Guide
Otherworldly Journeys in Early Jewish Literature
3rd Century BCE–3rd Century CE
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By Carol Bakhos
Apocalypses that describe otherworldly journeys feature humans who are taken to visit the divine other world, where they learn about the structure of the cosmos, God’s heavenly temple, the origins of evil, and other mysteries.
Related Primary Sources
Primary Source
God’s Celestial Palace and Enoch’s Commission
1 Enoch 14:8–25
And in the vision thus it appeared to me: Behold, clouds called me in the vision, and mists summoned me. Shooting-stars and lightnings urged me on and whirled me along, and in my vision winds gave me…
Primary Source
Bodily Ascent to Heaven
2 Enoch 22:5–23:2
And the Lord, with his own mouth, said to me, “Courage, Enoch, do not fear! Arise and stand before my face forever.” And Michael, the archistratege [highest archangel], lifted me up and…
Primary Source
The Grapevine in the Garden of Eden
3 Baruch 4:7–17
And the angel said to me, “When God made the garden and commanded Michael to gather two hundred thousand and three angels so that they could plant the garden, Michael planted the olive and Gabriel…
Primary Source
Phoenix, Guardian of the World
3 Baruch 6:1–16
And taking me, he led me where the sun goes forth. And he showed me a chariot drawn by four horses and fire underneath it. And upon the chariot sat a man wearing a fiery crown. The chariot was drawn…
Primary Source
Vision of the Glory of God
Apocalypse of Abraham 15:1–17:21
And it came to pass when the sun was setting, and behold a smoke like that of a furnace, and the angels who had the divided portions of the…