B. Greek Apocalypse of Ezra
revolving upon their ears. And I said, "Who are these and what is their sin? And they said
to me, "These are the eavesdroppers" . . . And they led me away.. . . and there I saw a
man hanging from his eyelids and the angels were beating him. And I asked, "Who is this
man and what is his sin?" And Michael the archistrategos said to me, "This man is
incestuous; having carried out a small lust, this man was commanded to be hanged"
(4:15-19, 22-24).
In these tours certain groups of angelic beings were often described as executors of the
punishments that God considered appropriate, including punishments involving varieties of
hangings.
C. Vision of Ezra
[angels[ were throwing fire in their faces; others . . . were whipping them with fiery
scourges.. . . And Ezra said, "Who are they, who are in such torments daily?" The angels
said, "They dwelled with married women; the married women are those who adorned
themselves not for their husbands, but that they might please others, desiring an evil
desire." Ezra said, "Lord, have mercy on the sinners." . . . And he saw virgins with five
hundred pound neck irons on.. . . And Ezra said, "Who are they?" And the angels said,
"They violated their virginity before marriage." . . . And he saw visions of a furnace
against . . . which were sent many kings and princes of this world; and many thousands of
poor people were accusing them and saying, "They, through their power, wounded us and
dragged free men into servitude." . . . And he saw in a most obscure place another furnace
burning, into which many women were cast. And he said, "Who are they?" And the
angels said, "They had sons in adultery and killed them" And those little ones accused
them, saying, "Lord, the souls which you gave to us these (women) took away" (12-13,
15-18, 43-45, 48-49, 51-53).
These punishments are not unlike those of other Christian Tours of Hell recorded in the New
Testament Apocrypha.
In response to the extreme torments that he saw in his Tour of Hell (partially quoted