《《The book of Enoch》（以诺书）》狱蛇

37、Annotation for section XIV

　　CHAP. 73,
　　—1. This and the following chapter treats of the course of the moon.

　　—2. Cf. 72: 4, 5. In a measure, cf. 72: 37, and vs. 3, and 74: 3; 78: 4, 6, 7.

　　—4. Beginning, i.e. her reappearance, or new moon. Thirtieth mornings, with reference to the course of the sun. The periods of the moon are from twenty-nine to thirty days; and on the twenty-ninth she is in conjunction, and again appears on the thirtieth. At conjunction sun and moon are in the same portal.

　　—5. From new moon to full moon is fourteen (or fifteen) days, and the same number from full moon to new moon again. For this period she has fourteen portions of light, and consequently changes during the lunar month of thirty days, each day one half of one of these fourteen parts. In a month in which there are fifteen days to full moon the first day shows a light that is one of the seven parts attributed to the one half of the moon.

　　—6. But when there are fourteen days to full moon, then on the first day she takes one fourteenth and one twenty-eighth, equal to three twenty-eighths of light.

　　—7. But this becomes visible only when the moon has assumed yet one fourteenth of light additionally. In the beginning of the morning she sets, as the day for the moon begins in the evening.

　　—8. Thus the moon increases day by day, by one seventh of one half, or one fourteenth of light; cf. 78: 6 sqq.

　　CHAP. 74,
　　—1. The above was the special law on the motions of the moon in a month; now follows the more general law on her motions during a series of months and the year.

　　—2. Uriel, cf. 72: 1. Of them all, i.e. either of all the luminaries or of all the phases of the moon. Appearance of light, i.e. how much light appeared.

　　—3. Cf. chap. 73 and 78.

　　—4. The position of the moon with reference to the sun. Peculiar, i.e. independent of the course of the sun.

　　—5. In two months her course is not peculiar, but is with the sun, viz. when she is in the third and in the fourth portal, the former corresponding to the sign of Libra and Pisces, the later Aries and Virgo. When the sun is in Aries and Libra the new and full moon are in the same portals.

　　—6. Refers to the third portal, as the next verse shows. For seven days she goes through the portals from the first, until she reaches the third, in which the sun is, and her light is then full; and then continues for eight days to the sixth portal.

　　—7, 8. The fourth portal, in which is new moon. In returning to it in fourteen days there is in it full moon; then goes to the first portal, and returns to the fourth in fifteen days.

　　—10. He now enters on the difference between a solar and lunar year. According to 78: 15, 16 there are six months with thirty and six months with twenty-nine days, i.e. three hundred and fifty-four days in a lunar year. But the year has three hundred and sixty by counting twelve months at thirty days, to which are added four intercalary days in the equinoxes and solstices. Accordingly the difference between the solar and lunar year is six days without, and ten days with, these additional days. Thus without intercalary days the sun gains on the moon in five years thirty days, although when full the sun really has everyyear three hundred and sixty-four days, and not three hundred and sixty, as he counts to get the thirty days in five years.

　　—11. Repeats this more plainly.

　　—12. As the author stands, or wants to stand, on biblical ground, and is conservative over against all innovations, he defends the lunar year as the best, as the Israelites followed that alone before the exile; cf. De Wette, Archologie, 4 ed., p. 236, and Winer, R. W. sub voc. Jahr. Three hundred and sixty-five days, i.e. with the intercalarydays.

　　—14. In three years the difference between the solar and lunar years at ten days (cf. vs. 8) will be exactly one month. In five years the difference is fifty days, which sum is reached by adding to these, i.e. to the thirty days in three years the intercalary days intervening between the 1092 days of the three years, and the 1820 of the five years.

　　—16. Accordingly, too, in eight years she recedes eighty days.—17. Conclusion, cf. vs. 12 and 75: 2.

　　CHAP. 75,
　　—1. This treats of the intercalary days, the stars, and the sun. The importance of the four intercalary days was noticed in 74: 10, and is repeated here in the statement that the guardians of the other days were also over these four. Who these leaders are is uncertain; not angels, but probably higher stars, for they are called luminaries in verse 2; cf. 72: 3; 80: 6. These, i.e. the heads of the thousands, the chiliarchs.

　　—2. Most men, not knowing the mystery of the intercalary days, make mistakes accordingly; cf. 80: 7; 82: 4, 5, 6.

　　—3. But notwithstanding this ignorance it is the absolute truth that there are such days, because the angel Uriel, who is over all these phenomena, 72: 1, showed them to Enoch. Rule, cf. Gen. i. 15-18. Chariots, cf. 72: 5.

　　—4. In the chariot of the sun—for the chariot from the appearance is considered a circuit, i.e. round, 72: 5,—there are twelve openings, from which heat descends when these are opened. In this manner he explains how the sun does not give an equal amount of heat at all times, as at different times a greater or less number of these openings are closed.

　　—5. Some, i.e. openings; but these are in the ends of heaven, entirely distinct from those just mentioned; cf. chap. 76 and 34-36. This verse is probably the work of an interpolator, as it entirely interrupts the sense, but was easily suggested by the context.

　　—6, 7. Besides the well-known twelve portals there are many window-openings, on which see 72: 3, 7.

　　—8, 9. Different from the stars just mentioned, that rise and set, are the never-setting stars, those continually on the horizon at nights. What the special one is cannot be decided, since it is not even certain whether he refers to one of the setting, or of the never-setting stars. In the first case Dillmann thinks of the morning star, and of the Great Bear in the second. Did not the connection occasion some difficulty Hoffmann’s idea that the sun alone can here be meant would be very probable.