Editing Enoch (section)

===In Classical Rabbinism===
In classical Rabbinical literature, there are various views of Enoch. One view regarding Enoch that was found in the [[Targum Pseudo-Jonathan]], which thought of Enoch as a pious man, taken to Heaven, and receiving the title of ''Safra rabba'' (''Great scribe''). After Christianity was completely separated from Judaism, this view became the prevailing rabbinical idea of Enoch's character and exaltation.<ref name=je>{{cite web|url=http://jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=383&letter=E |title=Jewish Encyclopedia ''Enoch'' |publisher=Jewishencyclopedia.com |access-date=2014-03-26}}</ref>

According to [[Rashi]]<ref>Rashi's Commentary on {{Bibleref2|Genesis|5:24|9}}. See also Commentary of [[Abraham ibn Ezra|Ibn Ezra]].</ref> [from [[Genesis Rabbah]]<ref>25:1</ref>], "Enoch was a righteous man, but he could easily be swayed to return to do evil. Therefore, the Holy One, blessed be He, hastened and took him away and caused him to die before his time. For this reason, Scripture changed [the wording] in [the account of] his demise and wrote, 'and he was no longer' in the world to complete his years."

Among the minor [[Midrash]]im, esoteric attributes of Enoch are expanded upon. In the ''Sefer Hekalot'', Rabbi Ishmael is described as having visited the [[Seven Heavens|Seventh Heaven]], where he met Enoch, who claims that earth had, in his time, been corrupted by the demons Shammazai, and [[Azazel]], and so Enoch was taken to Heaven to prove that God was not cruel.<ref name=je/> Similar traditions are recorded in Sirach. Later elaborations of this interpretation treated Enoch as having been a pious ascetic, who, called to mix with others, preached repentance, and gathered (despite the small number of people on Earth) a vast collection of disciples, to the extent that he was proclaimed king. Under his wisdom, peace is said to have reigned on earth, to the extent that he is summoned to Heaven to rule over the ''sons of God''.