I Enoch, the pseudepigraphal book is an ancient Hebrew apocalyptic religious text ascribed by tradition to Enoch, the great-grandfather of Noah. When Jude quotes it, he says it was written by the “seventh from Adam.” Enoch contains unique material on the origins of some demons and the Nephilim, an explanation of why the Genesis flood was morally necessary. It’s considered to date from sometime during the intertestamental period between 300 and 200 years before Christ. From archaeological finds of the book in various fragments as well as among the dead sea scrolls, we know the book was well known by Jews as well as early Christian writers. It appears to have been quoted by Jude and Peter in their epistles to the early church as well. It is not included in either the Jewish, Catholic, or Protestant bibles but the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo church include this book in their Bibles. The rest of the world, to a large extent, considers the book as non-inspired but may accept it as having some historical or theological interest.

Enoch refers to “Watchers.” They were good angels sent to look out or watch over man.  Hebrews 1:14 refers to the Angels as being charged with caring for and looking out for believers. But they became corrupt by leaving their natural state to co-habit with the daughters of men. Enoch 6:1-2 says, “And it came to pass when the children of men had multiplied that in those days were born unto them beautiful and comely daughters. And the angels, the children of the heaven, saw and lusted after them, and said to one another: ‘Come, let us choose us wives from among the children of men and beget us children.’” Their leader was an angel named “Semjaza.” He led a host of 200 angels. They gathered on Mount Hermon and took an oath to partner together regarding taking the daughters of men as wives. Mount Hermon is sometimes referred to as the mountain of oaths because of this practice. Jesus’ sermon on the Mount where he instructs not to take oaths may have some roots in the oath taken by the fallen angels. The oath on Mount Hermon is said to have taken place in the days of Jared, the sixth from Adam.

Enoch continues to give the names of the leaders of the 200 angels. According to Enoch 6:7, The names of the leaders (without accent marks) are Semiazaz, Arakiba, Rameel, Kokabiel, Tamiel, Ramiel, Danel, Ezeqeel, Baraqujal, Asael, Armaros, Batarel, Ananel, Zaqiel, Samsapeel, Satarel, Turel, Jomjael, and Sariel. All of these angels, turned demons, took wives of the daughters of men according to their oaths. Furthermore, these demons taught the women “charms, enchantments, cutting of roots, and made them acquainted with plants.” Witchcraft seems to have its roots in these fallen angels. They are also said to have taught astrology, the constellations in the stars, enchantments, and “signs of the earth, the signs of the sun, and the course of the moon.” Thus, According to Enoch, many new age practices of today have their roots in these demons as well.