began to wail, but the sheep became quiet and at once stopped crying out.

20And the Lord came to the sheep and they began to smite those wolves: and the wolves began to make lamentation; but the sheep became quiet and forthwith ceased to cry out.

NoteThe striking of the wolves and their wailing is the sequence of plagues, ending with the deaths of the Egyptian firstborn.

21And I watched the sheep until they went out from among the wolves. But the eyes of the wolves were blinded, and those wolves set out after the sheep with all their power.

21And I saw the sheep till they departed from amongst the wolves; but the eyes of the wolves were blinded, and those wolves departed in pursuit of the sheep with all their power.

NoteBlindness and open eyes are this vision's running image for failing or managing to see what is really happening. It is used of Israel's own lapses in later verses and, here, of an enemy driving blindly on.

22The Lord of the sheep went with them as their leader, and all his sheep followed him. His face was dazzling and glorious and terrifying to look at.

22And the Lord of the sheep went with them, as their leader, and all His sheep followed Him: and His face was dazzling and glorious and terrible to behold.

23But the wolves began to chase those sheep until they reached a sea of water.

23But the wolves began to pursue those sheep till they reached a sea of water.

24That sea was divided, and the water stood on this side and on that side in front of them. Their Lord led them and placed himself between them and the wolves.

24And that sea was divided, and the water stood on this side and on that before their face, and their Lord led them and placed Himself between them and the wolves.

25And since those wolves did not yet see the sheep, they went on into the middle of that sea, and the wolves followed the sheep, and those wolves ran after them into that sea.

25And as those wolves did not yet see the sheep, they proceeded into the midst of that sea, and the wolves followed the sheep, and those wolves ran after them into that sea.

26And when they saw the Lord of the sheep, they turned to run away from his face. But that sea came back together and became as it had been made, and the water swelled and rose until it covered those wolves.

26And when they saw the Lord of the sheep, they turned to flee before His face, but that sea gathered itself together, and became as it had been created, and the water swelled and rose till it covered those wolves.

27And I watched until all the wolves that chased those sheep died and were drowned.

27And I saw till all the wolves who pursued those sheep perished and were drowned.

28But the sheep escaped from that water and went out into a wilderness, where there was no water and no grass. They began to open their eyes and to see. And I saw the Lord of the sheep leading them to pasture and giving them water and grass, and that sheep going ahead and leading them.

28But the sheep escaped from that water and went forth into a wilderness, where there was no water and no grass; and they began to open their eyes and to see; and I saw the Lord of the sheep pasturing them and giving them water and grass, and that sheep going and leading them.

29And that sheep went up to the top of that high rock, and the Lord of the sheep sent it to them.

29And that sheep ascended to the summit of that lofty rock, and the Lord of the sheep sent it to them.

NoteThe high rock is Mount Sinai and the sheep going up it is Moses. 'The Lord of the sheep sent it to them' means he was sent back down to the people with what he had received.

30After that I saw the Lord of the sheep, who stood before them, and his appearance was great and terrifying and majestic. All those sheep saw him and were afraid before his face.

30And after that I saw the Lord of the sheep who stood before them, and His appearance was great and terrible and majestic, and all those sheep saw Him and were afraid before His face.

31They were all afraid and trembled because of him, and they cried out to that sheep which was with them, among them: 'We are not able to stand before our Lord or to look at him.'

31And they all feared and trembled because of Him, and they cried to that sheep with them which was amongst them: ‘We are not able to stand before our Lord or to behold Him.’

NoteThe people ask their leader to stand between them and God rather than face him directly, as in Exodus 20.

32And that sheep which led them went up again to the top of that rock. But the sheep began to be blinded and to wander from the way which he had shown them, and that sheep did not know it.

32And that sheep which led them again ascended to the summit of that rock, but the sheep began to be blinded and to wander from the way which he had showed them, but that sheep wot not thereof.

NoteThe blinding and wandering that happens while the leader is up the mountain is the making of the golden calf.

33The Lord of the sheep was very angry with them, and that sheep found this out, and went down from the top of the rock and came to the sheep, and found the greater part of them blinded and fallen away.

33And the Lord of the sheep was wrathful exceedingly against them, and that sheep discovered it, and went down from the summit of the rock, and came to the sheep, and found the greatest part of them blinded and fallen away.

34And when they saw it they were afraid and trembled at its presence, and wanted to return to their folds.

34And when they saw it they feared and trembled at its presence, and desired to return to their folds.

35That sheep took other sheep with it and came to those sheep which had fallen away, and began to kill them. The sheep were afraid at its presence, and so that sheep brought back those sheep that had fallen away, and they returned to their folds.

35And that sheep took other sheep with it, and came to those sheep which had fallen away, and began to slay them; and the sheep feared its presence, and thus that sheep brought back those sheep that had fallen away, and they returned to their folds.

NoteThe 'other sheep' taken along are the Levites, and the killing is the punishment that follows the calf in Exodus 32.

36And I saw in this vision until that sheep became a man and built a house for the Lord of the sheep, and put all the sheep in that house.

36And I saw in this vision till that sheep became a man and built a house for the Lord of the sheep, and placed all the sheep in that house.

NoteMoses 'becoming a man' moves him into the higher class this vision reserves for heavenly beings. The house he builds is the tabernacle, the portable tent shrine of the wilderness years. Later in the chapter 'the house' means Jerusalem and 'the tower' the temple.

37And I watched until this sheep which had met that sheep which led them fell asleep. And I watched until all the great sheep died and little ones rose up in their place, and they came to a pasture and came near a stream of water.

37And I saw till this sheep which had met that sheep which led them fell asleep: and I saw till all the great sheep perished and little ones arose in their place, and they came to a pasture, and approached a stream of water.

Note'Fell asleep' means died, here and everywhere below. This sheep is Aaron. The great sheep dying while little ones rise in their place is the wilderness generation passing away over forty years; the stream of water they approach is the Jordan.

38Then that sheep, their leader which had become a man, went away from them and fell asleep, and all the sheep looked for it and cried over it with a great crying.

38Then that sheep, their leader which had become a man, withdrew from them and fell asleep, and all the sheep sought it and cried over it with a great crying.

NoteThe death of Moses, before the crossing.

39And I watched until they stopped crying for that sheep and crossed that stream of water. And two sheep rose up as leaders in the place of those which had led them and had fallen asleep.

39And I saw till they left off crying for that sheep and crossed that stream of water, and there arose the two sheep as leaders in the place of those which had led them and fallen asleep (lit. ‘had fallen asleep and led them’).

NoteTwo new leaders, usually taken to be Joshua and Caleb, the only two of the older generation who survive to enter the land, though the text names no one.

40And I watched until the sheep came to a good place, and a pleasant and glorious land, and I watched until those sheep had enough. And that house stood among them in the pleasant land.

40And I saw till the sheep came to a goodly place, and a pleasant and glorious land, and I saw till those sheep were satisfied; and that house stood amongst them in the pleasant land.

NoteThe pleasant land is Canaan, and the house standing among them is the tent shrine set up there after the conquest.

41And sometimes their eyes were opened, and sometimes they were blinded, until another sheep rose up and led them and brought them all back, and their eyes were opened.

41And sometimes their eyes were opened, and sometimes blinded, till another sheep arose and led them and brought them all back, and their eyes were opened. !! Greek

NoteThe swing between seeing and blindness covers the period of the judges. The sheep that rises and brings them all back is not named; Samuel is the usual guess, but other identifications have been proposed.

42And the dogs and the foxes and the wild boars began to devour those sheep, until the Lord of the sheep raised up another sheep, a ram, from among them, and it led them.

42And the dogs and the foxes and the wild boars began to devour those sheep till the Lord of the sheep raised up another sheep a ram from their midst, which led them.

NoteA ram is this vision's image for a king, and this one is Saul. Dogs are Philistines and boars are Edomites (from Esau in v. 12); foxes are usually taken as Ammonites or Amalekites. From this verse to v. 49 the text also survives in an ancient Greek manuscript, while most of the book is known only in the Ethiopic translation.

43And that ram began to butt those dogs, foxes, and wild boars on this side and that, until he had destroyed them all.

43And that ram began to butt on either side those dogs, foxes, and wild boars till he had destroyed them †all†.

44And that sheep whose eyes were opened watched that ram, which was among the sheep, until it gave up its glory and began to butt those sheep, and trampled on them, and behaved in a shameful way.

44And that sheep whose eyes were opened saw that ram, which was amongst the sheep, till it †forsook its glory† and began to butt those sheep, and trampled upon them, and behaved itself unseemly.

NoteSaul turning on his own people. The sheep with open eyes who watches him is Samuel. In Charles's edition 'forsook its glory' is marked as doubtful: the Ethiopic wording is damaged here and the exact sense cannot be recovered.

45And the Lord of the sheep sent the lamb to another lamb and raised it up to be a ram and leader of the sheep, in place of that ram which had given up its glory.

45And the Lord of the sheep sent the lamb to another lamb and raised it to being a ram and leader of the sheep instead of that ram which had †forsaken its glory†.

NoteThe lamb who is sent is Samuel, and the lamb raised up to be a ram is David, marked out as king while Saul was still reigning.

46And it went to it and spoke to it alone, and raised it up to be a ram, and made it the prince and leader of the sheep. But during all these things those dogs crushed the sheep.

46And it went to it and spake to it alone, and raised it to being a ram, and made it the prince and leader of the sheep; but during all these things those dogs oppressed the sheep.

47And the first ram chased that second ram, and that second ram rose up and fled before it. And I watched until those dogs pulled down the first ram.

47And the first ram pursued that second ram, and that second ram arose and fled before it; and I saw till those dogs pulled down the first ram.

NoteSaul's long pursuit of David, and then Saul's death in battle against the Philistines.

48And that second ram rose up and led the little sheep.

48And that second ram arose and led the little sheep.

49And those sheep grew and became many. But all the dogs, and foxes, and wild boars were afraid and fled before it, and that ram butted and killed the wild beasts. Those wild beasts no longer had any power among the sheep and robbed them of nothing more. And that ram fathered many sheep and fell asleep, and a little sheep became ram in its place, and became prince and leader of those sheep.

49And those sheep grew and multiplied; but all the dogs, and foxes, and wild boars feared and fled before it, and that ram butted and killed the wild beasts, and those wild beasts had no longer any power among the sheep and robbed them no more of ought. 48b. And that ram begat many sheep and fell asleep; and a little sheep became ram in its stead, and became prince and leader of those sheep.

NoteDavid's reign, his victories over the surrounding peoples, his death, and Solomon succeeding him. In Charles's edition the closing sentences of this verse are numbered 48b, a passage his manuscripts carried out of order.

50And that house became great and wide, and it was built for those sheep. A high and great tower was built on the house for the Lord of the sheep. That house was low, but the tower was raised up high. And the Lord of the sheep stood on that tower, and they set a full table before him.

50And that house became great and broad, and it was built for those sheep: 〈and〉 a tower lofty and great was built on the house for the Lord of the sheep, and that house was low, but the tower was elevated and lofty, and the Lord of the sheep stood on that tower and they offered a full table before Him.

NoteThe house that grows great and wide is Jerusalem; the tower built on it is the temple. The 'full table' set before the Lord is the offerings presented there.

51And again I saw those sheep, that they went wrong again and went many ways, and left that house of theirs. And the Lord of the sheep called some from among the sheep and sent them to the sheep, but the sheep began to kill them.

51And again I saw those sheep that they again erred and went many ways, and forsook that their house, and the Lord of the sheep called some from amongst the sheep and sent them to the sheep, but the sheep began to slay them.

NoteThe sheep called out from among the flock, sent back to it, and then killed, are the prophets.

52And one of them was saved and was not killed. It hurried away and cried aloud over the sheep. They tried to kill it, but the Lord of the sheep saved it from the sheep, and brought it up to me, and made it live there.

52And one of them was saved and was not slain, and it sped away and cried aloud over the sheep; and they sought to slay it, but the Lord of the sheep saved it from the sheep, and brought it up to me, and caused it to dwell there.

NoteThe one rescued alive and settled where Enoch himself is, is Elijah, carried off in 2 Kings 2. Enoch is speaking as someone who already lives in that heavenly place.

53And he sent many other sheep to those sheep, to give testimony to them and to mourn over them.

53And many other sheep He sent to those sheep to testify unto them and lament over them.

54And after that I saw that when they left the house of the Lord and his tower, they fell away completely, and their eyes were blinded. And I saw the Lord of the sheep, how he worked much slaughter among them in their herds, until those sheep invited that slaughter and betrayed his place.

54And after that I saw that when they forsook the house of the Lord and His tower they fell away entirely, and their eyes were blinded; and I saw the Lord of the sheep how He wrought much slaughter amongst them in their herds until those sheep invited that slaughter and betrayed His place.

Note'His place' is the sanctuary. The sheep 'inviting that slaughter' means the disasters were brought on by their own conduct; the Ethiopic of this line is awkward and translations of it differ.

55And he gave them over into the hands of the lions and tigers, and wolves and hyenas, and into the hand of the foxes, and to all the wild beasts. And those wild beasts began to tear those sheep to pieces.

55And He gave them over into the hands of the lions and tigers, and wolves and hyenas, and into the hand of the foxes, and to all the wild beasts, and those wild beasts began to tear in pieces those sheep.

NoteThe named beasts are the foreign powers that overran Israel and Judah, Assyria and Babylon among them. The vision never labels which beast is which nation, and readers have matched them up in different ways.

56And I saw that he left that house of theirs and their tower, and gave them all into the hand of the lions, to tear and devour them, into the hand of all the wild beasts.

56And I saw that He forsook that their house and their tower and gave them all into the hand of the lions, to tear and devour them, into the hand of all the wild beasts.

57And I began to cry aloud with all my strength, and to appeal to the Lord of the sheep, and to lay before him the case of the sheep, that they were being devoured by all the wild beasts.

57And I began to cry aloud with all my power, and to appeal to the Lord of the sheep, and to represent to Him in regard to the sheep that they were devoured by all the wild beasts.

58But he stayed unmoved, though he saw it, and was glad that they were devoured and swallowed and robbed, and he left them to be devoured in the hand of all the beasts.

58But He remained unmoved, though He saw it, and rejoiced that they were devoured and swallowed and robbed, and left them to be devoured in the hand of all the beasts.

NoteThis is not a softened rendering: the Ethiopic does say that he was glad. Some translators give the first clause as 'he kept still' or 'he remained silent' rather than 'he stayed unmoved.'

59And he called seventy shepherds and threw those sheep to them, so that they might lead them to pasture. And he said to the shepherds and their companions: 'Let each one of you pasture the sheep from now on, and do everything that I command you.

59And He called seventy shepherds, and cast those sheep to them that they might pasture them, and He spake to the shepherds and their companions: ‘Let each individual of you pasture the sheep henceforward, and everything that I shall command you that do ye.

NoteThe seventy shepherds are angelic figures put in charge of the flock for the stretch of foreign rule. Seventy is the number of years Jeremiah set for the exile (Jeremiah 25:11), here stretched to cover the whole period down to the writer's own day, and divided into four terms of office across this chapter and the next.

60And I will hand them over to you, counted out exactly, and tell you which of them are to be destroyed, and destroy those.' And he handed those sheep over to them.

60And I will deliver them over unto you duly numbered, and tell you which of them are to be destroyed—and them destroy ye.’ And He gave over unto them those sheep.

61And he called another and said to him: 'Watch and note everything that the shepherds will do to those sheep, for they will destroy more of them than I have commanded them.

61And He called another and spake unto him: 'Observe and mark everything that the shepherds will do to those sheep; for they will destroy more of them than I have commanded them.

NoteThe 'another' is a recording angel, not one of the seventy. His book is produced and read out three times before the chapter ends.

62And record every excess and every destruction that is worked by the shepherds: that is, how many they destroy by my command, and how many by their own whim. Record against every single shepherd all the destruction he brings about.

62And every excess and the destruction which will be wrought through the shepherds, record (namely) how many they destroy according to my command, and how many according to their own caprice: record against every individual shepherd all the destruction he effects.

NoteThe record is to separate two totals: deaths ordered and deaths added by the shepherds on their own initiative. 'Whim' translates a word for arbitrary pleasure, as against a command received.

63And read out before me by number how many they destroy, and how many they hand over for destruction, so that I may have this as testimony against them. Then I will know every deed of the shepherds, and understand and see what they do, whether or not they keep to the command I have given them.

63And read out before me by number how many they destroy, and how many they deliver over for destruction, that I may have this as a testimony against them, and know every deed of the shepherds, that I may comprehend and see what they do, whether or not they abide by my command which I have commanded them.

64But they shall not know it, and you shall not tell it to them or warn them. Only record against each one all the destruction the shepherds bring about, each in his own time, and lay it all before me.'

64But they shall not know it, and thou shalt not declare it to them, nor admonish them, but only record against each individual all the destruction which the shepherds effect each in his time and lay it all before me.’

65And I watched until those shepherds pastured in their season, and they began to kill and to destroy more than they were told, and they handed those sheep into the hand of the lions.

65And I saw till those shepherds pastured in their season, and they began to slay and to destroy more than they were bidden, and they delivered those sheep into the hand of the lions.

66And the lions and tigers ate and devoured most of those sheep, and the wild boars ate along with them. And they burned that tower and pulled down that house.

66And the lions and tigers eat and devoured the greater part of those sheep, and the wild boars eat along with them; and they burnt that tower and demolished that house.

NoteThe burning of the tower and the pulling down of the house is the Babylonian destruction of the temple and of Jerusalem in 587 BC.

67And I became very sad over that tower, because that house of the sheep was pulled down. And afterward I was not able to see whether those sheep went into that house.

67And I became exceedingly sorrowful over that tower because that house of the sheep was demolished, and afterwards I was unable to see if those sheep entered that house.

68And the shepherds and their helpers handed those sheep over to all the wild beasts, to devour them. Each one of the shepherds received a fixed number in his own time, and it was written down by the other one in a book how many of them each shepherd destroyed.

68And the shepherds and their associates delivered over those sheep to all the wild beasts, to devour them, and each one of them received in his time a definite number: it was written by the other in a book how many each one of them destroyed of them.

Note'The other one' is the recording angel introduced in v. 61.

69And each one killed and destroyed many more than was set for him. And I began to weep and mourn because of those sheep.

69And each one slew and destroyed many more than was prescribed; and I began to weep and lament on account of those sheep.

70And so in the vision I saw that one who wrote, how he wrote down every one that was destroyed by those shepherds, day by day. He carried up the whole book, laid it down, and actually showed it to the Lord of the sheep. It set out everything they had done, and all that each one of them had done away with, and all that they had handed over to destruction.

70And thus in the vision I saw that one who wrote, how he wrote down every one that was destroyed by those shepherds, day by day, and carried up and laid down and showed actually the whole book to the Lord of the sheep—(even) everything that they had done, and all that each one of them had made away with, and all that they had given over to destruction.

71And the book was read before the Lord of the sheep, and he took the book from his hand and read it and sealed it and laid it down.

71And the book was read before the Lord of the sheep, and He took the book from his hand and read it and sealed it and laid it down.

72And at once I saw how the shepherds pastured for twelve hours. And look: three of those sheep turned back and came and went in and began to build up again all that had fallen down of that house. The wild boars tried to stop them, but they were not able.

72And forthwith I saw how the shepherds pastured for twelve hours, and behold three of those sheep turned back and came and entered and began to build up all that had fallen down of that house; but the wild boars tried to hinder them, but they were not able.

Note'Twelve hours' is a term of office rather than a stretch of a day. The rule of the seventy shepherds is counted out in four terms, twelve here and then twenty three, twenty three and twelve in the next chapter, adding up to seventy. The three sheep that come back and rebuild are the leaders of the return from exile; the boars that try to stop them are Edomites and other neighbors who obstructed the rebuilding, as in Ezra and Nehemiah.

73And they began again to build as before, and they raised up that tower, and it was named the high tower. And they began again to set a table before the tower, but all the bread on it was unclean and not pure.

73And they began again to build as before, and they reared up that tower, and it was named the high tower; and they began again to place a table before the tower, but all the bread on it was polluted and not pure.

NoteThe rebuilt tower is the second temple, completed about 516 BC. The table and its bread are the offerings made there, and calling them polluted is a charge of ritual impurity against the priests who served them, a complaint made in other Jewish writings of this period.

74And through all of this the eyes of those sheep were blinded so that they did not see, and the eyes of their shepherds likewise. And they handed them over in large numbers to their shepherds for destruction, and they trampled the sheep with their feet and devoured them.

74And as touching all this the eyes of those sheep were blinded so that they saw not, and (the eyes of) their shepherds likewise; and they delivered them in large numbers to their shepherds for destruction, and they trampled the sheep with their feet and devoured them.

75And the Lord of the sheep stayed unmoved until all the sheep were scattered over the field and mixed in with the beasts, and the shepherds did not save them out of the hand of the beasts.

75And the Lord of the sheep remained unmoved till all the sheep were dispersed over the field and mingled with them (i.e. the beasts), and they (i.e. the shepherds) did not save them out of the hand of the beasts.

76And this one who wrote the book carried it up, and showed it and read it before the Lord of the sheep, and pleaded with him for them, and begged him for them, as he showed him all the doings of the shepherds and gave testimony before him against all the shepherds.

76And this one who wrote the book carried it up, and showed it and read it before the Lord of the sheep, and implored Him on their account, and besought Him on their account as he showed Him all the doings of the shepherds, and gave testimony before Him against all the shepherds.

NoteThe recording angel now speaks for the flock as well as against the shepherds, reading out the same book he compiled.

77And he took that very book and laid it down beside him and went away.

77And he took the actual book and laid it down beside Him and departed.’