Interesting Facts

• Evil spirits are the offspring of the Watchers (fallen angels) and human women. They are also referred to as the giants produced from this union.
• These spirits afflict, oppress, destroy, attack, do battle, and work destruction on the earth, causing trouble. They hunger and thirst despite not taking food, and they cause offenses.
• The chief of the spirits is Mastêmâ, who pleads for a tenth of the evil spirits to remain unbound to execute his will on the sons of men for corruption and leading astray.
• Cainan, of the line of Seth, is depicted as ruling over spirits and demons through his wisdom.
• It is prophesied that in the latter days, the Lord will bring the waters of the flood because the angels taught the secrets of heaven, and the violence of the Satans, and all their powers.

Genealogy

• Demons and evil spirits originate from the union of the Watchers, who are angels who left their high and holy dwelling in heaven, and the daughters of men.
• These unions resulted in the birth of giants.
• Upon the death of the giants, evil spirits proceeded from their bodies. Their beginning and primal origin are from the holy Watchers and from men.
• The chief of these spirits is identified as Mastêmâ.
• Azazel and Semjaza are named as leaders of the Watchers who fathered these offspring.

Historical Context

The descent of the Watchers and their subsequent intermingling with human women marks a pivotal point in the history depicted in these texts. This event, occurring in the days of Jared, led to widespread corruption on the earth. The Watchers revealed eternal secrets, including the art of warfare, the working of metals, cosmetics, astrology, enchantments, and other forbidden knowledge. This imparted knowledge led to godlessness, fornication, and the perversion of all ways. The offspring of these unions, the giants, consumed all the acquisitions of men and then turned to devouring mankind, sinning against birds, beasts, reptiles, and fish, and even consuming one another’s flesh and drinking blood. The earth itself laid accusation against these lawless ones. The archangels witnessed this bloodshed and lawlessness and pleaded with the Lord regarding the dire situation. Noah also perceived the earth’s corruption and cried out to his grandfather Enoch.

Narrative

The narrative concerning demons and evil spirits primarily revolves around their origin, their corrupting influence on humanity, and the divine response to their actions. The Watchers, led by figures like Samlazaz, Azazel, and Semjaza, descended from heaven and defied divine order by taking wives from among the daughters of men. Enoch was called as a scribe to deliver a severe judgment against these Watchers for their transgressions and the destruction they wrought upon the earth. Their petition for forgiveness was denied. As a consequence of their actions and the birth of the giants, the earth became filled with blood and unrighteousness. The Lord commanded that Azazel be bound and cast into darkness until the day of judgment. Similarly, the other fallen angels were commanded to be bound in the depths of the earth. Their giant offspring were also decreed to be destroyed, with the command given to send them against one another in battle. Despite the judgment upon the Watchers and their offspring, the spirits that proceeded from the slain giants, the evil spirits, continued to afflict mankind. Mastêmâ, the chief of these spirits, interceded to allow a portion of them to remain unbound, a request that was partially granted. These unbound spirits continued to lead astray the children of Noah after the flood. Noah himself prayed for these wicked spirits to be imprisoned so they would not destroy his descendants. The narrative thus portrays demons and evil spirits as a persistent force of corruption and destruction, originating from a celestial rebellion and continuing to exert a negative influence on the earthly realm, even after divine intervention to punish their progenitors.