Prayer of Enosh and the Enos Traditions

The Prayer of Enosh and the Traditions of Enos

To Seth was born a son, and he called his name Enosh. In those days men began to call upon the name of the LORD.

The elders told that Enosh was the first to set apart times of prayer and to teach his household to seek the LORD, lifting up their voices together. So the calling upon the Name began in the earth, and a path of prayer was opened among the children of Seth.

Some among the teachers, reading the same words otherwise, told that in the days of Enosh men began to profane the Name, and to make images, saying, “As the LORD is honored in heaven, so let his servants be honored on earth”; and from this beginning idols crept into the world. [Meaning uncertain]

Both readings were handed down: the one, that prayer began with Enosh; the other, that the confusion of worship began with Enosh. The fathers held the first as the better, and prayed:

We call upon your name, O LORD;

be near to those who seek you.

Let our prayer rise like the morning,

and keep us from the snare of images,

that we may worship you alone.

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