Interesting Facts

• Zaqel is identified as one of the principal leaders among the two hundred angels who descended to Earth.
• This same figure appears in another enumeration as Busasêjal, suggesting a variation in textual tradition or perhaps a dual naming.
• Zaqel/Busasêjal was part of the two hundred who bound themselves by a solemn oath upon Mount Hermon, signifying their collective resolve in this unprecedented action.
• In the list found in Enoch 6, Zaqel appears as the fifteenth leader, while Busasêjal is listed as the thirteenth in Enoch 69.

Genealogy

• Zaqel/Busasêjal is numbered amongst the “angels who descended to the earth“.
• He belonged to the assembly of two hundred angels who acknowledged Semjaza as their leader in this undertaking.
• The provided texts do not furnish any further genealogical information concerning Zaqel/Busasêjal, such as his standing within the celestial hierarchy prior to the descent, any unions with human women, or any offspring resulting from such associations. His identification is solely within the context of the Watchers’ descent.

Historical Context

The epoch during which Zaqel/Busasêjal participated in the descent is marked by a significant demographic shift, wherein “men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them“. This era, often associated with “the days of Jared“, witnessed a pivotal transgression as “the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose“. The gravity of this decision is underscored by the oath taken upon Mount Hermon, a collective imprecation binding these two hundred celestial beings to their shared purpose. Zaqel/Busasêjal’s presence in this assembly situates him within a context of divine boundary crossing and direct intervention in the affairs of humankind. The subsequent revelation of “what was hidden to the children of men” by these angels, while not specifically attributed to Zaqel/Busasêjal in the extant fragments, contributed to a burgeoning era of sin and moral decay upon the earth. This period of escalating wickedness ultimately culminated in the divine decree for the Great Flood.

Narrative

The narrative surrounding Zaqel/Busasêjal is primarily defined by his inclusion within the ranks of the Watchers who made the fateful decision to descend to Earth. As one of the named leaders, his participation highlights the communal aspect of this rebellion against the established divine order. The oath sworn on Mount Hermon serves as a critical juncture in this narrative, demonstrating Zaqel/Busasêjal’s commitment to the plan of cohabiting with human women. While the provided sources do not delineate specific teachings or actions unique to Zaqel/Busasêjal, unlike figures such as Azazel or Armaros, his status as a leader implies a degree of influence and involvement in the broader activities of the Watchers. His presence in the lists of these fallen angels underscores the extensive nature of this celestial transgression and its profound consequences for both the angelic and human realms, setting the stage for the subsequent judgment and the narrative of the Flood. Thus, Zaqel/Busasêjal’s role in the narrative is significant as a member of this pivotal group that instigated a major turning point in the early history of humankind as recorded in these ancient texts.