The Three Books of Enoch

By: R.H. Charles, Hugo Odeburg

Narrated by: Matthew Schmitz

This remarkable volume brings together the three foundational texts traditionally known as the Books of Enoch. Meticulously presented from the classic translations by esteemed scholars R.H. Charles (for 1 Enoch and 2 Enoch) and Hugo Odeberg (for 3 Enoch), this collection offers listeners an unparalleled glimpse into the vast apocalyptic and mystical traditions of ancient Judaism.

1 Enoch (The Ethiopic Book of Enoch) — Preserved in the Ge‘ez language, this text is a sweeping revelation attributed to Enoch, the seventh patriarch from Adam. It explores the mysteries of fallen angels, the origins of evil, cosmic journeys through heavenly realms, and divine judgment. It profoundly shaped later Jewish and early Christian apocalyptic thought.

2 Enoch (The Slavonic Book of the Secrets of Enoch) — Often called the Book of the Secrets of Enoch, this lesser-known work, surviving in Old Church Slavonic, recounts Enoch’s ascension through ten heavens. Rich with angelic hierarchies and hidden cosmology, it reveals the workings of creation and offers moral exhortations.

3 Enoch (The Hebrew Book of Enoch or Sefer Hekhalot) — A jewel of early Jewish mysticism, translated by Hugo Odeberg, 3 Enoch describes Rabbi Ishmael’s celestial visions and his encounters with the transformed Enoch, now the archangel Metatron.

This intricate text unveils heavenly palaces (hekhalot), angelic orders, and the enthronement of Metatron, illustrating the merging of apocalyptic and merkabah mysticism. Together, these works span centuries of sacred literature, charting humanity’s awe and wonder before the mysteries of the divine cosmos, making it an essential addition for students of biblical studies, apocrypha, mysticism, and the esoteric traditions that have long been inspired by the enigmatic figure of Enoch.

©2025 Matthew Schmitz (P)2025 Matthew Schmitz