The Grigori

Known also as the The Watchers, Egoroi, Egregori

This page contains information taken directly from:

Please Note: Davidson's definitions of "Grigori" and "The Watchers" contradict one another on several levels. Both of these contradict the list Davidson provides in the appendix of his book.

Grigori: In Jewish legendary lore, the grigori are a superior order of angels in both the 2nd and 5th Heavens (depending on whether they are the holy or unholy ones). They resemble men in appearance, but are taller than giants, and are eternally silent. Ruling prince of the order is Salamiel "who rejected the Lord" (Enoch II). [Rf. Testament of Levi (in the Testament of the Twelve Patriarchs); Talmud Hagiga.] (from p.127)

Watchers: A high order of angels called also the grigori. They never sleep - which is said likewise of the irin (q.v.). Originally, according to The Book of Jubilees, the watchers were sent by God to instruct the children of men, but they fell after they descended to earth and started co-habiting with mortal women [Cf. the "sons of God" in Genesis 6.] In Enoch I there is mention of 7 watchers, and here the story is that they fell because they failed to appear on time for certain tasks apportioned to them. Some versions of rabbinic and cabalistic lore speak of good and evil watchers, with the good watchers still dwelling in the 5th Heaven, the evil ones in the 3rd Heaven (a kind of Hell-in-Heaven realm). Chief among the good watchers are Uriel, Raphael, Raguel, Michael, Zerachiel, Gabriel, Remiel; the evil ones include Azazel, Semyaza, Shamshiel, Kokabel, Sariel, Satanil. In the recently discovered A Genesis Apocryphon, Lamech suspects his wife, Bat-Enosh of having had relations with one of the watchers (called "holy ones or fallen angels") and that Noah is the seed of such a union. Bat-Enosh swears "by the King of the worlds" that the fruit is his (Lamech's). The cause of Lamech's suspicion is the fact that when Noah was born, he immediately started conversing with "the Lord of righteousness" and that his likeness was "in the likeness of the angels of Heaven." Lamech hastens to his father Methuselah for enlightenment. Methuselah in turn appeals to Enoch for the truth. Since the Apocryphon breaks off here, we shall probably never know what Enoch told Methuselah. In Daniel 4:13, 17, the Hebrew prophet speaks of a watcher whom he saw in a vision coming down from Heaven with "a decree of the watchers." [Rf. Mullers, History of Jewish Mysticism, p. 52] (from p.311-312)

The Watchers: According to The Book of Jubilees, the Watchers are the sons of God (Genesis 6) sent from heaven to instruct the children of men - for which act they were condemned (so legend reports) and became fallen angels. But not all Watchers descended: those that remained are the holy Watchers, and they reside in the 5th Heaven. The evil Watchers dwell either in the 3rd Heaven or in Hell. (this definition & the succeeding chart from p. 349)

1. Armaros: Taught men the resolving of enchantments

2. Araqiel (Arakiel): Taught men the signs of the earth..

3. Azazel: Taught men to make knives, swords, shields; to devise ornaments, coloring tinctures for the beautifying of women, etc.

4. Baraqijal (Baraqel): Taught men astrology.

5. Ezequeel (Ezekeel): Taught men the knowledge of clouds.

6. Gadreel: Introduced weapons of war to mortals.

7. Kokabel (Kawkabel, Kakabel): Taught the science of the constellations.

8. Penemue: Instructed mankind in writing "and thereby many sinned from eternity to eternity and until this day. For man was not created for such a purpose." -Enoch I, 7:8. Penemue also taught children the "bitter and sweet, and the secrets of wisdom."

9. Sariel: Taught men the course of the moon.

10. Semjaza (Semyaza): Taught men enchantments, root-cuttings, etc.

11. Shamshiel: Taught men the signs of the sun.

The Fallen Angels (up)