The Two Enochs

I recently read Paul Kriwaczek’s Babylon: Mesopotamia and the Birth of Civilization. He explains that Eridu was the oldest city in the region and was patronised by the earliest known 'god', Enki. Genesis 4:17-18 states

And Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. And he built a city, and called the name of the city after the name of his son—Enoch. To Enoch was born Irad; and Irad begot Mehujael.

Krizaevzek draws the parallel between Enoch (Enki) and Irad (Eridu). Cain, having founded the first city, named it after his son; he was later considered to be the city’s founding deity. Though it would have been destroyed by the great flood, which is well attested in Sumerian sources, a later generation re-built it, once again turning passed-down memories into myths and idolatrous legend.

This Enoch must not be confused with the other, of chapter 5, with whom we are more familiar:

And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.

For him, no earthly city or worldly fame, but the heavenly city and God’s embrace. One Enoch represents worldly success but eternal obscurity. The other represents earthly insignificance but a glorious heavenly reception, bypassing death and decay. Two Enochs, two destinies. Which one are you?

Than to be the king of a vast domain
And be held in sin's dread sway;
I'd rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today -Miller & Shea

Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay