According to post-biblical Midrash, eight people are said to have entered, or will enter, heaven (also sometimes referred to as the Garden of Eden or paradise) without experiencing death.
Here's a breakdown of those individuals:
- Enoch: Mentioned in Genesis 5:22-24, it's said that Enoch "walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away." This is interpreted as being taken directly to heaven.
- Elijah: 2 Kings 2:11 describes Elijah being carried to heaven in a whirlwind.
- Serah, daughter of Asher, son of Jacob: This figure is mentioned in the Midrash Yalkut Shimoni, Yechezkel 367.
While these three are commonly cited, certain traditions add further names to the list, with varying degrees of acceptance:
Therefore, while the exact number can vary slightly based on the specific tradition, the generally accepted answer based on Midrashic literature is eight.
