[EN
LX:21 PP] When the water is required from the Reservoir,
the angels responsible come and open the sluice and let the
water out. And when it has dispersed (as irrigation) over all
the fields, it soaks into the ground.
[EN
LX:22-23 PP] For these waters are for the benefit of those
who live off the land; they are irrigation for the land, sanctioned
by the Most High [Anu] who lives in the Heavens. Therefore,
there has to be a measure of the rainfall, and the angels are
responsible for keeping a record of the rain-gauge. These things
I saw around the Garden of Eden.
Enoch
was certainly aware that there was a Reservoir available for
supplying irrigation to the plantations. A third passage on
angel activities in the Garden involved measurement of a different
kind.
[EN
LXI:1-2 VB] And I saw in those days how long cords were given
to the Angels, and they took themselves wings and flew, and
went towards the north. And I asked an Angel, saying unto him:
‘Why have these taken cords and gone off?’ And he
said to me: ‘They have gone to measure.’
A
natural paraphrase reads:
[EN
LXI: 1-2 PP] Then, I saw how long measuring-tapes were give
to some of the angels, and they hurried off towards the north.
So I asked an angel who was there, why the others had taken
tapes and gone away, and he replied: ‘They have gone to
make a survey.’
[EN
LXI:1-2 VB] And I saw in those days how long cords were given
to Angels.
The
reference to measuring in relation to surveying is a homely
one for the senior author. While surveying in the high country
of South Iran, he was often asked by curious tribesmen what
he was doing with his plane-table, his range-finder and his
linen tapes. The only answer that could be reasonably given
to one who had no concept of mapping, was: ‘I am measuring.’
From
The Shining Ones by Christian and Barbara Joy O’Brien
THE
SHINING ONES
AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY ON THIS WEBSITE
