The Beginnings of Man -Part 4

God is credited with knowing everything before it happens, but it is clear from what God is said to have done He made a mistake.! And then with the help of the Archangels, He punishes the ‘fallen Watchers’.

If you haven’t read Part 1 -here it is The Beginnings of Man -Part 1 – Mine Quick Voice of Aquarius and part 2 is here The Beginnings of Man -Part 2 – Mine Quick Voice of Aquarius and part 3 is here The Beginnings of Man -Part 3 – Mine Quick Voice of Aquarius

Some will describe Adam’ fall from grace after eating the apple as a loss of innocence. Innocence as the dictionary defines it means someone who is not guilty of a crime. A person not having much experience of life and not knowing about the bad things that can happen. It can also describe someone who is righteous, who is free from fault, it can even be used to describe a simpleton or idiot. According to the OED the word innocence is occurring only 7 times in modern written English, or to put it another way, is saying almost never does our consciousness consider its meaning as important or relevant.

I am focussing on the meaning of innocence because neither Adam nor Eve were aware of the consequences from eating the apple. That is saying their psyche prior to eating the apple did not include  the animal nature. They are described in Jewish literature as the first Man and Woman -and conceived by ‘God’, and as I have already given reason ‘the sons of God’ in fact was the ‘Watchers’ as named by Enoch, and they are shown to have produced sons, which initially was the Nephilim and then after the fall of Adam and Eve the patriarchal line of Men succeeded and that includes Enoch.

The names of men given in Jewish Literature prior the great flood are singular but are they? They are more likely names of populations. The cycle of time from Adam, Cain, Abel, and Seth is recorded in hundreds of years, but given these are names of populations, more like thousands of years.

The Garden of Eden as created by God for Adam appears to be a utopian paradise but on closer examination suggests otherwise. Animals lived there and they are subject to life and death, as indeed are all other forms of life, so the garden couldn’t be called a paradise. Adam is created immortal to live in this so-called Eden and given ability to name the animals and care for the animal’s well-being. At this point in the story God has created a world which is subject to change -conflict that includes all other forms of life supporting the existence of animals.

God then highlights to Adam two trees; the tree of life and the tree of knowledge. Clearly He doesn’t mean physical trees. Symbolically trees represent a life-giving entity connecting earth to the heavens. Adam was directly related to the tree of life and warned not to connect with the tree of knowledge. The tree of knowledge was the enablement of the tree of life; its function was God’s business alone. Provided Adam didn’t question his immortality by knowing of the tree of life the Garden would continue to be his abode.

The story blames the serpent for causing Eve to eat the apple and beginning the fall of Man, but NO the action of the serpent is the action of the id force in the body otherwise called the kundalini force and was caused by eating the apple; the knowledge of how the tree of life functioned in vertebrates. The introduction of Eve in the story is describing the juncture of change that brought about the separation of the male and female forces, that in turn destroyed the harmony which had been established initially by offsprings of the Watchers.

As advised in Part 3, Adam must have been some kind of androgynous conception, not unknown in the early development of life of Earth.  Many other earth-life forms exhibit androgynous traits through sequential sex changes, including fish, mollusc’s, amphibians, and invertebrates.

Science emphasises the androgyne functions of its male and female nature in humans are by choice and for all other forms of life instinctually driven by the need to survive as a species.

Before proceeding further we should recognise that the writing of Genisis and the Book of Enoch is still subject to scholarly debate. Genisis is thought to have been composed during the lifetime of Moses, between the 15th and 13th centuries BCE, others suggest the 5th century BCE, whilst others say even later, influenced by the Dead Sea Scrolls 2nd century BCE. And the Book of Enoch between 300- and 100-years BCE. All scholars agree input to either would have been created by orally informed information. Which, to put it mildly, means we don’t know the source nature of these writings.

Given we now look at the creation of man story in Genisis through the words of Enoch 1 (as translated by Andy McCraken in 2023 ) which is based on the Ethiopian text and including some corrections from the surviving fragment found in Aramaic and Greek, a different story emerges.

Enoch begins by saying his words are a blessing to the chosen and righteous who must be present on the Day of Distress, which is appointed for the removal of all wicked and impious. What Enoch means by the Day of Distress is a final reckoning at which the righteous will be saved and the wicked will be destroyed in a distant generation to come. He then goes on to say, “And all will be afraid, and the Watchers will shake, and fear and great trembling will seize them, unto the ends of the Earth”. He is not saying they will be destroyed.

After advising the destruction of the Earth and how the righteous will be saved, in chapter 6 he says, “And it came to pass, when the sons of men had increased, that in those days there were born to them fair and beautiful daughters”. And then goes on to say, “And the Angels, the sons of Heaven, saw them and desired them. And they said to one another: “Come, let us choose for ourselves wives, from the children of men, and let us beget, for ourselves, children.” He clearly means the Angels are the Watchers and the sons of Man are an evolution of Homo Erectus. Enoch specifies 20 Watchers by name and their leader is Shemyaza. Each named Watcher leads nine others, and there are more Watchers, but he doesn’t quantify how many or give them names.

At this point in his narrative the Watchers are able to interact with the physical world as he further describes the knowledge and skills they taught Man. From sexual union with the daughters of men there were born giants, describing them as 3’000 cubits tall that’s as tall as a mountain! As they obviously couldn’t be, he is either saying the number of giants, or he referring to their powers to control nature.  They were certainly controlling as they ‘devoured’ men and all other forms of life and are further described as the ‘lawless ones’.

In chapter 8 we are told that Azazel, one of the named Watchers, “taught men to make swords, and daggers, and shields, and breastplates. And he showed them the metals of the earth, and the art of working them, and gold and silver bracelets and ornaments, and the art of making up the eyes with antimony and eye-paint, and of beautifying the face, and the most precious and choice stones, and all kinds of coloured dyes. And the world was forever changed”. (my italics).

He goes on to say. There was great impiety and much fornication, and as if Azazel hadn’t done enough, “their leader, Shemyaza, taught spells against the mind, and the use of cut roots of plants, and Armaros magical skills and the release of spells, and Barakel taught astrologers, and Kokabel portents of the stars, and Tamiel taught portents of the weather, and Shahariel taught the path of the Moon. And they all began to reveal these mysteries to their wives and their children. And, at the destruction on the Earth, men cried out, and their voices reached Heaven”.

At this point let me summarise what Enoch is saying.

He begins by saying there will be a final reckoning when the Earth will change dramatically because the rebellious sons of God (the Watchers) will bring about destruction because they have caused their offsprings, the giants to teach men eternal truths. And the world is forever changed because of their ‘destructive’ actions. Thereafter some men who are not in league with the Watchers and their Giant offsprings complain to ‘God on High’ (my italics).

In chapter 9 we are introduced to Archangels Michael, Uriel, Raphael, and Gabrial. Michael is chief, protector of humanity, and appointed to bind the ‘fallen Watchers’. Uriel is humanities guide warning Enoch to instruct Noah of the impending flood. And Gabrial is the divine judge who will condemn the ‘fallen Watchers’ and enforce heavenly order on Earth.

We should now remind ourselves that the first five chapters of Genisis records how got made the Earth, created Man on the fifth day and concludes by telling us that Man was expelled from the Garden of Eden because he ate the ‘apple’ of the Knowledge Tree. Then in chapter 6 to 11 we are told the Sons of God took women to become their wives, birthed a race of giants who behaved badly, despite describing them as heroes and men of renown, where everyone spoke the same language.

What Enoch and Genisis is telling us is the creation of Man begins with a sexual union between women and ‘Angels’ which turned out badly and a higher form of angels, namely Archangels put matters right by destroying all that went before by causing a great flood. As it is stated in Enoch chapter 9, “Shemyaza has made known spells, he to whom You gave authority to rule over those who are with him”. YOU can only mean “Lord of Lords, God of Gods, King of Kings!”.

God is credited with knowing everything before it happens, but it is clear from what He goes on to say, with the help of the Archangels, He made a mistake and the ‘fallen Watchers’ will be punished. Note Enoch is now using the term fallen Watchers which implies not all Watchers behaved badly!

Enoch underlines this division of Watchers in chapter 12 where he states the Watchers called and said to him, “Enoch, scribe of righteousness, go and inform the Watchers of Heaven, who have left the High Heaven and the sanctuary of the Eternal Covenant, and have corrupted themselves with the women, and have done as the sons of men do, and have taken wives for themselves, and have become completely corrupt on the Earth. They will have on Earth, neither peace, nor forgiveness of sin, for they will not rejoice in their sons. The slaughter of their beloved ones they will see; and over the destruction of their sons they will lament and petition for ever.  But they will have neither mercy nor peace.”

Where did it go wrong?

We need to answer that question and by doing so look at other creation myths to understand how compatible they are with the biblical narrative. Why for example was Cain the first son of Adam condemned to wander for ever? Birthing the concept of what we call the Wandering Jew?

A Shepherd’s Tale

Published on MasticadoresIndia

MasticadoresIndia FOLLOW/SUBSCRIBE and spread the word.

Consider, discuss, decide as you must. A boy
of nine I was, given to play? Yes-
but impatient to grow. A minder of sheep
and goat, not quite a shepherd, you understand.
Arab Jewish Samaritans, lowborn we were
under Roman rule in the land of Moses.

Tent dwellers; nomadic in the Way of the Sea
we moved our flocks from pasture to fold
over plain, hill slope, through mountain pass.
Self-sufficient, our mixed blood had no ties
in towns and we were shunned in cities.
At that time there was much disquiet,

camel borne travellers would hail us
seeking safe passage to Damascus
anxious for news, telling of homes destroyed
of livestock lost. Herod by the sea of salt
in hope of cure, still covetous of power.
Riots and Roman soldiers everywhere.

It was the hottest time of year -too hot.
My father the elder shepherd of our band
decreed we leave the plain of Armageddon
skirt the Galilean hills and drive
to Mount Carmel and fold there in cool caves
the pasture good, the Kishon river close.

Unusual for time of year it rained unexpectedly.
Wet and freshened I explored cave and gully
gaping at rock paintings, sling shooting
hawk foolish enough to target our flock.
When night fell there was talk about events
on the highway, riots in Sepphoris.

Mahmud was our Rabbi, a Samaritan
Who taught us boys by rote from a scroll.
He would disappear for days on end,
reappear warning of wolves, thieves in hiding,
bringing herbs, fruits, figs, salt preserved fish,
feet, hands, and body bruised and bleeding.

But not this time -from the tomb of Rachel
he had seen columns of soldiers, pillars of smoke,
people fleeing carnage, a forest of crosses.
He arrived much distressed. Nearby, he said,
there is a camel camp of Persian men,
star diviners, here for some special event.

So deep the dreamless sleep I slept, when roused
I complained of being woken. My father’s
command to dress was brusque and impatient.
Mother soothingly said be quick no time to rest.
Sheep and goat were want to break the folds
and strange lights had appeared in the heavens.

Girding mantle, grasping staff, sling, and pipe
I joined the men grouped around a fireside
where Mahmud, repeated yet again
to disbelieving ears, of a vision given
in prayer, how an angel of the lord appeared
announcing birth of a messiah to all men.

How he had run to the Kishon River
to impart this news to the Persian men,
and they, exclaiming in response said this
was the proof, the final proof they sought.
And without delay broke camp and headed east.
The river shining phosphorus in the night.

Did I hear a voice as we knelt in prayer?
For when Mahmud said follow me, I knew
the angel would want us shepherds go!
Find the birthplace, give tribute to the child.
More in fear I think, of unearthly things,
Claiming protection of the women folk,

some herders stayed with the folded flock.
For me this was adventure, side by side
my father leading with Mahmud we trod
the Magi’s tracks. An uphill beaten track
Nazorean’s often trod beyond Bethlehem
to Elijah’s tomb. In silent awe we came

to where the light was strongest; there halted
by a well-dressed Jew, then let pass. Mahmud
having yet again spoken of his vision.
We entered a cave, two donkeys tethered
looked at us curiously –and there
in a lamp lit area no bigger than a tent

a babe in swaddling clothes lay in the arms
of a woman and before them, three Magi.
Also, an Arab woman, an older sage-like
Jew and a fearsome looking man whose smile
belied his looks. The air perfumed –a scent
so strong my head whirled with feelings.

We knelt on the hard stone in a presence
of many persons unseen; God’s angels
I know them now to be. We presented
lamb and kid –the best of the litters
we had, and in turn were given sweet wine.
Yet I was not allowed, and she, seeing this

beckoned me to drink from a leather gourd
that hung from the cradle bed, a sweet
warming juice. I drank gazing as I did upon
the new-born baby’s face. Then not asked
but sure of rightness I began to play my
shepherd’s pipe. With eyes closed he smiled,

as if somehow, he had heard me play before.
The tune was new to me and full of majesty,
my fingers moving my brain asleep
I lost all sense of time, only just aware
of his mother’s happy face; the attention
of all that were in that holy place.

As dawn began to show we took our leave.
My father with pride made much of my tune.
There was curious talk about the older man,
was he her husband? Why birth in a cave?
They were not poor, and the Magi had
given gold! There had been talk of Herod,

more so the riots and of Rome’s steel hand.
Yet for all this talk as we returned, the paths
aglow, I sensed my nomadic life would never
be the same again. We had gained in status
been received as equals –us lowborn
shepherds; and feted at a godlike event!
Yet despite this, seeds of doubt took root.

The holy book lost its magic -I questioned
why Jews and Gentiles warred, sacrificial lambs,
the militancy of God. Instead, I dreamed of union
in remembrance of the child, believing
he would one day share our daily bread
forever hopeful that our souls might wed.

Consider, discuss, decide as you must
the burden of proof is a human need.
My shepherd’s tale, straightforwardly said
is to you a plea -that in the body’s Keep
your soul should no longer groan and weep
but celebrate the Love that is Heavens Bread.