Earlier, in 2023 and 2024, I crafted new translations of 1 Enoch and 2 Enoch. The book's archaic English versions are broadly available across the internet for free. Yet, my goal was to create modern and easy-to-read English texts for these classics. I received largely positive feedback from my new translations, so this summer, I released another one—3 Enoch. This book is also known as the "Book of Palaces" and sometimes called "Hebrew Enoch." 3 Enoch is a much later composition (about 6th century CE), but unlike 1 Enoch and 2 Enoch, we have a number of Hebrew manuscripts. Unlike its predecessors that fit much more into the Second Temple literary milieu, the style of 3 Enoch is influenced by rabbinic Merkavah language and Talmudic traditions. And that gives the Book of Palaces a uniquely pronounced character that sets it apart from 1 Enoch and 2 Enoch.
Here is an excerpt from a Public Domain text:
And even the angel of fire, and the angel of hail, and the angel of the wind, and the angel of the lightning, and the angel of anger, and the angel of the thunder, and the angel of the snow, and the angel of the rain ; and the angel of the day, and the angel of the night, and the angel of the sun and the angel of the moon, and the angel of the planets and the angel of the constellations who rule the world under their hands, feared and trembled and were affrighted before me, when they saw me. These are the names of the rulers of the world: Gabriel, the angel of the fire, Baradiel, the angel of the hail, Ruchiel who is appointed over the wind, Baraqiel who is appointed over the lightnings, Za'amiel who is appointed over the vehemence, Ziqiel who is appointed over the sparks, Zi'iel who is appointed over the commotion, Zdaphiel who is appointed over the storm-wind, Ra'amiel who is appointed over the thunders, Rctashiel who is appointed over the earthquake, Shalgiel who is appointed over the snow, Matariel who is appointed over the rain, Shimshiel who is appointed over the day, Lailiel who is appointed over the night, Galgalliel who is appointed over the globe of the sun,'Ophanniel who is appointed over the globe of the moon, Kokbiel who is appointed over the planets, Rahatiel who is appointed over the constellations. And they all fell prostrate, when they saw me. And they were not able to behold me because of the majestic glory and beauty of the appearance of the shining light of the crown of glory upon my head. (Ch 14, Odeberg, 1928)
Now, my rendition of the same verses:
The angels of fire, hail, wind, lightning, storm, thunder, snow, rain, day, night, sun, moon, stars, and constellations who govern the world all shrank back in awe of me. These are the names of angels who govern the physical world: Gabriel, the angel of fire, Baradi’el who masters over thunder, Ruchi’el who harnesses the winds, Baraqi’el who is in charge of lightning, Za’ami’el who masters gales, Ziqiel who operates comets, Zi’iel, who wields tremors and tides, Zdaphi’el who operates hurricanes, Ra’ami’el who is over thunder, Ra’ashi’el who manages earthquakes, Shalgi’el who administers snow, Matari’el who is in charge of rain, Shimshi’el who is over the day, Laili’el who rules the night, Galgalli’el who is in charge of celestial orbits, Ophanni’el who manages phases of the moon, Kokhavi’el, who rules the stars, and Rahati’el, who manages the movement of constellations. Upon seeing me, they all prostrated themselves, unable to withstand the majestic glory and beauty emanating from the radiant crown which was placed upon my head.” (Ch 14, Shir 2024)
Hopefully, you can see the difference...
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