Interesting Facts

• Sariel is identified as one of the principal figures, a leader among the two hundred angels who undertook the descent to Earth.
• Sariel participated in the solemn oath sworn upon the summit of Mount Hermon, binding the two hundred angels to their shared purpose.
• The text of Enoch explicitly states that Sariel instructed humankind in the knowledge of the course of the moon.

Genealogy

• Sariel is presented as one of the “angels who descended to the earth“.
• He is included within the company of two hundred angels who convened “in the days of Jared on the summit of Mount Hermon“.
• This assembly was led by Semlazaz (also rendered as Samjâzâ).
• The provided sources do not elaborate on Sariel’s specific origins within the celestial hierarchy, the circumstances of his creation or birth, nor do they mention any marital unions with human women or any offspring he may have fathered. His familial ties, as presented, are solely within the context of the rebellious Watchers and their leadership under Semlazaz.

Historical Context

The actions of Sariel and his fellow Watchers unfolded during a critical juncture in the early history of humankind, specifically when “men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them“. This era, identified as being “in the days of Jared“, was marked by the unprecedented interaction between “the sons of God” and the “daughters of men that they were fair“, leading to the taking of wives “of all which they chose“. The collective oath taken by Sariel and the other two hundred angels on Mount Hermon was a decisive act of rebellion against the established divine order. This transgression involved the revelation of celestial secrets and forbidden knowledge to humanity. In Sariel’s case, he is specifically credited with imparting knowledge regarding “the course of the moon“. This dissemination of esoteric understanding contributed to a growing godlessness and corruption among humankind, evidenced by the emergence of the Nephilim or giants, whose destructive nature further exacerbated the wickedness on Earth, ultimately necessitating the divine judgment of the Flood.

Narrative

Sariel’s role in the overarching narrative is defined by his participation in the descent of the Watchers and their subsequent interactions with humanity. As one of the listed “leaders“, he held a position of authority and influence within the rebellious group. The pivotal moment in his narrative, as presented in these sources, is his involvement in the oath on Mount Hermon, which solidified the Watchers’ commitment to their transgressive plan. Furthermore, Sariel is uniquely distinguished by the specific knowledge he imparted to humankind: the understanding of “the course of the moon“. This act of revealing celestial mechanics, while seemingly benign, falls within the broader context of the Watchers disclosing “what was hidden to the children of men“, thereby contravening divine boundaries and contributing to the increase of knowledge outside of divinely sanctioned channels. While the ultimate fate of Sariel is not explicitly detailed within these excerpts, his actions place him firmly within the narrative of celestial disobedience that led to the corruption of the antediluvian world and the ensuing divine judgment. His specific contribution of lunar knowledge underscores the diverse ways in which the Watchers influenced early human understanding and, according to the narrative, deviated from their intended purpose as celestial beings.