Interesting Facts

• Semjaza is identified as the leader of the two hundred angels who descended to Earth in the days of Jared [2, Enoch 6:3b, 7].
• He was the one who initially voiced his fear that he would have to bear the penalty alone if the other angels did not agree to their plan [2, Enoch 6:3b-4].
• Semjaza instigated the oath taken by all two hundred angels, binding them by mutual imprecations not to abandon their plan to take wives from the daughters of men [2, Enoch 6:4-6].
• The name of Semjaza is listed first among the names of the leaders of these angels in some accounts [3, Enoch 6:7, 69:2].
• Semjaza himself taught enchantments and root-cuttings to humankind [5, Enoch 8:3].
• Divine judgment specifically targeted Semjaza and his associates for uniting with women and defiling themselves [57, Enoch 10:11].
• Semjaza is commanded to be bound fast for seventy generations in the valleys of the earth until the day of their final judgment [57, Enoch 10:12].

Genealogy

• Semjaza is identified as one of the angels who descended to the earth [2, Enoch 2:2]. He is of celestial origin.
• The sources do not mention any parents or specific ancestry for Semjaza within the heavenly realm.
• Semjaza united himself with women among the daughters of men [57, Enoch 10:11], taking wives for himself and his associates [4, Enoch 7:1].
• As a result of these unions, giants were born [5, Enoch 7:4]. These giants are considered the offspring of Semjaza and the other Watchers with human women.
• The evil spirits that proceeded from the spirits and flesh of the giants are also considered an indirect progeny of Semjaza’s transgression [20, Enoch 15:8-9].

Historical Context

The actions of Semjaza and the other Watchers occurred in the days of Jared [2, 3, Enoch 6:6, Jubilees 4:15b], a period placed around the mid-fifth century A.M.. This was a time when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them [1, Genesis 6:1]. The text of Enoch suggests a context where secrets of heaven were being revealed to humankind by these fallen angels [2, 5, Enoch 2:2, 8:1-3]. This introduction of forbidden knowledge and the subsequent intermingling of celestial beings with humans led to a proliferation of godlessness and corruption on the earth [5, 8, Enoch 8:2, Jasher 4:16-18]. The birth of the giants further exacerbated this situation, as they devoured mankind and engaged in sinful acts against other living creatures [5, Enoch 7:4-6]. The archangels witnessed this increasing lawlessness and cried out to the Lord [50, Enoch 9:1-11], indicating a significant moral decline during the era of Semjaza’s activities.

Narrative

The narrative concerning Semjaza commences with his role as the leader of a group of two hundred angels who conceived a plan to descend to Earth and take wives from the daughters of men [2, Enoch 6:3b-4]. It was Semjaza’s apprehension about bearing the responsibility alone that spurred the angels to swear a binding oath upon Mount Hermon to carry out their intentions [2, Enoch 6:4-7]. Following their descent, Semjaza and the other Watchers took wives [4, Enoch 7:1] and began to impart forbidden knowledge to humankind [2, 3, 5, Enoch 2:2, 7:1-2, 8:3]. Semjaza specifically taught enchantments and root-cuttings [5, Enoch 8:3], contributing to the spread of occult practices. The consequences of these actions were dire, leading to the birth of giants and widespread corruption [3, 5, Enoch 7:4, 8:2]. Due to their transgressions, the Lord pronounced judgment upon Semjaza and his associates [57, Enoch 10:11]. The archangel Michael was commanded to bind Semjaza and his fellow offenders in the valleys of the earth for seventy generations until their final condemnation [57, Enoch 10:11-13]. This binding serves as a divine punishment for their disobedience and the destructive impact of their actions on the early world. The narrative of Semjaza highlights the themes of transgression, the abuse of divine power, and the severe consequences that follow the violation of celestial boundaries and the introduction of forbidden knowledge to humanity.