 CHAPTER III THE LEGENDS OF THE JUICE, VOLUME 1. THE LEGENDS OF THE JUICE, VOLUME 1, by Rabbi Lewis Ginsburg. THE TEN GENERATIONS, THE BIRTH OF KANE There were ten generations from Adam to Noah to show how long suffering is the Lord for all the generations provoked him unto wrath until he brought the deluge upon them. By reason of their impiousness God changed his plan of calling one thousand generations into being between the creation of the world and the revelation of the law at Mount Sinai, 974 he suppressed before the flood. Wickedness came into the world with the first being born of woman, Cain, the oldest son of Adam. When God bestowed paradise upon the first pair of mankind, he warned them particularly against carnal intercourse with each other. But after the fall of Eve, Satan and the guise of the serpent approached her, and the fruit of their union was Cain, the ancestor of all the impious generations that were rebellious toward God, and rose up against him. Cain's descent from Satan, who is the angel Samael, was revealed in his seraphic appearance. At his birth the exclamation was rung from Eve, I have gotten a man through an angel of the Lord. Adam was not in the company of Eve during the time of her pregnancy with Cain. After she had succumbed a second time to the temptations of Satan, and permitted herself to be interrupted in her penance, she left her husband and journeyed westward, because she feared her presence might continue to bring him misery. Adam remained in the east. When the days of Eve to be delivered were fulfilled, and she began to feel the pangs of travailing, she prayed to God for help, but he hearkened not under her supplications. Who will carry the report to my Lord Adam? she asked herself. Ye luminaries in the sky, I beg you, tell it to my master Adam when you return to the east. In that self-same hour Adam cried out, the lamentation of Eve has pierced to my ear, may help the serpent has again assaulted her. And he hastened to his wife. Finding her in grievous pain he besought God in her behalf, and twelve angels appeared together with two heavenly powers. All these took up their posts to right of her, and to left of her, while Michael, also standing on her right side, passed his hand over her, from her face downward to her breast, and said to her, Be thou blessed Eve for the sake of Adam. Because of his solicitations and his prayers I was sent to grant thee our assistance. Make ready to give birth to thy child. Immediately her son was born, a radiant figure. A little while and the babe stood upon his feet, ran off, and returned, holding in his hands a stalk of straw which he gave to his mother. For this reason he was named Cain, the Hebrew word for stalk of straw. Now Adam took Eve and the boy to his home in the east. God sent him various kinds of seeds by the hand of the angel Michael, and he was taught how to cultivate the ground and make it yield produce, and fruits to sustain himself and his family and his posterity. After a while Eve bore her second son, whom she named Hebel, because she said he was born but to die. Fratricide The slaying of Abel by Cain did not come as a wholly unexpected event to his parents. In a dream Eve had seen the blood of Abel flow into the mouth of Cain who drank it with avidity, though his brother entreated him not to take all. When she told her dream to Adam he said, lamenting, Oh, that this may not pretend the death of Abel at the hand of Cain. He separated the two lads, assigning to each an abode of his own, and to each he taught a different occupation. Cain became a tiller of the ground, and Abel a keeper of sheep. It was all in vain. In spite of these precautions Cain slew his brother. This hostility toward Abel had more than one reason. It began when God had respect unto the offering of Abel, and accepted it by sending heavenly fire down to consume it, while the offering of Cain was rejected. They brought their sacrifices on the fourteenth day of Nisan. At the instance of their father, who had spoken thus to his sons, this is the day on which, in times to come, Israel will offer sacrifices. Therefore do ye, too, bring sacrifices to your Creator on this day, that he may take pleasure in you. The place of offering which they chose was the spot whereon the altar of the temple at Jerusalem stood later. Abel selected the best of his flocks for his sacrifice, but Cain ate his meal first, and after he had satisfied his appetite he offered unto God what was left over, a few grains of flaxseed. As though his offence had not been great enough in offering unto God fruit of the ground which had been cursed by God, what wonder that his sacrifice was not received with favor. Besides a chastisement was inflicted upon him. His face turned black as smoke. Nevertheless his disposition underwent no change even when God spoke to him thus. If thou wilt amend thy ways, thy guilt will be forgiven thee. If not, thou wilt be delivered into the power of the evil inclination. It coucheth at the door of thy heart, yet it depends upon thee whether thou shalt be master over it, or it shall be master over thee. Cain thought he had been wronged, and a dispute followed between him and Abel. I believed, he said, that the world was created through goodness, but I see that good deeds bear no fruit. God rules the world with arbitrary power, else why had he respect unto thy offering, and not a divine also? Abel opposed him. He maintained that God rewards good deeds without having respect unto persons, if his sacrifice had been accepted graciously by God, and Cain's not, it was because his deeds were good and his brothers wicked. This was not the only cause of Cain's hatred toward Abel, partly love for a woman brought about the crime. To ensure the propagation of the human race, a girl destined to be his wife was born together with each of the sons of Adam. Abel's twin sister was of exquisite beauty, and Cain desired her. Therefore he was constantly brooding over ways and means of ridding himself of his brother. The opportunity presented itself ere long, one day a sheep belonging to Abel tramped over a field that had been planted by Cain. In a rage the latter called out, What right has thou to live upon my land, and let thy sheep pasture yonder? Abel retorted, What right has thou to use the products of my sheep to make garments for thy self from their wool? If thou wilt take off the wool of my sheep wherein thou art arrayed, and will pay me for the flesh of the flocks which thou hast eaten, then I will quit thy land as thou desirest, and fly into the air if I can do it. Cain thereupon said, And if I were to kill thee, who is there to demand thy blood of me? Abel replied, God who brought us into the world will avenge me. He will require my blood at thine hand, if thou should slay me. God is the judge, who will visit their wicked deeds upon the wicked, and their evil deeds upon the evil. Shouldest thou slay me, God will know thy secret, and he will deal out punishment unto thee. These words but added to the anger of Cain, and he threw himself upon his brother. Abel was stronger than he, and he would have got the worst of it, but at the last moment he begged for mercy, and the gentle Abel released his hold upon him. How did he feel himself free when he turned against Abel once more, and slew him? So true is the saying, Do the evil know good, lest evil fall upon thee. The punishment of Cain The manner of Abel's death was the most cruel conceivable. Not knowing what injury was fatal, Cain pelted all parts of his body with stones, until one struck him on the neck and inflicted death. After committing the murder, Cain resolved to flee, saying, My parents will demand a count of me concerning Abel, for there is no other human being on earth. This thought had but passed through his mind when God appeared unto him, and addressed him in these words. Before thy parents thou canst flee, but canst thou go out from my presence to? Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? Alas, for Abel that he showed thee mercy, and refrained from killing thee when he had thee in his power, alas, that he granted thee the opportunity of slaying him. Question by God, Where is Abel thy brother? Cain answered, Am I my brother's keeper? Thou art he who holdest watch over all creatures, and yet thou demandest a count of me? True I slew him, but thou didst create the evil inclination in me. Thou guardest all things, why then didst thou permit me to slay him? Thou didst thyself slay him, for hadst thou looked with a favorable countenance toward my offering, as toward his, I had had no reason for envying him, and had not slain him. But God said, The voice of thy brother's blood issuing from his many wounds cryeth out against thee, and likewise the blood of all the pious who might have sprung from the loins of Abel. Also the soul of Abel denounced the murderer, for she could find rest nowhere. She could neither soar heavenward, nor abide in the grave with her body, for no human soul had done either before. But Cain still refused to confess his guilt. He insisted that he had never seen a man killed, and how was he to suppose that the stones which he threw at Abel would take his life. Then on account of Cain God cursed the ground, that it might not yield fruit unto him. With a single punishment both Cain and the earth were chastised, the earth because it retained the corpse of Abel, and did not cast it above ground. In the obdurcy of his heart Cain spoke, O Lord of the world, are there informers who denounce men before thee? My parents are the only living human beings, and they know not of my deed. Thou abidest in the heavens, and how shouldest thou know what things happen on earth? God said in reply, Thou fool, I carry the whole world, I have made it, and I will bear it. A reply that gave Cain the opportunity of feigning repentance. Thou bearest the whole world, he said, and my sin thou canst not bear. Verily mine iniquity is too great to be borne. Yet yesterday thou didst banish my father from thy presence. Today thou dost banish me. In sooth it will be said, it is thy way to banish. Although this was but dissimulation, and not true repentance, God granted Cain pardon, and removed the half of his chastisement from him. Originally the decree had condemned him to be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth. Now he was no longer to roam about for ever, but a fugitive he was to remain, and so much was hard enough to have to suffer for the earth quaked under Cain, and all the animals, the wild and the tame, among them the accursed serpent, gathered together and essayed to devour him in order to avenge the innocent blood of Abel. Finally Cain could bear it no longer, and breaking out in tears he cried, Whither shall I go from thy spirit, or whither shall I flee from thy presence? To protect him from the onslaught of the beasts, God inscribed one letter of his holy name upon his forehead, and furthermore he addressed the animals. Cain's punishment shall not be like unto the punishment of future murderers. He has shed blood, but there was none to give him instruction. Henceforth, however, he who slays another shall himself be slain. Then God gave him the dog as a protection against the wild beasts, and to mark him as a sinner he afflicted him with leprosy. Cain's repentance, insincere though it was, bore a good result, when Adam met him and inquired what doom had been decreed against him, Cain told him his repentance had propitiated God, and Adam exclaimed, So potent his repentance, and I knew it not! Thereupon he composed a hymn of praise to God, beginning with the words, It is a good thing to confess thy sins unto the Lord. The crime committed by Cain had baneful consequences, not for himself alone, but for the whole of nature also, before the fruits which the earth bore unto him, when he tilled the ground, had tasted like the fruits of paradise. Now his labor produced knot but thorns and thistles. The ground changed and deteriorated at the very moment of Abel's violent end. The trees and the plants in the part of the earth whereon the victim lived refused to yield their fruits on account of their grief over him, and only at the birth of Seth those that grew in the portion belonging to Abel began to flourish and bear again. But never did they resume their former powers, while before the vine had borne nine hundred and twenty-six different varieties of fruit, it now brought forth but one kind, and so it was with all other species. They will regain their pristine powers only in the world to come. Nature was modified also by the burial of the corpse of Abel, for a long time it lay there exposed above ground, because Adam and Eve knew not what to do with it. They sat beside it and wept, while the faithful dog of Abel kept guard that birds and beasts did it no harm. On a sudden the morning parents observed how a raven scratched the earth away in one spot, and then hit a dead bird of his own kind in the ground. Adam, following the example of the raven, buried the body of Abel, and the raven was rewarded by God. His young are born with white feathers, wherefore the old birds desert them, not recognizing them as their offspring. They take them for serpents. God feeds them until their plumage turns black and the parent birds return to them. As an additional reward God grants their petition when the ravens pray for rain. THE INHABITANCE OF THE SEVEN EARTHS When Adam was cast out of paradise, he first reached the lowest of the seven earths, the Ares, which is dark, without a ray of light, and utterly void. Adam was terrified, particularly by the flames of the ever-turning sword which is on this earth. After he had done penance God led him to the second earth, the Adama, where there is light reflected from its own sky and from its phantom-like stars and constellations. Here dwell the phantom-like beings that issued from the union of Adam with the spirits. They are always sad. The emotion of joy is not known to them. They leave their own earth and repair to the one inhabited by men where they are changed into evil spirits. Then they return to their abode for good, repent of their wicked deeds, and till the ground, which, however, bears neither wheat nor any other of the seven species. In this Adama, Cain, Abel, and Seth were born. After the murder of Abel, Cain was sent back to the Ares, where he was frightened into repentance by its darkness and by the flames of the ever-turning sword. Accepting his penance God permitted him to ascend to the third earth, the Arka, which receives sunlight from the sun. The Arka was surrendered to the Canites, forever, as their perpetual domain. They till the ground and plant trees, but they have neither wheat nor any other of the seven species. Some of the Canites are giants, some of them are dwarfs. They have two heads, wherefore they can never arrive at a decision. They are always at loggerheads with themselves. It may happen that they are pious now, only to be inclined to do evil the next moment. In the Geh, the fourth earth, lived the generation of the Tower of Babel and their descendants. God banished them thither, because the fourth earth is not far from Gehenna, and therefore close to the flaming fire. The inhabitants of the Geh are skillful in all arts and accomplish in all departments of science and knowledge, and their abode overflows with wealth. When an inhabitant of our earth visits them, they give him the most precious thing in their possession, but then they lead him to the Nashia, the fifth earth, where he becomes oblivious of his origin and his home. The Nashia is inhabited by dwarfs without noses. They breathe through two holes instead. They have no memory. Once a thing has happened, they forget it completely, once their earth is called Nashia, forgetting. The fourth and fifth earths are like the Arca. They have trees, but neither wheat nor any other of the seven species. The sixth earth, the Zia, is inhabited by handsome men who are the owners of abundant wealth and live in palatial residences, but they lack water as the name of their territory, Zia, drought, indicates. Hence vegetation is sparse with them, and their tree culture meets with indifferent success. They hasten to any water-spring that is discovered, and sometimes they succeed in slipping through it up to our earth, where they satisfy their sharp appetite for the food eaten by the inhabitants of our earth. For the rest they are men of steadfast faith, more than any other class of humankind. Adam remained in the Atama until after the birth of Seth, then passing the third earth, the Arca, the abiding place of the Canites, and the next three earths as well, the Geh, the Nashia, and the Zia, God transported him to the Tebel, the seventh earth, the earth inhabited by men. End of Chapter 3, Part 1. Chapter 3. The Death of Eve, Part 2. Of the Legends of the Jews, Volume 1. This is a Librivox recording. While Librivox recordings are in the public domain, for more information or to volunteer, please visit Librivox.org. Read by Brian Ness. The Legends of the Jews, Volume 1 by Rabbi Louis Ginsberg. The Descendants of Cain. Cain knew only too well that his blood-guiltiness would be visited upon him in the seventh generation, thus had God decreed against him. He endeavored, therefore, to immortalize his name by means of monuments, and he became a builder of cities. The first of them he called Enoch, after his son, because it was at the birth of Enoch that he began to enjoy a measure of rest and peace. Besides he founded six other cities. This building of cities was a godless deed, for he surrounded them with a wall, forcing his family to remain within. While his other doings were equally impious, the punishment God had ordained for him did not affect any improvement. He sinned in order to secure his own pleasure, though his neighbors suffered injury thereby. He augmented his household substance by rapine and violence. He excited his acquaintances to procure pleasures and spoils by robbery, and he became a great leader of men into wicked courses. He also introduced a change in the ways of simplicity wherein men had lived before, and he was the author of measures and weights. And whereas men lived innocently and generously while they knew nothing of such arts, he changed the world into cunning craftiness. Like unto Cain were all his descendants, impious and godless, wherefore God resolved to destroy them. The end of Cain overtook him in the seventh generation of men, and it was inflicted upon him by the hand of his great-grandson Lamek. This Lamek was blind, and when he went hunting he was led by his young son, who would apprise his father when game came in sight, and Lamek would then shoot at it with his bow and arrow. Once upon a time he and his son went on the chase, and the lad discerned something horned in the distance. He naturally took it to be a beast of one kind or another, and he told the blind Lamek to let his arrow fly. The aim was good, and the quarry dropped to the ground. When they came close to the victim the lad exclaimed, Father, thou has killed something that resembles a human being in all respects, except it carries a horn on its forehead. Lamek knew at once what had happened. He had killed his ancestor Cain, who had been marked by God with a horn. In despair he smote his hands together, inadvertently killing his son as he clasped them. Misfortune still followed upon misfortune. The earth opened her mouth and swallowed up the four generations sprung from Cain, Enoch, Irad, Mehuzel, and Methuzel. Lamek, sightless as he was, could not go home. He had to remain by the side of Cain's corpse and his son's. Toward evening his wives, seeking him, found him there. When they heard what he had done they wanted to separate from him, all the more as they knew that whoever was descended from Cain was doomed to annihilation. But Lamek argued, if Cain, who committed murder of Malus, a forethought, was punished only in the seventh generation, then I, who had no intention of killing a human being, may hope that retribution will be averted for seventy and seven generations. With his wives Lamek repaired to Adam, who heard both parties, and decided the case in favor of Lamek. The corruptness of the times, and especially the depravity of Cain's stock, appears in the fact that Lamek, as well as all the men in the generation of the Deluge, married two wives, one with the purpose of rearing children, the other in order to pursue carnal indulgences, for which reason the latter was rendered sterile by artificial means. As the men of the time were intent upon pleasure rather than desirous of doing their duty to the human race, they gave all their love and attention to the barren women, while their other wives spent their days like widows, joyless and in gloom. The two wives of Lamek, Ada and Zilla, bore him each two children, Ada two sons, Jabel and Jubel, and Zilla a son Tubel Cain and a daughter, Nama. Jabel was the first among men to erect temples to idols, and Jubel invented the music sung and played therein. Tubel Cain was rightly named, for he completed the work of his ancestor Cain. Cain committed murder, and Tubel Cain, the first who knew how to sharpen iron and copper, furnished the instruments used in wars and combats. Nama, the lovely, earned her name from the sweet sounds which she drew from her cymbals when she called the worshippers to pay homage to idols. The Descendants of Adam and Lilith When the wives of Lamek heard the decision of Adam that they were to continue to live with their husband, they turned upon him saying, O physician, heal thine own lameness. They were alluding to the fact that he himself had been living apart from his wife since the death of Abel, for he had said, Why should I beget children, if it is but to expose them to death? Though he avoided intercourse with Eve, he was visited in his sleep by female spirits, and from his union with them sprang shades and demons of various kinds, and they were endowed with peculiar gifts. Once upon a time there lived in Palestine a very rich and pious man who had a son named Rabbi Hanayna. He knew the whole of the Torah by heart. When he was at the point of death he sent for his son Rabbi Hanayna and bathed him as his last request to study the Torah day and night, fulfill the commands of the law, and be a faithful friend to the poor. He also told him that he and his wife, the mother of Rabbi Hanayna, would die on the self-same day and the seven days of mourning for the two would end on the eve of the Passover. He enjoined him not to grieve excessively, but to go to market on that day and to buy the first article offered to him, no matter how costly it might be. If it happened to be edible he was to prepare it and serve it with much ceremony. His expense and troubles would receive their recompense. All happened as foretold, the man and his wife died upon the same day, and the end of the week of mourning coincided with the eve of the Passover. The son in turn carried out his father's behest. He repaired to market, and there he met an old man who offered a silver dish for sale. Although the price asked was exorbitant, yet he bought it as his father had bidden. The dish was set upon the Seder table, and when Rabbi Hanayna opened it he found a second dish within and inside of this a live frog jumping and hopping around gleefully. He gave the frog food and drink, and by the end of the festival he was grown so big that Rabbi Hanayna made a cabinet for him in which he ate and lived. In the course of time the cabinet became too small, and the Rabbi built a chamber, put the frog within, and gave him abundant food and drink. All this he did, that he might not violate his father's last wish. But the frog waxed and grew. He consumed all his host owned, until finally Rabbi Hanayna was stripped bare of all his possessions. Then the frog opened his mouth, and began to speak. My dear Rabbi Hanayna, he said, do not worry. Seeing thou didst raise me, and care for me, thou mayest ask of me whatever thy heart desireth, and it shall be granted thee. Rabbi Hanayna made reply, I desire not, but that thou shouldest teach me the whole of the Torah. The frog assented, and he did indeed teach him the whole of the Torah, and the seventy languages of men besides. His method was to write a few words upon a scrap of paper which he had his pupils swallow. Thus he acquired not alone the Torah, and the seventy tongues, but also the language of beasts and birds. Thereupon the frog spoke to the wife of Rabbi Hanayna. Thou didst tend me well, and I have given thee no recompense, but thy reward will be pay thee before I depart from you. Only you must both accompany me to the woods. There you shall see what I shall do for you." Accordingly they went to the woods with him. Arrived there the frog began to cry aloud, and at the sound all sorts of beasts and birds assembled. As he commanded to produce precious stones, as many as they could carry. Also they were to bring herbs and roots for the wife of Rabbi Hanayna, and he taught her how to use them as remedies for all varieties of disease. All this they were bidden to take home with them. When they were about to return the frog addressed them thus, May the Holy One, blessed be he, have mercy upon you, and requite you for all the trouble you took on my account, without so much as inquiring who I am. Now I shall make my origin known to you. I am the son of Adam, a son whom he begot during the hundred and thirty years of his separation from Eve. God has endowed me with the power of assuming any form or guise I desire. Rabbi Hanayna and his wife departed for their home, and they became very rich, and enjoyed the respect and confidence of the king. Seth and his descendants. The exhortations of the wives of Lamech took effect upon Adam. After a separation of one hundred and thirty years he returned to Eve, and the love he now bore her was stronger by far than in the former time. She was in his thoughts, even when she was not present to him bodily. The fruit of their union was Seth, who was destined to be the ancestor of the Messiah. Seth was so formed from birth that the right of circumcision could be dispensed with. He was thus one of the thirteen men born perfect in a way. Adam begot him in his likeness and image, different from Cain, who had not been in his likeness and image. Thus Seth became, in a genuine sense, the father of the human race, especially the father of the pious, while the depraved and godless are descended from Cain. Even during the lifetime of Adam the descendants of Cain became exceedingly wicked, dying successively one after another, each more wicked than the former. They were intolerable in war, and vehement in robberies, and if anyone were slow to murder people, yet was he bold in his profligate behavior in acting unjustly and doing injury for gain. Now as to Seth, when he was brought up and came to those years in which he could discern what was good, he became a virtuous man, and as he was himself an excellent character, so he left children behind him who imitated his virtues. All these proved to be of good disposition. They also inhabited one and the same country without dissensions, and in a happy condition without any misfortunes falling upon them until they died. They also were the inventors of that peculiar sort of wisdom which is concerned with the heavenly bodies and their order, and that their inventions might not be lost before they were sufficiently known, they made two pillars upon Adam's prediction that the world was to be destroyed at one time by the force of fire, and at another time by the violence and quantity of water. The one was of brick, the other of stone, and they inscribed their discoveries on both, that in case the pillar of brick should be destroyed by the flood, the pillar of stone might remain and exhibit these discoveries to mankind, and also inform them that there was another pillar of brick erected by them. Enush Enush was asked who his father was, and he named Seth. The questioners, the people of his time, continued, who was the father of Seth? Enush Adam And who was the father of Adam? He had neither father nor mother, God formed him from the dust of the earth. But man has not the appearance of dust. After death man returns to dust, as God said, and man shall turn again unto dust, but on the day of his creation man was made in the image of God. How was the woman created? Male and female he created them. But how? God took water and earth, and molded them together in the form of man. But how? pursued the questioners. Enush took six clods of earth, mixed them, and molded them, and formed an image of dust and clay, but said the people this image does not walk, nor does it possess any breath of life. He then essayed to show them how God breathed the breath of life into the nostrils of Adam, but when he began to blow his breath into the image he had formed Satan entered it, and the figure walked, and the people of his time, who had been inquiring these matters of Enush, went astray after it, saying, what is the difference between bowing down before this image and paying homage to a man? The generation of Enush were thus the first idol-worshippers, and the punishment for their folly was not delayed long. God caused the sea to transgress its bounds, and a portion of the earth was flooded. This was the time also when the mountains became rocks, and the dead bodies of men began to decay, and still another consequence of the sin of idolatry was that the countenances of the men of the following generations were no longer in the likeness and image of God as the countenances of Adam, Seth, and Enush had been. They resembled centaurs and apes, and the demons lost their fear of men. But there was a still more serious consequence from the idolatrous practices introduced in the time of Enush. When God drove Adam forth from Paradise, the shekinah remained behind, enthroned above a cherub under the tree of life. The angels descended from heaven, and repaired thither and hosts to receive their instructions, and Adam and his descendants sat by the gate to bask in the splendor of the shekinah, sixty-five thousand times more radiant than the splendor of the sun. This brightness of the shekinah makes all upon whom it falls exempt from disease, and neither insects nor demons can come nigh unto them to do them harm. Thus it was until the time of Enush when men began to gather gold, silver, gems, and pearls from all parts of the earth, and made idols thereof a thousand parasangs high. What was worse, by means of the magic arts taught them by the angels Uzzah and Azael, they set themselves as masters over the heavenly spheres, and forced the sun, the moon, and the stars to be subservient to themselves instead of the Lord. This impelled the angels to ask God, What is man that thou art mindful of him? Why didst thou abandon the highest of the heavens, the seed of thy glory and thy exalted throne in Arabat, and descend to men who pay worship to idols, putting thee upon a level with them? The shekinah was induced to leave the earth and ascend to heaven amid the blare and flourish of the trumpets of the myriads of angel hosts. End of Chapter 3 Part 2 Chapter 3 The Death of Eve Part 3 of The Legends of the Jews, Volume 1 This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org The Legends of the Jews, Volume 1 by Rabbi Louis Ginsburg The Fall of the Angels The depravity of mankind, which began to show itself in the time of Enosh, had increased monsterously in the time of his grandson Jared by reason of the fallen angels, when the angels saw the beautiful, attractive daughters of men, they lost it after them and spoke. We will choose wives for ourselves only from among the daughters of men, and beget children with them. Their chief, Shemhazi, said, I fear me. Ye will not put this plan of yours into execution, and I alone shall have to suffer the consequences of a great sin. Then they answered him and said, We will all swear an oath, and we will bind ourselves separately and together, not to abandon the plan, but to carry it through to the end. Two hundred angels descended to the summit of Mount Haermann, which owes its name to the very occurrence, because they bound themselves there to fulfill their purpose. On the penalty of harem and a thema, under the leadership of twenty captains, they defiled themselves with the daughters of men, unto whom they taught charms, conjuring formulas, how to cut roots, and the efficacy of plants. The issue from these mixed marriages was a race of giants, three thousand elves tall, who consumed the possessions of men. When all had vanished and they could obtain nothing more from them, the giants turned against them and devoured many of them, and the remnant of men began to trespass against the birds, beasts, reptiles, and fishes, eating their flesh and drinking their blood. And the earth complained about the impious evildoers, but the fallen angels continued to corrupt mankind. Azazel taught men how to make slaughtering knives, arms, shields, and coats of mail. He showed them metals and how to work them, and armlets and all sorts of trinkets, and the use of rouge for the eyes, and how to beautify the eyelids, and how to ornament themselves with the rarest and most precious jewels, and all sorts of paints. The chief of the fallen angels, Shemhazi, instructed them in exorcisms and how to cut roots. Armoros taught them how to raise spells. Barakel, divination from the stars. Cochabelle, astrology. Ezekiel, augury from the clouds. Erechiel, the signs of the earth. Samsawiel, the signs of the sun. Sarayel, the signs of the moon. While all these abominations defiled the earth, the pious Enoch lived in a secret place. None among men knew his abode, or what had become of him, for he was so journeying with the angel-watchers and holy ones, once he heard the call addressed to him. Quote, Enoch, thou scribe of justice, go unto the watchers of the heavens, who have left the high heavens, the eternal place of holiness, defiling themselves with women, doing as men do, taking wives unto themselves, and casting themselves into the arms of destruction upon the earth. Go and proclaim unto them that they shall find neither peace nor pardon. For every time they take joy in their offspring, they shall see the violent death of their sons, and sigh over the ruin of their children. They will pray and supplicate ever more, but never shall they attain to mercy or peace. End quote. Enoch repaired to Azazel and the other fallen angels to announce the doom uttered against them. They all were filled with fear. Trembling seized upon them, and they implored Enoch to set up a petition for them and read it to the Lord of Heaven, for they could not speak with God as aforetime. Nor even raise their eyes heavenward, for shame on account of their sins. Enoch granted their request, and in a vision he was vouchsafed the answer which he was to carry back to the angels. It appeared to Enoch that he was wafted into heaven upon clouds, and was set down before the throne of God. God spake, quote, go forth and say to the watchers of heaven who have sent thee hither to intercede for them. Verily, it is you who ought to plead in behalf of men, not men in behalf of you. I, why did ye forsake the high, holy and eternal heavens to pollute yourselves with the daughters of men, taking wives unto yourselves, doing like the races of the earth and begetting giant sons? Giants begotten by flesh and spirits will be called evil spirits on earth, and on earth will be their dwelling place. Evil spirits proceed from their bodies because they are created from above, and from the holy watchers is their beginning and primal origin. They will be evil spirits on earth, and evil spirits they will be named. And the spirits of heaven having their dwelling in heaven, but the spirits of earth which were born upon the earth have their dwelling on the earth, and the spirits of the giants will devour, oppress, destroy, attack, do battle, and cause destruction on earth and work affliction. They will take no kind of food, nor will they thirst, and they will be invisible. And these spirits will rise up against the children of men and against the women, because they have proceeded from them. Since the days of murder and destruction and the death of the giants, when the spirits went forth from the soul of their flesh, in order to destroy without incurring judgment, these will they destroy until the day when the great consumption of the great world be consummated. And now as to the watchers who have sent thee to intercede for them, who had been aforetime in heaven, say to them, you have been in heaven, and though the hidden things had not yet been revealed to you, you know worthless mysteries. And in the hardness of your hearts, you have recounted these to women. And through these mysteries, women and men work much evil on earth. Say to them, therefore, you have no peace." Enoch, ruler and teacher. After Enoch had lived a long time secluded from men, he once heard the voice of an angel calling to him, quote, Enoch, Enoch, make thyself ready, and leave the house, and the secret place wherein thou hast kept thyself hidden, and assume dominion over men, to teach them the ways in which they shall walk, and the deeds which they shall do, in order that they may walk in the ways of God, end, quote. Enoch left his retreat, and betook himself to the haunts of men. He gathered them about him, and instructed them in the conduct pleasing to God. He sent messengers all over to announce, quote, ye who desire to know the ways of God and righteous conduct, come ye to Enoch, end, quote. Thereupon a vast concourse of people thronged about him, to hear the wisdom he would teach and learn from his mouth what is good and right. Even kings and princes, no less than one hundred and thirty in number, assembled about him, and submitted themselves to his dominion, to be taught and guided by him, as he taught and guided all the others. Peace reigned thus over the whole world, all the two hundred and forty-three years during which the influence of Enoch prevailed. At the expiration of this period in the year in which Adam died, and was buried with great honors by Seth, Enosh, Enoch, and Methuselah, Enoch resolved to retire again from intercourse with men, and devote himself wholly to the service of God. But he withdrew gradually. First, he would spend three days in prayer and praise of God, and on the fourth day he would return to his disciples and grant them instruction. Many years passed thus, then he appeared among them but once a week, later once a month, and finally once a year. The kings, princes, and all others who were desirous of seeing Enoch, and hearkening to his words, did not venture to come close to him during the times of his retirement. Such awful majesty sat upon his countenance. They feared for their very life if they but looked at him. They therefore resolved that all men should proffer their requests before Enoch on the day he showed himself unto them. The impression made by the teachings of Enoch upon all who heard them was powerful. They prostrated themselves before him and cried, quote, Long live the king, long live the king, end quote. On a certain day, while Enoch was giving audience to his followers, an angel appeared and made known unto him that God had resolved to install him as king over the angels in heaven. As until then he had reigned over men. He called together all the inhabitants of the earth and addressed them thus, quote, I have been summoned to ascend into heaven, and I know not on what day I shall go thither. Therefore I will teach you wisdom and righteousness before I go hence, end quote. A few days yet Enoch spent among men, and all the time left to him he gave instruction in wisdom, knowledge, God-fearing conduct and piety, and established law and order for the regulation of the affairs of men. Then those gathered near him saw a gigantic steed descend from the skies, and they told Enoch of it, who said, quote, The steed is for me, for the time has come and the day when I leave you, never to be seen again, end quote. So it was the steed approached Enoch and he mounted upon its back, all the time instructing the people, exhorting them, enjoining them to serve God and walk in his ways. Eight hundred thousand of the people followed a day's journey after him, but on the second day Enoch urged his retinue to turn back, quote, Go ye home, lest death overtake you, if you follow me farther, end quote. Most of them heeded his words and went back, but a number remained with him for six days, though he admonished them daily to return and not bring death down upon themselves. On the sixth day of the journey he said to those still accompanying him, quote, Go home ye, for on the morrow I shall ascend to heaven, and whoever will then be near me, he will die, end quote. Nevertheless some of his companions remained with him, saying, quote, Wither soever thou goest, we will go. By the living God death alone shall part us, end quote. On the seventh day Enoch was carried into the heavens in a fiery chariot drawn by fiery chargers. The day thereafter the kings who had turned back in good time sent messengers to inquire into the fate of the men who had refused to separate themselves from Enoch, for they had noted the number of them. They found snow and great hailstones upon the spot whence Enoch had risen, and when they searched beneath they discovered the bodies of all who had remained behind with Enoch. He alone was not among them. He was on high in heaven. End of chapter 3, part 3, recording by Robert Scott, August the 9th, 2007. Chapter 3 The Death of Eve, part 4 of the Legends of the Jews, volume 1. This is a LibriVox recording, all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org, recording by Robert Scott. The Legends of the Jews, volume 1 by Rabbi Louis Ginsburg. The Ascension of Enoch. This was not the first time Enoch had been in heaven. Once before, while he sojourned among men, he had been permitted to see all there is on earth and in the heavens. On a time when he was sleeping a great grief came upon his heart, and he wept in his dream, not knowing what the grief meant nor what would happen to him, and there appeared to him two men, very tall. Their faces shone like the sun, and their eyes were like burning lamps, and fire came forth from their lips. Their wings were brighter than gold, their hands whiter than snow. They stood at the head of Enoch's bed and called him by his name. He awoke from his sleep, and hastened and made obeisance to them, and was terrified. And these men said to him, quote, Be of good cheer, Enoch, be not afraid. The everlasting God hath sent us to thee, and lo, today thou shalt ascend with us into heaven, and tell thy sons and thy servants, and let none seek thee till the Lord bring thee back to them, end quote. Enoch did as he was told, and after he had spoken to his sons, and instructed them not to turn aside from God, and to keep his judgment, these two men summoned him, and took him on their wings, and placed him on the clouds, which moved higher and higher, till they set him down in the first heaven. Here they showed him the two hundred angels who rule the stars, and their heavenly service. Here he saw also the treasures of snow and ice, of clouds and dew. From there they took him to the second heaven, where he saw the fallen angels imprisoned. They who obeyed not the commandments of God, and took counsel of their own will. The fallen angels said to Enoch, quote, O man of God, pray for us to the Lord, end quote. And he answered, quote, Who am I, a mortal man, that I should pray for angels? Who knows whether I go, or what awaits me, end quote. They took him from thence to the third heaven, where they showed him paradise, with all the trees of beautiful colors, and their fruits ripe and luscious, and all kinds of food which they produced, springing up with delightful fragrance. In the midst of paradise he saw the tree of life, in that place in which God rests when he comes into paradise. This tree cannot be described for its excellence and sweet fragrance, and it is beautiful, more than any created thing. And on all its sides it is like gold and crimson in appearance, and transparent as fire, and it covers everything. From its root in the garden there go forth four streams, which pour out honey, milk, oil, and wine, and they go down to the paradise of Eden, that lies on the confines between the earthly region of corruptibility and the heavenly region of incorruptibility, and thence they go along the earth. He also saw the three hundred angels who kept the garden, and with never ceasing voices and blessed singing they serve the Lord every day. The angels leading Enoch explained to him that this place is prepared for the righteous, while the terrible place prepared for the sinners is in the northern regions of the third heaven. He saw there all sorts of tortures and impenetrable gloom, and there is no light there, but a gloomy fire is always burning, and all that place has fire on all sides, and on all sides cold and ice, thus it burns and freezes. And the angels, terrible and without pity, carry savage weapons, and their torture is unmerciful. The angels took him then to the fourth heaven, and showed him all the comings in and goings forth, and all the rays of the light of the sun and the moon. He saw the fifteen myriads of angels who go out with the sun and attend him during the day, and the thousand angels who attend him by night. Each angel has six wings, and they go before the chariot of the sun, while one hundred angels keep the sun warm and light it up. He saw also the wonderful and strange creatures named phoenixes and chalkidry, who attend the chariot of the sun, and go with him, bringing heat and dew. They showed him also the six gates in the east of the fourth heaven, by which the sun goes forth, and the six gates in the west where he sets, and also the gates by which the moon goes out, and those by which she enters. In the middle of the fourth heaven he saw an armed host, serving the Lord with symbols and organs and unceasing voices. In the fifth heaven he saw many hosts of the angels called Gregori. Their appearance was like men, and their size was greater than the size of the giants. Their countenances were withered and their lips silent. On his question, who they were, the angels leading him answered, quote, these are the Gregori, who with their princes, Salamiel, rejected the Holy Lord, end quote. Enoch then said to the Gregori, quote, why wait ye, brethren, and serve ye not before the face of the Lord, and why perform ye not your duties before the face of the Lord, and anger not your Lord to the end, end quote. The Gregori listened to the rebuke, and when the trumpets resounded together with a loud call, they also began to sing with one voice, and their voices went forth before the Lord with sadness and tenderness. In the seventh heaven he saw the seven bands of archangels who arrange and study the revolutions of the stars, and the changes of the moon and the revolution of the sun, and superintend the good or evil conditions of the world, and they arrange teachings and instructions and sweet speaking and singing and all kinds of glorious praise. They hold in subjection all living things, both in heaven and on earth. In the midst of them are seven phoenixes and seven cherubim, and seven six-winged creatures singing with one voice. When Enoch reached the seventh heaven and saw all the fiery hosts of great archangels, and in corporeal powers and lordships and principalities and powers, he was afraid and trembled with a great terror. Those leading him took hold of him and brought him into the midst of them, and said to him, quote, be of good cheer Enoch, be not afraid, end quote, and they showed him the Lord from afar, sitting on his lofty throne, while all the heavenly hosts divided in ten classes, having approached, stood on the ten steps according to their rank, and made obeisance to the Lord. And so they proceeded to their places in joy and mirth and boundless light, singing songs with low and gentle voices, and gloriously serving him. They leave not, nor depart, day or night, standing before the face of the Lord, working his will, cherubim and seraphim, standing around his throne, and the six-winged creatures overshadow all his throne, singing with a soft voice before the face of the Lord, quote, holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts, heaven and earth are full of his glory, end quote. When he had seen all these, the angels leading him said to him, quote, Enoch, up to this time we were ordered to accompany thee, end quote, they departed and he saw them no more. Enoch remained at the extremity of the seventh heaven, in great terror, saying to himself, quote, woe is me, what has come upon me, end quote. But then Gabriel came and said unto him, quote, Enoch, be not afraid, stand up and come with me, and stand up before the face of the Lord forever, end quote. And Enoch answered, quote, O my Lord, my spirit has departed from me with fear and trembling. All the men to me who have brought me to this place, upon them I have relied and with them I would go before the face of the Lord, end quote. And Gabriel hurried him away like a leaf carried off by the wind and set him before the face of the Lord. Enoch fell down and worshipped the Lord, who said to him, quote, Enoch, be not afraid, rise up and stand before my face forever, end quote. And Michael lifted him up and at the command of the Lord took his earthly robe from him and anointed him with the holy oil, and clothed him, and when he gazed upon himself he looked like one of God's glorious ones, and fear and trembling departed from him. God called then one of his archangels, who was more wise than all the others, and wrote down all the doings of the Lord, and he said to him, quote, bring forth the books from my store-place, and give a read to Enoch, and interpret the books to him, end quote. The angel did as he was commanded, and he instructed Enoch thirty days and thirty nights, and his lips never ceased speaking. While Enoch was writing down all the things about heaven and earth, angels and men, and all that is suitable to be instructed in, he also wrote down all about the souls of men, those of them which are not born, and the places prepared for them forever. He copied all accurately, and he wrote three hundred and sixty-six books. After he had received all the instructions from the archangel, God revealed unto him great secrets, which even the angels do not know. He told him how, out of the lowest darkness, the visible and the invisible were created, how he formed heaven, light, water, and earth, and also the fall of Satan and the creation and sin of Adam, he narrated to him, and further revealed to him that the duration of the world will be seven thousand years, and the eighth millennium will be a time when there is no computation, no end, neither years nor months nor weeks nor days nor hours. The Lord finished this revelation to Enoch with the words, quote, and now I give thee Samuel and Raguel, who brought thee to me. Go with them upon the earth, and tell thy sons what things I have said to thee, and what thou hast seen from the lowest heaven up to my throne. Give them the works written out by thee, and they shall read them, and shall distribute the books to their children's children, and from generation to generation, and from nation to nation. And I will give thee my messenger, Michael, for thy writings, and for the writings of thy fathers, Adam, Seth, Enoch, Kenan, Mahalalel, and Jared thy father, and I shall not require them till the last age, for I have instructed my two angels, Arayuk and Marayuk, whom I have put upon the earth as their guardians, and I have ordered them in time to guard them that the account of what I shall do in thy family may not be lost in the deluge to come. For on account of the wickedness and iniquity of men I will bring a deluge upon the earth, and I will destroy all, but I will leave a righteous man of thy race with all his house, who shall act according to my will. From their seed will be raised up a numerous generation, and on the extinction of that family I will show them the books of thy writings and of thy father. And the guardians of them on earth will show them to the men who are true and please me, and they shall tell to another generation, and they, having read them, shall be glorified at last more than before." Enoch was then sent to earth to remain there for thirty days to instruct his sons, but before he left heaven God sent an angel to him whose appearance was like snow, and his hands were like ice. Enoch looked at him, and his face was chilled, that men might be able to endure the sight of him. The angels who took him to heaven put him upon his bed, in the place where his son Methuselah was expecting him by day and by night. Enoch assembled his sons and all his household, and instructed them faithfully about all things he had seen, heard, and written down, and he gave his books to his sons to keep them and read them, admonishing them not to conceal the books, but tell them to all desiring to know. When the thirty days had been completed the Lord sent darkness upon the earth, and there was gloom, and it hid the men standing with Enoch, and the angels hastened and took Enoch and carried him to the highest heaven, where the Lord received him and set him before his face, and the darkness departed from the earth and there was light, and the people saw and did not understand how Enoch was taken, and they glorified God. Enoch was born on the sixth day of the month of Siwan, and he was taken to heaven in the same month, Siwan, on the same day and in the same hour when he was born, and Methuselah hasted and all his brethren, the sons of Enoch, and built an altar in the place called Akhuzan, whence Enoch was taken up to heaven. The elders and all the people came to the festivity and brought their gifts to the sons of Enoch, and made a great festivity, rejoicing and being married for three days, praising God who had given such a sign by means of Enoch, who had found favor with them. End of Chapter 3, Part 4, Recording by Robert Scott, August the 9th, 2007 Chapter 3, Part 5 of the Legends of the Jews, Volume 1. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. The Legends of the Jews, Volume 1 by Rabbi Louis Ginsburg The translation of Enoch. The sinfulness of men was the reason why Enoch was translated to heaven. Thus Enoch himself told Rabbi Ishmael, when the generation of the deluge transgressed and spoke to God, saying, quote, depart from us, for we do not desire to know thy ways, end quote, Enoch was carried to heaven, to serve there as a witness that God was not a cruel God in spite of the destruction decreed upon all living beings on earth. When Enoch, under the guidance of the angel and Payel, was carried from earth to heaven, the holy beings, the oftenim, the seraphim, the cherubim, all those who moved the throne of God, and the ministering spirits whose substance is of consuming fire, they all, at a distance of six hundred and fifty million and three hundred parasangs, noticed the presence of a human being, and they exclaimed, quote, whence the odor of one born of woman. How comes he into the highest heaven of the fire, consecrating angels, end quote. But God replied, quote, O my servants and hosts, ye, my cherubim, oftenim, and seraphim, let this not be an offense unto you, for all the children of men denied me, and my mighty dominion, and they paid homage to idols, so that I transferred the shekinah from earth to heaven. But this man, Enoch, is the elect of men. He has more faith, justice, and righteousness than all the rest, and he is the only reward I have derived from the terrestrial world, end quote. Before Enoch could be admitted to service near the divine throne, the gates of wisdom were opened unto him, and the gates of understanding, and of discernment, of life, peace, and the shekinah, of strength and power, of might, loveliness and grace, of humility and fear of sin, equipped by God with extraordinary wisdom, sagacity, judgment, knowledge, learning, compassionateness, love, kindness, grace, humility, strength, power, might, splendor, beauty, shapeliness, and all other excellent qualities beyond the endowment of any of the celestial beings. Enoch received, besides many thousand blessings from God, and his height and his breath became equal to the height and breadth of the world, and thirty-six wings were attached to his body, to the right and to the left, each as large as the world, and three hundred and sixty-five thousand eyes were bestowed upon him, each brilliant as the sun. A magnificent throne was erected for him beside the gates of the seventh celestial palace, and a herald proclaimed throughout the heavens concerning him, who was henceforth to be called Metatron in the celestial regions. Quote, I have appointed my servant Metatron as prince and chief over all the princes in my realm, with the exception only of the eight august and exalted princes that bear my name. Whatever angel has a request to proffer to me shall appear before Metatron, and what he will command at my bidding ye must observe and do. For the prince of wisdom and the prince of understanding are at his service, and they will reveal unto him the sciences of the celestials and the terrestrials, the knowledge of the present order of the world and the knowledge of the future order of the world. Furthermore I have made him the guardian of the treasures of the palaces in the heaven, Erebot and of the treasures of life that are in the highest heaven. Out of the love he bore Enoch, God arrayed him in a magnificent garment, to which every kind of luminary in existence was attached, and a crown gleaming with forty-nine jewels, the splendor of which pierced to all parts of the seven heavens and to the four corners of the earth. In the presence of the heavenly family he set this crown upon the head of Enoch. And called him, quote, the little lord, end quote. It bears also the letters by means of which heaven and earth were created, and seas and rivers, mountains and valleys, planets and constellations, lightning and thunder, snow and hail, storm and whirlwind, these and also all things needed in the world and the mysteries of creation. Even the princes of the heavens, when they see Metatron, tremble before him and prostrate themselves. His magnificence and majesty, the splendor and beauty radiating from him overwhelm them. Even the wicked, Samael, the greatest of them, even Gabriel, the angel of the fire, Bardael, the angel of the hail, Ruhayel, the angel of the wind, Barkayel, the angel of the lightning, Zamael, the angel of the hurricane, Zakaakayel, the angel of the storm, Suayel, the angel of the earthquake, Zafayel, the angel of the showers, Ramayel, the angel of the thunder, Rashayel, the angel of the whirlwind, Shalgayel, the angel of the snow, Matrayel, the angel of the rain, Shamsayel, the angel of the day, Lelael, the angel of the night, Golgayel, the angel of the solar system, Afanayel, the angel of the wheel of the moon, Kokabayel, the angel of the stars, Ratayel, the angel of the constellations. When Enoch was transformed into Metatron, his body was turned into celestial fire, his flesh became flame, his veins fire, his bones glimmering coals, the light of his eyes heavenly brightness, his eyeballs torches of fire, his hair a flaming blaze, all his limbs and organs burning sparks, and his frame a consuming fire, to right of him sparkled flames of fire, to left of him burnt torches of fire, and on all sides he was engirdled by storm and whirlwind, hurricane and thundering. Methuselah After the translation of Enoch, Methuselah was proclaimed ruler of the earth by all the kings. He walked in the footsteps of his father, teaching truth, knowledge, and fear of God to the children of men all his life, and deviating from the path of rectitude neither to the right nor the left. He delivered the world from thousands of demons, the posterity of Adam which he had begotten with Lilith, that she-devil of she-devils. These demons and evil spirits, as often as they encountered a man, had sought to injure and even slay him, until Methuselah appeared and supplicated the mercy of God. He spent three days infasting, and then God gave him permission to write the ineffable name upon his sword, wherewith he slew ninety-four myriads of the demons in a minute, until Agramus, the first born of them, came to him and entreated him to desist, at the same time handing the names of the demons and imps over to him. And so Methuselah placed their kings in iron fetters, while the remainder fled away and hid themselves in the innermost chambers and recesses of the ocean. And it is on account of the wonderful sword by means of which the demons were killed, that he was called Methuselah. He was so pious a man that he composed two hundred and thirty parables. In praise of God for every word he uttered. When he died the people heard a great commotion in the heavens, and they saw nine hundred rows of mourners corresponding to the nine hundred orders of the Mishnah which he had studied, and tears flowed from the eyes of the holy beings down upon the spot where he died. Seeing the grief of the celestials the people on earth also mourned over the demise of Methuselah, and God rewarded them therefore. He added seven days to the time of grace which he had ordained before beginning destruction upon the earth by a flood of waters. End of Chapter 3 The Death of Eve Recording by Robert Scott August the 9th 2007 Chapter 4 Part 1 of The Legends of the Jews Volume 1 This is a Librebox recording. All Librebox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit Librebox.org. Recording by M. L. Cohen Cleveland, Ohio, July 2007 The Legends of the Jews Volume 1 by Rabbi Louis Ginsburg The Birth of Noah Methuselah took a wife for his son Lamech, and she bore him a man-child. The body of the babe was white as snow and red as a blooming rose, and the hair of his head and his long locks were white as wool and his eyes like the rays of the sun. When he opened his eyes he lighted up the whole house like the sun and the whole house was very full of light, and when he was taken from the hand of the midwife he opened his mouth and praised the Lord of righteousness. His father Lamech was afraid of him and fled and came to his own father Methuselah and he said to him, I have begotten a strange son. He is not like a human being, but resembles the children of the angels of heaven, and his nature is different, and he is not like us, and his eyes are as the rays of the sun, and his countenance is glorious. And it seems to me that he is not sprung from me but from the angels, and I fear that in his days a wonder may be wrought upon the earth. And now my father, I am here to petition thee and implore thee that thou mayest go to Enoch our father and learn from him the truth, for his dwelling place is among the angels. And when Methuselah heard the words of his son he went to Enoch, to the ends of the earth and cried aloud, and Enoch heard his voice and appeared before him and asked him the reason of his coming. Methuselah told him the cause of his anxiety and requested him to make the truth known to him. Enoch answered and said, The Lord will do a new thing in the earth. There will come a great destruction on the earth and a deluge for one year. The son who was born unto thee will be left on the earth, and his three children will be saved with him when all mankind that are on the earth shall die. And there will be a great punishment on the earth, and earth will be cleansed from all impurity. And now make known to thy son Lamech that he who was born is in truth his son, and call his name Noah, for he will be left to you, and he and his children will be saved from the destruction which will come upon the earth. When Methuselah had heard the words of his father, who showed him all the secret things he returned home, and he called the child Noah, for he would cause the earth to rejoice in compensation for all destruction. By the name Noah he was called only by his grandfather Methuselah, his father and all the others call him Menachem. His generation was addicted to sorcery, and Methuselah apprehended that his grandson might be bewitched if his true name were known, wherefore he kept it a secret. Menachem, comforter, suited him as well as Noah. It indicated that he would be a consolar. If but the evildoers of his time would repent of their misdeeds. At his very birth it was felt that he would bring consolation and deliverance. When the Lord said to Adam, Cursed is the ground for thy sake. He asked for how long a time, and the answer made by God was, until a man-child shall be born, whose confirmation is such that the right of circumcision need not be practiced upon him. This was fulfilled through Noah. He was circumcised from his mother's womb. Noah had scarcely come into the world when a marked change was noticeable. Since the kerth brought upon the earth by the sin of Adam, it happened that wheat being sown, yet oats would sprout and grow. This ceased with the appearance of Noah. The earth bore the products planted in it. And it was Noah who, when he was grown to manhood, invented the plow, the site, the hose, and other instruments for cultivating the ground. Before him men had worked the land with their bare hands. There was another token to indicate that a child born on Talamus was appointed for this extraordinary destiny. When God created Adam, he gave him dominion over all things. The cow obeyed the plowmen, and the furrow was willing to be drawn. But after the fall of Adam, all things rebelled against him. The cow refused obedience to its plowmen, and also the furrow was refractory. Noah was born, and all returned to its state preceding the fall of man. Before the birth of Noah, the sea was in the habit of transgressing its bounds twice daily, morning and evening, and flooding the land up to the graves. After his birth it kept within its confines. And the famine that afflicted the world in the time of Lama, the second of the ten great famines appointed to come upon it, ceased its ravages with the birth of Noah. The legend of the Jews, volume one by Rabbi Louis Ginsburg, the punishment of the fallen angels. Grown to manhood, Noah followed in the ways of his grandfather Methuselah, while all other men of the time rose up against this pious king. So far from observing his precepts, they pursued the evil inclination of their hearts, and perpetrated all sorts of abominable deeds. Chiefly the fallen angels and their giant posterity caused the depravity of mankind. The blood spilled by the giants cried unto heaven from the ground, and the four archangels accused the falling angels and their sons before God, whereupon he gave the following orders to them. Uriel was sent to Noah to announce to him that the earth would be destroyed by a flood, and to teach him how to save his own life. Raphael was told to put the fallen angel Azazel into chains, cast him into a pit of sharp and pointed stones in the desert of the waddle, and cover him with darkness, and so he was to remain until the great day of judgment, when he would be thrown into the fiery pit of hell, and the earth would be healed of the corruption he had contrived upon it. Gabriel was charged to proceed against the bastards and the reprobates, the sons of the angels begotten with the daughters of men, and plunged them into deadly conflicts with one another. Shem Hazay's ilk were handed over to Michael, who first caused them to witness the death of their children in bloody combat with each other, and then he bound them and pinned them under the hills of the earth, where they will remain for seventy generations, until the day of judgment, to be carried thence to the fiery pit of hell. The fall of Azazel and Shulchaze came about in this way. When the generations of the deluge began to practice idolatry, God was deeply grieved. The two angels, Shem Hazay and Azazel arose and said, Oh Lord of the world, it has happened, that which we foretold at the creation of the world, end of man, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? And God said, And what will become of the world now, without man? Whereupon the angels? We will occupy ourselves with it. Then said God, I am well aware of it, and I know that if you inhabit the earth, the evil inclination will overpower you, and you will be more iniquitous than ever men. The angels pleaded, Grant us but permission to dwell among men, and thou shalt see how we sanctify thy name. God yielded to their wish, saying, Descend, and so journey among men. When the angels came to earth and beheld the daughters of men in all their grace and beauty, they could not restrain their passion. Shem Hazay saw a maiden named Ishtar, and he lost his heart to her. She promised to surrender herself to him. At first he taught her the ineffable name, by means of which she raised himself to heaven. He assented to her condition. But when she knew it, she pronounced the name, and herself assented to heaven, without fulfilling her promise to the angel. God said, Because she kept herself aloof from sin, we will place her among the seven stars that men may never forget her. And she was put in the constellation of the Pleiades. Shem Hazay and Azazel, however, were not deterred from entering into alliances with the daughters of men, and the first two sons were born. Azazel began to devise the finery and the ornaments by means of which women allure men. Thereupon God sent Metatron to tell Shem Hazay that he had resolved to destroy the world, and bring on a deluge. The fallen angel began to weep and grieve over the fate of the world, and the fate of his two sons. If the world went under, what would they have to eat? They who needed daily a thousand camels, a thousand horses, and a thousand steers. These two sons of Shem Hazay, Hewa and Haya, by name dreamdreams. The one saw a great stone which covered the earth, and the earth was marked all over with lines upon lines of writing. An angel came, and with a knife obliterated all the lines, leaving but four letters upon the stone. The other son saw a large pleasure-grove planted with all sorts of trees. But angels approached bearing axes, and they felled the trees, sparing a single one with three of its branches. When Hewa and Haya awoke, they repaired to their father who interpreted dreams of them by saying, God will bring a deluge, and none will escape with his life, excepting only Noah and his sons. When they heard this, the two began to cry and scream, but their fathers consoled them. Soft, soft, do not grieve. As often as men cut or haul stones or launch vessels, they shall invoke your names. Hewa, Haya! This prophecy soothed them. Shem Hazay then did penance. He suspended himself between heaven and earth, and in this position of a penitent sinner he hangs to this day. But Azazel persisted obdurately in his sin of leading mankind astray by means of sensual allurements. For this reason, two he-goats were sacrificed in the Temple of the Day of Atonement, the one for God that he pardoned the sins of Israel, the other for Azazel that he bears the sins of Israel. Unlike Istahar, the pious maiden, Nama, the lovely sister of Tubal Kain, led the angels astray with her beauty, and from her union with Shamedon sprang the devil Asmodeus. She was as shameless as all the other descendants of Kain, and as prone to beastial indulgences. Kainite women and Kainite men alike were in the habit of walking abroad naked, and they gave themselves up to every conceivable manner of lewd practices. Of such were the women whose beauty and sensual charms tempted the angels from the path of virtue. The angels, on the other hand, no sooner had they rebelled against God and descended to earth, than they lost their transcendental qualities and were invested with sub-lunary bodies, so that a union with the daughters of men became possible. The offspring of these alliances between the angels and the Kainite women were the giants, known for their strength and their sinfulness, as their very name, the mm, indicates they inspired fear. They have many other names. Sometimes they go by the name Rafaim, because one glance at them made one's heart grow weak, or by the name Gaborim, simply giants, because their size was so enormous that their thigh measured eighteen eels, or by the name Zamzumin, because they were great masters in war, or by the name Anakim, because they touched the sun with their neck, or by the name Avim, because, like the snake, they could judge the qualities of the soil, or, finally, by the name Nephilim, because, bringing the world to fall, they themselves fell. The legend of the Jews, Volume 1 by Rabbi Lewis Ginsburg, The Generation of the Deleuge While the descendants of Kain resembled their fatherness, sinfulness, and depravity, the descendants of Seth led a pious, well-regulated life, and the difference between them, the conduct of two stocks was reflected in their habitations. The family of Seth was settled upon the mountains in a vicinity of Paradise, while the family of Kain resided in the field of Damascus, the spot whereupon Abel was slain by Kain. Unfortunately, at the time of Methuselah, following the death of Adam, the family of Seth became corrupted after the manner of the Kainites. The two strains united with each other to execute all kinds of iniquitous deeds. The result of the marriages between them were the Nephilim, whose sin brought the Deleuge upon the world. In their arrogance, they claimed the same pedigree as the posterity of Seth, and they compared themselves with princes and men of noble descent. The wantonness of this generation was in a measure due to the ideal conditions under which mankind lived before the flood. They knew neither toil nor care, and as a consequence of their extraordinary prosperity, they grew insolent. In their arrogance, they rose up against God. A single sowing bore a harvest sufficient for the needs of forty years, and by means of magic arts they could compel the very sun and moon to stand ready to do their service. The raising of children gave them no trouble. They were born after a few days' pregnancy, and immediately after birth they could walk and talk. They themselves aided the mother in severing the naval string. Not even demons could do them harm. Once a newborn babe, running to fetch a light whereby his mother might cut the naval string, met the chief of the demons, and combat assumed between the two. Suddenly the crying of a cock was heard, and the demon maid all crying out to the child, go and report unto thy mother, if it had not been for the crowing of the cock I had killed thee. Whereupon the child retorted, go and report unto thy mother, if it had not been for my uncut naval string I had killed thee. It was their carefree life that gave them space and leisure for their infamies. For a time God in his long-suffering kindness passed by the iniquities of men, but his forbearance ceased when once they began to lead unchaste lives. For God is patient with all sins, save only in a moral life. The other sin that hastened the end of the iniquitous generation was their repacity. So cunningly were the depredations planned that the law could not touch them. If a countryman bought a basket of vegetables to market, they would edge up to it, one after the other, and abstract a bit, each in itself a petty value, but in a little while the dealer would have none left to sell. Even after God has resolved upon a destruction of the sinners, he still permitted his mercy to prevail, in that he said Noah unto them, who exhorted them for one hundred and twenty years to amend their ways, always holding the flood over them as a threat. As for them, they but derided him. When they saw him occupying himself with the building of the ark they asked, Wherefore this ark? Noah, God will bring flood upon you. The sinners. What sort of flood? If he sends a fire flood, again that we know how to protect ourselves. If it is a flood of water, then if the waters bubble up from the earth, we will cover them with iron rods, and if they descend from above, we know a remedy against that too. Noah. The waters will ooze out from under your feet, and you will not be able to ward them off. Partly they persisted in their obdurcy of heart because Noah had made known to them that the flood would not descend so long as the pious Methuselah so adjourned among them. The period of one hundred and twenty years which God had appointed as the term of probation, having expired, Methuselah died, but out of regard for the memory of this pious man God gave them another week's respite, the week of mourning for him. During this time of grace the laws of nature were suspended, the sun rose in the west and set in the east. To the sinners God gave the dainties that await man in the future world for the purpose of showing them what they were forfeiting. But all this proved unavailing, and Methuselah and the other pious men of the generation having departed this life, God brought the deluge upon the earth.