Ascension
In the ancient chronicles of Enoch, a righteous patriarch chosen by God, we witness his ascent from earthly reign to divine calling. Enoch, guided by heavenly visions and angelic decrees, withdraws periodically from mankind, imparting divine wisdom amid signs and wonders that stir both kings and common folk alike. As the appointed time nears, a celestial horse descends from heaven, marking the moment of Enoch’s departure amidst a gathering of nations eager for his counsel. With an entourage numbering in the hundreds of thousands, Enoch ascends into the heavens on a whirlwind of fire and chariots, leaving behind a legacy of divine knowledge and a promise of eternal peace.
Following Enoch’s departure, kings and rulers venture to the snowy peak where he ascended, hoping to find his followers, only to discover an empty landscape swept clean by his ascension. Methuselah, Enoch’s son, is anointed to rule in his father’s stead, upholding the teachings of righteousness and fearing God. However, humanity descends into corruption and rebellion, disregarding Methuselah’s warnings and provoking the Lord’s wrath. The earth, cursed by God, yields only thorns and thistles as mankind persists in their sinful ways. God’s regret turns to judgment as he decides to destroy humanity, unleashing his righteous fury upon a world gone astray.
Major Characters
Minor Characters
Insignificant Characters
Watch an explainer video for the Ascension chapter:
Genesis
5%
Enoch
34%
Jasher
51%
Jubilees
10%
Exposition
Jubilee: 19
Year: 930
Enoch teaches wisdom throughout his reign
Jasher 3:17-22
Cain dies from his house falling on him
Jubilees 4:31-32
Rising Action
Jubilee: 21
Year: 987
Enoch asked to reign in heaven
Jasher 3:23-26
The garments of skin from YHWH are given to Methuselah
Jasher 7:25b
Climax
The horse from heaven
Jasher 3:27-35
Enoch enters the Garden of Eden
Jubilees 4:23-26
Enoch ascends to heaven
Genesis 5:22-24
Jasher 3:36, 4:1
Enoch 70:1-4
Enoch enters heaven
Enoch 71:1-17
Falling Action
The kings search for the men who went with Enoch
Jasher 3:37-38
Methuselah is anointed king
Jasher 4:2-4
Resolution
The great famine
Jahser 4:5-8
Jubilee: 19
Year: 930
Enoch teaches wisdom throughout his reign
Jasher 3:17-22
17 And it was in the year of Adam’s death which was the two hundred and forty-third year of the reign of Enoch, in that time Enoch resolved to separate himself from the sons of men and to secret himself as at first in order to serve the Lord.
18 And Enoch did so, but did not entirely secret himself from them, but kept away from the sons of men three days and then went to them for one day.
19 And during the three days that he was in his chamber, he prayed to, and praised the Lord his God, and the day on which he went and appeared to his subjects he taught them the ways of the Lord, and all they asked him about the Lord he told them.
20 And he did in this manner for many years, and he afterward concealed himself for six days, and appeared to his people one day in seven; and after that once in a month, and then once in a year, until all the kings, princes and sons of men sought for him, and desired again to see the face of Enoch, and to hear his word; but they could not, as all the sons of men were greatly afraid of Enoch, and they feared to approach him on account of the Godlike awe that was seated upon his countenance; therefore no man could look at him, fearing he might be punished and die.
21 And all the kings and princes resolved to assemble the sons of men, and to come to Enoch, thinking that they might all speak to him at the time when he should come forth amongst them, and they did so.
22 And the day came when Enoch went forth and they all assembled and came to him, and Enoch spoke to them the words of the Lord and he taught them wisdom and knowledge, and they bowed down before him and they said, May the king live! May the king live!
Cain dies from his house falling on him i
Jubilees 4:31-32
31 At the close of this jubilee Cain was killed after him in the same year; for his house fell upon him and he died in the midst of his house, and he was killed by its stones; for with a stone he had killed Abel, and by a stone was he killed in righteous judgment.
32 For this reason it was ordained on the heavenly tablets: With the instrument with which a man kills his neighbour with the same shall he be killed; after the manner that he wounded him, in like manner shall they deal with him.’
Jubilee: 21
Year: 987
Enoch asked to reign in heaven
Jasher 3:23-26
23 And in some time after, when the kings and princes and the sons of men were speaking to Enoch, and Enoch was teaching them the ways of God, behold an angel of the Lord then called unto Enoch from heaven, and wished to bring him up to heaven to make him reign there over the sons of God, as he had reigned over the sons of men upon earth.
24 When at that time Enoch heard this he went and assembled all the inhabitants of the earth, and taught them wisdom and knowledge and gave them divine instructions, and he said to them, I have been required to ascend into heaven, I therefore do not know the day of my going.
25 And now therefore I will teach you wisdom and knowledge and will give you instruction before I leave you, how to act upon earth whereby you may live; and he did so.
26 And he taught them wisdom and knowledge, and gave them instruction, and he reproved them, and he placed before them statutes and judgments to do upon earth, and he made peace amongst them, and he taught them everlasting life, and dwelt with them some time teaching them all these things.
The garments of skin from YHWH are given to Methuselah
Jasher 7:25b
25b and when Enoch was taken up to God, he gave them to Methuselah, his son.
The horse from heaven
Jasher 3:27-35
27 And at that time the sons of men were with Enoch, and Enoch was speaking to them, and they lifted up their eyes and the likeness of a great horse descended from heaven, and the horse paced in the air;
28 And they told Enoch what they had seen, and Enoch said to them, On my account does this horse descend upon earth; the time is come when I must go from you and I shall no more be seen by you.
29 And the horse descended at that time and stood before Enoch, and all the sons of men that were with Enoch saw him.
30 And Enoch then again ordered a voice to be proclaimed, saying, Where is the man who delighteth to know the ways of the Lord his God, let him come this day to Enoch before he is taken from us.
31 And all the sons of men assembled and came to Enoch that day; and all the kings of the earth with their princes and counsellors remained with him that day; and Enoch then taught the sons of men wisdom and knowledge, and gave them divine instruction; and he bade them serve the Lord and walk in his ways all the days of their lives, and he continued to make peace amongst them.
32 And it was after this that he rose up and rode upon the horse; and he went forth and all the sons of men went after him, about eight hundred thousand men; and they went with him one day’s journey.
33 And the second day he said to them, Return home to your tents, why will you go? Perhaps you may die; and some of them went from him, and those that remained went with him six day’s journey; and Enoch said to them every day, Return to your tents, lest you may die; but they were not willing to return, and they went with him.
34 And on the sixth day some of the men remained and clung to him, and they said to him, We will go with thee to the place where thou goest; as the Lord liveth, death only shall separate us.
35 And they urged so much to go with him, that he ceased speaking to them; and they went after him and would not return;
Enoch enters the Garden of Eden
Jubilees 4:23-26
23 And he was taken from amongst the children of men, and we conducted him into the Garden of Eden in majesty and honour, and behold there he writes down the condemnation and judgment of the world, and all the wickedness of the children of men.
24 And on account of it (God) brought the waters of the flood upon all the land of Eden; for there he was set as a sign and that he should testify against all the children of men, that he should recount all the deeds of the generations until the day of condemnation.
25 And he burnt the incense of the sanctuary, (even) sweet spices acceptable before the Lord on the Mount.
26 For the Lord has four places on the earth, the Garden of Eden, and the Mount of the East, and this mountain on which thou art this day, Mount Sinai, and Mount Zion (which) will be sanctified in the new creation for a sanctification of the earth; through it will the earth be sanctified from all (its) guilt and its uncleanness through- out the generations of the world.
Enoch ascends to heaven
Genesis 5:22-24
22 And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:
23 And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years:
24 And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.
Jasher 3:36, 4:1
36 And when the kings returned they caused a census to be taken, in order to know the number of remaining men that went with Enoch; and it was upon the seventh day that Enoch ascended into heaven in a whirlwind, with horses and chariots of fire.
1 And all the days that Enoch lived upon earth, were three hundred and sixty-five years.
Enoch 70:1-4
1 And it came to pass after this that his name during his lifetime was raised aloft to that Son of Man and to the Lord of Spirits from amongst those who dwell on the earth.
2 And he was raised aloft on the chariots of the spirit and his name vanished among them.
3 And from that day I was no longer numbered amongst them: and he set me between the two winds, between the North and the West, where the angels took the cords to measure for me the place for the elect and righteous.
4 And there I saw the first fathers and the righteous who from the beginning dwell in that place.
Enoch enters heaven
Enoch 71:1-17
1 And it came to pass after this that my spirit was translated
And it ascended into the heavens:
And I saw the holy sons of God.
They were stepping on flames of fire:
Their garments were white [and their raiment],
And their faces shone like snow.
2 And I saw two streams of fire,
And the light of that fire shone like hyacinth,
And I fell on my face before the Lord of Spirits.
3 And the angel Michael [one of the archangels] seized me by my right hand,
And lifted me up and led me forth into all the secrets,
And he showed me all the secrets of righteousness.
4 And he showed me all the secrets of the ends of the heaven,
And all the chambers of all the stars, and all the luminaries,
Whence they proceed before the face of the holy ones.
5 And he translated my spirit into the heaven of heavens,
And I saw there as it were a structure built of crystals,
And between those crystals tongues of living fire.
6 And my spirit saw the girdle which girt that house of fire,
And on its four sides were streams full of living fire,
And they girt that house.
7 And round about were Seraphin, Cherubic, and Ophannin:
And these are they who sleep not
And guard the throne of His glory.
8 And I saw angels who could not be counted,
A thousand thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand,
Encircling that house.
And Michael, and Raphael, and Gabriel, and Phanuel,
And the holy angels who are above the heavens,
Go in and out of that house.
9 And they came forth from that house,
And Michael and Gabriel, Raphael and Phanuel,
And many holy angels without number.
10 And with them the Head of Days,
His head white and pure as wool,
And His raiment indescribable.
11 And I fell on my face,
And my whole body became relaxed,
And my spirit was transfigured;
And I cried with a loud voice,
. . .with the spirit of power,
And blessed and glorified and extolled.
12 And these blessings which went forth out of my mouth were well pleasing before that Head of Days. 13. And that Head of Days came with Michael and Gabriel, Raphael and Phanuel, thousands and ten thousands of angels without number.
[Lost passage wherein the Son of Man was described as accompanying the Head of Days, and Enoch asked one of the angels (as in 463) concerning the Son of Man as to who he was.]
14 And he (i.e. the angel) came to me and greeted me with His voice, and said unto me:
‘This is the Son of Man who is born unto righteousness;
And righteousness abides over him,
And the righteousness of the Head of Days forsakes him not.’
15 And he said unto me:
‘He proclaims unto thee peace in the name of the world to come;
For from hence has proceeded peace since the creation of the world,
And so shall it be unto thee for ever and for ever and ever.
16 And all shall walk in his ways since righteousness never forsaketh him:
With him will be their dwelling-places, and with him their heritage,
And they shall not be separated from him for ever and ever and ever.
17 And so there shall be length of days with that Son of Man,
And the righteous shall have peace and an upright way
In the name of the Lord of Spirits for ever and ever.’
The kings search for the men who went with Enoch
Jasher 3:37-38
37 And on the eighth day all the kings that had been with Enoch sent to bring back the number of men that were with Enoch, in that place from which he ascended into heaven.
38 And all those kings went to the place and they found the earth there filled with snow, and upon the snow were large stones of snow, and one said to the other, Come, let us break through the snow and see, perhaps the men that remained with Enoch are dead, and are now under the stones of snow, and they searched but could not find him, for he had ascended into heaven.
Methuselah is anointed king
Jasher 4:2-4
2 And when Enoch had ascended into heaven, all the kings of the earth rose and took Methuselah his son and anointed him, and they caused him to reign over them in the place of his father.
3 And Methuselah acted uprightly in the sight of God, as his father Enoch had taught him, and he likewise during the whole of his life taught the sons of men wisdom, knowledge and the fear of God, and he did not turn from the good way either to the right or to the left.
4 But in the latter days of Methuselah, the sons of men turned from the Lord, they corrupted the earth, they robbed and plundered each other, and they rebelled against God and they transgressed, and they corrupted their ways, and would not hearken to the voice of Methuselah, but rebelled against him.
The great famine
Jasher 4:5-8
5 And the Lord was exceedingly wroth against them, and the Lord continued to destroy the seed in those days, so that there was neither sowing nor reaping in the earth.
6 For when they sowed the ground in order that they might obtain food for their support, behold, thorns and thistles were produced which they did not sow.
7 And still the sons of men did not turn from their evil ways, and their hands were still extended to do evil in the sight of God, and they provoked the Lord with their evil ways, and the Lord was very wroth, and repented that he had made man.
8 And he thought to destroy and annihilate them and he did so.
Notes
i
The account of how Cain dies is different between Jasher 2:28 and Jubilees 4:31.
Exposition
Jubilee: 19
Year: 930
Enoch teaches wisdom throughout his reign
Jasher 3:17-22
In the year Adam died—which was the 243rd year of Enoch’s reign—Enoch decided to withdraw from the sons of men again, just as he had done earlier, in order to serve the Lord. He followed through on this decision, though he didn’t completely isolate himself from the people. Instead, he stayed apart from them for 3 days, then appeared to them for 1 day.
During those 3 days in his private chamber, Enoch prayed to and praised the Lord his God. On the day he came out to meet the people, he taught them the ways of the Lord and answered all their questions about God.
He kept up this pattern for many years. Later, he increased his time in seclusion, staying hidden for 6 days and appearing on the 7th. After that, he only appeared once a month, and eventually, only once a year. During this time, all the kings, princes, and people longed to see Enoch again and hear his words, but they couldn’t, because they were all filled with fear and awe whenever they thought of him. His face carried such a divine presence that no one dared approach him, afraid they might be punished or even die.
So the kings and princes agreed to gather all the sons of men and meet Enoch together, hoping that when he next came out, they might all be able to speak with him. They followed through with this plan. When the day came that Enoch came out, everyone assembled before him. Enoch spoke to them the words of the Lord, teaching them wisdom and knowledge. They bowed before him and said, “May the king live! May the king live!”
Cain dies from his house falling on him
Jubilees 4:31-32
At the end of this jubilee, Cain also died—in the same year—when his house collapsed on him. He was killed in the middle of his home, crushed by the stones of the building. For just as he had killed Abel with a stone, he was also killed by a stone, in a judgment that was righteous.
Because of this, it was written on the heavenly tablets: “With the instrument by which a man kills his neighbor, with that same instrument he will be killed. In the same manner that he wounded another, so shall he be dealt with.”
Rising Action
Jubilee: 21
Year: 987
Enoch asked to reign in heaven
Jasher 3:23-26
Some time later, while the kings, princes, and sons of men were speaking with Enoch and he was teaching them the ways of God, an angel of the Lord called out to Enoch from heaven. The angel wanted to bring him up to heaven so that he could reign over the sons of God there, just as he had ruled over the sons of men on earth.
When Enoch heard this, he gathered all the people of the earth and began teaching them wisdom and knowledge. He gave them divine instructions and said, “I’ve been called to ascend into heaven, but I don’t know the exact day I’ll be taken. So now I will teach you wisdom and knowledge and give you instruction before I leave—how you should live on earth so that you may survive.” And that’s what he did.
He taught them wisdom and knowledge, gave them instruction, and corrected them when necessary. He laid out laws and judgments for them to follow on earth, made peace among them, and taught them about eternal life. He stayed with them for a while, continuing to teach them all these things.
The garments of skin from YHWH are given to Methuselah
Jasher 7:25a
When Enoch was taken up to God, he passed on the garments that had been given to Adam and Eve to his son Methuselah.
Climax
The horse from heaven
Jasher 3:27-35
At that time, while the sons of men were with Enoch and he was speaking to them, they looked up and saw what appeared to be a large horse coming down from heaven, moving through the air. They told Enoch what they had seen, and he said to them, “That horse has come down because of me; the time has come for me to leave you, and you will see me no more.”
The horse descended and stood in front of Enoch, and all the sons of men with him saw it. Then Enoch gave an order for a proclamation to be made, saying, “Whoever desires to learn the ways of the Lord his God, let him come today to Enoch before he is taken from us.”
All the sons of men gathered and came to Enoch that day, along with all the kings of the earth, their princes, and counselors. They stayed with him that day, and Enoch taught them wisdom and knowledge. He gave them divine instruction and urged them to serve the Lord and follow His ways for the rest of their lives. He continued to make peace among them. After that, he mounted the horse and rode off, and all the sons of men followed him—about 800,000 men. They journeyed with him for one day. On the second day, Enoch said to them, “Go back to your tents. Why are you still following me? You might die.”
Some of them left, but the rest continued with him for 6 more days. Each day, Enoch told them, “Return to your tents, or you may die,” but they refused to turn back and kept going with him.
On the 6th day, some of the men remained and clung to him. They said, “We will go with you wherever you go; as the Lord lives, only death will part us from you.”
They insisted so strongly on going with him that Enoch stopped speaking to them. They continued following him and would not return.
Enoch enters the Garden of Eden
Jubilees 4:23-26
He was taken away from among the children of men, and we brought him into the Garden of Eden with majesty and honor. There, he writes down the condemnation and judgment of the world, recording all the wickedness of humanity. Because of this, God brought the waters of the flood upon the entire land of Eden. Enoch was placed there as a sign and a witness against the children of men, to recount all the deeds of the generations up to the day of judgment.
He burned incense in the sanctuary—fragrant spices that were pleasing to the Lord—on the mountain. For the Lord has 4 sacred places on earth: the Garden of Eden, the Mount of the East, Mount Sinai (the mountain you are on today), and Mount Zion, which will be sanctified in the new creation to purify the earth. Through it, the earth will be cleansed of all guilt and impurity throughout all generations.
Enoch ascends to heaven
Genesis 5:22-24
Jasher 3:36, 4:1
Enoch 70:1-4
When the kings returned, they conducted a census to find out how many men had remained with Enoch. On the 7th day, Enoch was taken up into heaven in a whirlwind, with horses and chariots of fire.
After this, during his lifetime, his name was lifted up before the Son of Man and the Lord of Spirits among those who dwell on the earth. He was carried on the chariots of the spirit, and his name disappeared from among them. From that day on, I was no longer counted among them. He placed me between the 2 winds—between the North and the West—where the angels took measurements for me, to prepare the place for the elect and righteous. There, I saw the early patriarchs and the righteous who have lived there from the beginning.
Enoch had walked with God for 300 years after he fathered Methuselah, and he had other sons and daughters. All the days of Enoch were 365 years. Enoch walked with God, and then he was gone—because God took him.
Enoch enters heaven
Enoch 71:1-17
After this, my spirit was carried away and taken up into the heavens. I saw the holy sons of God. They walked on flames of fire. Their clothes were white and shining, and their faces glowed like snow. I saw 2 streams of fire, and the light from them shone like hyacinth.
I fell on my face before the Lord of Spirits. Then the angel Michael, one of the archangels, grabbed my right hand, lifted me up, and guided me through all the secrets. He showed me the mysteries of righteousness and the secrets of the ends of heaven, the chambers of all the stars, and all the luminaries that appear before the holy ones.
He carried my spirit into the highest heaven, and there I saw a structure made of crystal, with tongues of living fire moving between the crystals.
My spirit saw the belt that surrounded this house of fire. On all 4 sides were streams full of living fire that encircled the house. All around it stood the Seraphim, Cherubim, and Ophanim. These beings never sleep—they guard the throne of His glory. I saw angels beyond counting—thousands of thousands and ten thousand times ten thousand—surrounding the house.
Michael, Raphael, Gabriel, Phanuel, and many other holy angels who are above the heavens go in and out of this house. They came out of it, along with the Head of Days. His head was white and pure like wool, and his robe was beyond description. I fell on my face. My whole body relaxed. My spirit was transformed, and I cried out with a loud voice, full of power, praising and glorifying and blessing. The blessings that came out of my mouth were pleasing before the Head of Days. And the Head of Days came with Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Phanuel, and thousands and ten thousands of angels too numerous to count.
[Lost passage describing the Son of Man appearing with the Head of Days, and Enoch asking one of the angels who the Son of Man was.]
Then the angel approached me and greeted me with his voice. He said, “This is the Son of Man, born to righteousness. Righteousness stays with him, and the righteousness of the Head of Days never leaves him.”
He also said, “He brings you peace in the name of the world to come. Since the beginning of the world, peace has come from him. And it will be yours forever and ever. Everyone will walk in his ways because righteousness never leaves him. Their homes and inheritance will be with him, and they will never be separated from him—forever and ever and ever. With that Son of Man comes long life. The righteous will have peace and a straight path, in the name of the Lord of Spirits, forever and ever.”
Falling Action
The kings search for the men who went with Enoch
Jasher 3:37-38
On the 8th day, all the kings who had been with Enoch sent men to count how many had gone with him to the place where he ascended into heaven. The kings themselves also went to that place, and they found the ground covered with snow. On top of the snow were large blocks of ice. One king said to another, “Come, let’s dig through the snow and see—maybe the men who stayed with Enoch are dead and buried under these blocks of ice.” They searched, but they couldn’t find him, because he had already ascended into heaven.
Methuselah is anointed king
Jasher 4:2-4
After Enoch had ascended into heaven, all the kings of the earth rose up, took Methuselah—his son—and anointed him, making him king in place of his father. Methuselah lived uprightly in the sight of God, just as Enoch had taught him. Throughout his life, he also taught the people wisdom, knowledge, and the fear of God. He never strayed from the right path—not to the right or to the left.
But in the later years of Methuselah’s life, the people turned away from the Lord. They corrupted the earth, stole from one another, plundered, rebelled against God, broke His laws, and lived wickedly. They refused to listen to Methuselah and rebelled against him as well.
Resolution
The great famine
Jasher 4:5-8
The Lord was extremely angry with them. He continued to destroy their crops in those days, so there was no sowing or harvesting throughout the land. When they did try to plant crops to produce food, only thorns and thistles grew—things they hadn’t planted.
Still, the people didn’t turn from their evil ways. Their hands remained busy doing what was wrong in God’s sight. They provoked the Lord with their wickedness, and His anger grew. He regretted having made mankind. He decided to destroy and wipe them out—and He did.