18 THE TALMUD.
according to the advice of Adam, their father, but they
bore no more children.
"Mehalalel begat Jared, and Jared begat Enoch, and
Enoch begat Methusaleh."
And Enoch served the Lord and walked with him,
despising the wicked ones about him, and cleaving with
knowledge and understanding to the ways of the Most
High.
Enoch did not mix with the people, but lived alone as
a hermit for many years.
And it came to pass as he was praying in his apartment
an angel of the Lord called to him from heaven, saying,
"Enoch, Enoch," and he answered, "Here am I."
Then said the angel:
"Arise, go forth from thy solitude and walk among the
people of the land. Teach to them the way they should
go, and instruct them in the actions they should perform."
And Enoch did as the Lord commanded him.
He walked among the people and taught them the ways
of the Creator, assembling them together and addressing
them in earnestness and truth. And he charged his fol-
lowers to proclaim in all places where men dwelt—
"Who is he that desires to know the ways of the Lord
and to do righteously? Let him seek Enoch." And
Enoch reigned over the human race and the people obeyed
him, and while Enoch was among them they served God.
And princes and rulers came to listen to his words of
wisdom and to make obeisance before him. And he made
peace through all the land.
And Enoch reigned over the human race for three
hundred and fifty-three years. In justice and righteousnes*
he ruled, and peace blessed the land during all this period.
=======================
BIBLICAL HISTORY. 19
Methusaleh was the son of Enoch, and Lemech was the
son of Methusaleh. Adam died, nine hundred and thirty
years old, when Lemech was sixty-five years of age. He
was buried with great honours by Seth, Enoch, and Methu-
saleh. His body was placed in a cave, which according
to some authorities was the cave of Machpelah. From
this time, the time of Adam's burial, it has been the custom
to perform funeral obsequies over the dead.
Adam died because he had eaten of the fruit of the tree
of knowledge, and through his sin must all his descendants
likewise die, even as the Lord has spoken.
The year in which Adam died was the two hundred and
fifty-third year of the reign of Enoch.
And it came to pass about this time that Enoch again
felt a longing for solitude take possession of him, and he
again withdrew from frequent communion with his people.
He did not separate himself from them altogether; for
three days he remained alone, and on the fourth he ap-
peared to exhort and instruct them. But when a few
years had passed he increased the periods of his with-
drawal from the world, and separating himself from the
people for six days, he preached to them upon the
seventh. And after this he appeared before the people
but one time in a year, and though they were desirous of
seeing him and hearkening to his voice, save at this one
time, they were unable to behold him.
And Enoch became so holy that the people feared him
and dared not approach when he appeared before them,
for the glory of heaven rested on his face. Yet when he
spoke they assembled and listened to his words, and
learning from his knowledge, they bowed before him, and
cried aloud, "Long live the King!"
And it came to pass when the inhabitants of the world
===================
20 THE TALMUD.
had learned from Enoch the ways of the Lord, an angel
called to him from heaven, saying:
"Ascend, Enoch, ascend to heaven, and reign over the
children of God in heaven as thou hast reigned over the
children of men on earth."
Then Enoch assembled the people and said to them,
"I have been summoned to heaven, but I know not the
day I shall ascend. Therefore let me teach you ere I
go, reiterating the lessons which you have heard from my
lips."
And Enoch made peace and harmony among the people,
and pointed out to them the path to everlasting life. And
his followers proclaimed aloud wherever men dwelt, " Who
is he that wishes to live and to know the ways of the Lord?
Let him seek Enoch and learn, ere he is taken from us
and earth."
So Enoch taught the people and united them in peace
and harmony.
Then Enoch mounted his horse and rode away, and a
multitude of people followed him a day's journey.
And it came to pass on the second day that Enoch spoke
to those who followed him, saying:
"Return to your tents! Wherefore follow me? Return,
lest death overtake ye."
A number of the followers returned at these words, but
others continued to journey with him; and every day he
spoke to them, saying:
"Return, lest death overtake ye."
And on the sixth day there were still some who followed
after him, and they said, "Where thou goest will we go; as
the Lord liveth naught but death shall separate us;" so
when Enoch saw that they were thus determined he spoke
to them no more.
=========================
21 BIBLICAL HISTORY.
Those who went back on the sixth day knew how many
they had left following, but of those whom they left on the
sixth day not one returned.
And on the seventh day Enoch ascended to heaven in a
whirlwind, with chariot and horses of fire.
And it came to pass after Enoch had gone up to heaven
that the people started out to search for those men who had
followed after him. And on the spot where they had left
them they found deep snow and ice. They cut through the
ice and they found there the dead bodies of the men for
whom they were searching, but Enoch they did not find.
Therefore is this the meaning of the words of Scripture,
"And Enoch walked with God; and he 'wasnot" (he wadnot where search was made), "for God had taken him"
Gen. 5 : 24).
And Enoch ascended to heaven when Lemech the son of
Methusaleh was one hundred and thirteen years old.
And it came to pass after Enoch had ascended to heaven
that the people appointed Methusaleh, his son, king over
them. And Methusaleh lived in the way of righteousness
which his father had taught him, and he continued to
instruct the people in morality and goodness even as Enoch
had done before him. But in the latter part of his reign
the people grew regardless of his teachings. They dis
regarded the personal rights of one another, and rebelled
against the commands of God.
And the wrath of the Lord was again kindled against
them, and the earth brought forth thorns and thistles instead
of its fruit for sustenance, yet they repented not, nor turned
from their evil deeds. Therefore did God resolve to
destroy them entirely from the face of the earth.
Now when Lemech, the son of Methusaleh, was one
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