Enoch delivers the judgment to the Watchers. Azazel is singled out for special condemnation. The Watchers, terrified, ask Enoch to write a petition for mercy on their behalf. Enoch reads the petition beside the waters of Dan, near Mount Hermon, and falls asleep. He receives a vision — the divine response to their petition.
The scene of Enoch writing a petition for the Watchers is extraordinary: a mortal human serving as intercessor for heavenly beings. This complete role reversal demonstrates that rebellion strips away all privilege — the guardians of humanity must beg a human for help.
The geographical specificity (waters of Dan, near Mount Hermon) grounds the cosmic drama in real Israelite landscape, blending mythic and geographic registers.
Daniel 4:13-17 (a Watcher delivers judgment); Job 33:23 (an angel mediator); 1 Timothy 2:5 (one mediator between God and humanity).
Ge'ez text per Charles/Knibb editions
And Enoch went and said: 'Azazel, you will have no peace. A severe sentence has been pronounced against you — to bind you in chains.
REF And Enoch went and said: 'Azâzêl, thou shalt have no peace: a severe sentence has gone forth against thee to put thee in bonds:
Joseph Smith Translation (Footnotes)political
'The powers that be are ordained of God' — absolute civil authority claim qualified
The KJV's 'there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God' has been used to justify absolute civil obedience. The JST footnote revises this to qualify that governments are ordained within limits, preventing its use as a mandate for unconditional submission to tyrannical authority.
Ge'ez text per Charles/Knibb editions
You will receive no relief and no answered petition, because of the wickedness you have taught, and because of all the works of godlessness, lawlessness, and sin that you have revealed to humanity.'
REF And thou shalt not have toleration nor request granted to thee, because of the unrighteousness which thou hast taught, and because of all the works of godlessness and unrighteousness and sin which thou hast shown to men.'
Ge'ez text per Charles/Knibb editions
Then I went and spoke to all of them together, and they were all terrified — fear and trembling seized them.
REF Then I went and spoke to them all together, and they were all afraid, and fear and trembling seized them.
Ge'ez text per Charles/Knibb editions
And they begged me to write a petition for them so that they might find forgiveness, and to read their petition in the presence of the Lord of heaven.
REF And they besought me to draw up a petition for them that they might find forgiveness, and to read their petition in the presence of the Lord of heaven.
Ge'ez text per Charles/Knibb editions
For from that point on they could not speak to God themselves, nor lift up their eyes toward heaven, out of shame for the sins for which they had been condemned.
REF For from thenceforward they could not speak (with Him) nor lift up their eyes to heaven for shame of their sins for which they had been condemned.
Ge'ez text per Charles/Knibb editions
Then I wrote out their petition and their prayer concerning their spirits and their individual deeds, and their request for forgiveness and relief.
REF Then I wrote out their petition, and the prayer in regard to their spirits and their deeds individually and in regard to their requests that they should have forgiveness and length.
Ge'ez text per Charles/Knibb editions
And I went and sat down by the waters of Dan, in the land of Dan, to the south-west of Hermon. I read their petition until I fell asleep.
REF And I went off and sat down at the waters of Dan, in the land of Dan, to the south of the west of Hermon: I read their petition till I fell asleep.
Ge'ez text per Charles/Knibb editions
And a dream came to me, and visions descended upon me, and I saw visions of punishment. A voice came, commanding me to declare it to the sons of heaven and to rebuke them.
REF And behold a dream came to me, and visions fell down upon me, and I saw visions of chastisement, and a voice came bidding (me) to tell it to the sons of heaven, and reprimand them.
Joseph Smith Translation (Footnotes)sacramental
Peter's protest against foot-washing revised
The JST footnote revises Peter's refusal to let Jesus wash his feet, adding depth to the exchange about what it means to have 'part' with Jesus through this act of humility.
Ge'ez text per Charles/Knibb editions
When I awoke, I came to them. They were all sitting together, weeping in Abelsjail — which is between Lebanon and Seneser — with their faces covered.
REF And when I awaked, I came unto them, and they were all sitting gathered together, weeping in 'Abelsjâîl, which is between Lebanon and Sênêsêr, with their faces covered.
Ge'ez text per Charles/Knibb editions
And I recounted before them all the visions I had seen in my sleep, and I began to speak words of righteousness and to rebuke the Watchers of heaven.
REF And I recounted before them all the visions which I had seen in sleep, and I began to speak the words of righteousness, and to reprimand the heavenly Watchers.
Joseph Smith Translation (Footnotes)sacramental
'He that is washed needeth not' — cleansing language in foot-washing discourse clarified
The JST footnote adjusts Jesus's response about the bathed person needing only feet-washing, clarifying the relationship between initial and ongoing purification in the sacramental discourse.