Renewed Study of the Law followed by a Renewal of Mankind. The Messianic Kingdom and the Blessedness of the Righteous (xxiii. 26-32)

Renewed Study of the Law followed by a Renewal of Mankind. The Messianic Kingdom and the Blessedness of the Righteous (xxiii. 26-32; cf. Isa. lxv. 17 ff. [Eschatological.]

26. And in those days the children will begin to study the laws,
And to seek the commandments,
And to return to the path of righteousness.
27. And the days will begin to grow many and increase amongst those children of men, p. 132
Till their days draw nigh to one thousand years, ¹
And to a greater number of years than (before) was the number of the days.
28. And there will be no old man
Nor one who is not satisfied with his days,
For all will be (as) children and youths. ²
29. And all their days they will complete and live in peace and in joy, ³
And there will be no Satan ⁴ nor any evil destroyer;
For all their days will be days of blessing and healing, ⁵
30. And at that time the Lord will heal His servants,
And they will rise up ⁶ and see ⁷ great peace,
And drive out their adversaries.
And the righteous will see and be thankful,
And rejoice with joy for ever and ever,
And will see all their judgments and all their curses on their enemies.
31. And their bones will rest in the earth,
And their spirits will have much joy, ⁸
And they will know that it is the Lord who executeth judgment,
And showeth mercy to hundreds and thousands and to all that love Him. ⁹

32. And do thou, Moses, write down these words; for thus are they written, and they record (them) on the heavenly tables for a testimony for the generations for ever.

Footnotes

132:1 The span of life originally designed for mankind. Adam fell short of this because of his sin.

132:2 Cf. Isa. lxv. 20.

132:3 Cf. Isa. lxv. 14.

132:4 Cf. Assumpt. Moses x. 1.

132:5 Cf. i. 29.

132:6 Probably there is no reference here to a resurrection. Apparently the Messianic kingdom depicted is a temporary one. The eschatology harmonizes with that of 1 Enoch xci.-civ.

132:7 i.e. enjoy.

132:8 i.e. they will enjoy a blessed immortality (with no bodily resurrection); cf. 1 Enoch ciii. 3-4.

132:9 Cf. 4 Ezra vii. 132 ff.