The Book of Enoch was real and revered across the spectrum of Second-Temple Judaism-those forms of Judaism that thrived in the Intertestamental period(ca.500BC to AD 100) The book is more properly referred to as 1 Enoch to distinguish it from other books bearing the name Enoch that were composed later than this period(e.g., 2Enoch, 3 Enoch). The purpose of a Readers Commentary is to help readers of 1 Enoch comprehend what the books content is with great insight and clarity. Its use does not require original language skills on the part of the user. Consequently, this Readers Commentary on 1 Enoch is not written for scholars. Anyone who has decided to devote the time to reading 1 Enoch, perhaps for the first time, will find this resource eminently useful. A Companion to the Book of Enoch: A Readers Commentary is based on the translation of 1 Enoch by R. H Charles (1917). Important original language insights and differences in manuscripts of 1 Enoch are noted and explained as are theological concepts.
