The Valley of Judgment

JUDGMENT ON evil kings and fallen angels is a major theme of the section of 1 Enoch called the Book of Parables. This week, we discuss the vision of a deep valley where “angels of punishment” prepare “instruments of Satan” for kings and mighty men who’ve rebelled against God—and a second valley where “iron chains of immeasurable weight” are “prepared for the hosts of Azazel.” Our reading today ends with the prophecy of the final war against heathen powers. We discussed the historical background of the reference to the Parthians and Mead, and note comparisons to the prophecies of Ezekiel 39 (especially 39:11 and the reference to the Valley of the Travelers), and Zechariah 12 and 14.