The Story Of Lilith
From Ancient Israel: Myths and Legends by Angelo S.
Rappoport
The she-demon Makhlath (the dancer) and her daughter
Agrath4 are two female demons who live in strife with Lilith.
Lilith is accompanied by four hundred and eighty hosts of evil spirits
and destroying angels, and she is constantly howling. Makhlath is accompanied
by four hundred and seventy-eight hosts of evil spirits. She and her
daughter Agrath, from the Zend word Agra = beating, are in constant enmity
with Lilith.
Constant war is waged between them, and they meet on the day of atonement.
Whilst they are thus engaged in quarrel and strife, the prayers of Israel
ascend to Heaven, whilst the accusers are absent, being otherwise enaged.5
Agrath commands hosts of evil spirits and demons, and rides in a big
chariot. Her power is pararnount on Wednesdays and Saturdays, for on
these days Agrath, the daughter of Makhlath, roves about in the air accompanied
by eighteen myriads of evil spirits.6
1. Niddah, 16b; Erubin, 100b.
2. Alphabetum Siracidis (Sepher Ben Sira), edit. Steinschneider, 1858. See
on Lilith. Gaster, in Monatsschrift fuer Gesch. u. Wissenschaft d. Judent.,
Vol. XXIX (1880), pp. 553-555.
3. Elia Levita, Tishbi s.v. Lilith.
4. Pesachim, 112b; Numbers Rabba, 12.
5. Yalkut Chadash, s.v. Keshaphim, No. 56.
6. Pesachim, 112b.
Bacharach, 'Emeq haMelekh, 102d-103a
The Alien Woman is Lilith, and she is the sweetness of sin and the
evil tongue. And from the lips of the Alien Woman honey flows. And although
the Impure Female has no hands and feet for copulation, for the feet
of the serpent were cut off, nevertheless the Female in her adornments
looks as if she had hands and feet. And it is the mystery of her adornments
that she can seduce men.... And she leaves the husband of her youth [Samael]
and descends and fornicates with men who sleep below in the impurity
of spontaneous emission, and from them are born demons and spirits and
Lilin, and they are called the Sons of Man. (Patai81:462ff)
[8]. On Lilith = Serpent = Woman of Whoredom see 'Emeq haMelekh 23c-d.
[AH] The Zohar links sin, lust, and death. All these are the works of
Lilit acting in consort with Sama'el. The phrase "woman of whoredom" is
from Hosea 1:2; "end of all flesh" is from the story of the
Flood, Genesis 6:13; cf. Zohar 162b-63b. [Matt:228] [9]. corresponding
to the number of lashes administered by the court according to rabbinic
law; seee Deut. 25:3; Mishnah, Makkot 3:10. Lilit's allurements soon
turn into punishments. [Matt:228]
[10]. Cf. Talmud Bava Batra 16a, where Satan's itinerary is described: "He
descends and leads astray, ascendas and arouses [God's] anger, obtains permission
and takes the soul." [Matt:228]
[12]. He exposed himself to demonic and sexual temptation as part of his journey
of transformation. [Matt:228]
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THE FOLK INTERPRETATION
On this we need spend little time. The Folk interpretation
of this myth is the most literal, and sees the myth as an actual event.
In this, Lilith is an actual demoness who is blamed for such things as
mothers dying in child-birth, still-birth, crib-death, and erotic dreams
among men.
The succubus aspect of Lilith is perhaps the most complicated. As we know,
the Judaic life was very strict, full of Divine Laws and hundreds of ways in
which a man might break them. Even an impure thought was greatly unwanted,
let alone impure actions. With sexual release being such a taboo, it is no
surprise that erotic dreams were very common—and even more so were they
feared. This was no case of seeing a woman and being aroused. This was committing
the full act, in detail, and enjoying it the entire time! Add to this that
it is not uncommon to dream of women you know, other men's wives among them.
This, then, even became a breaking of one of the Ten Commandments. Not to mention
that the result of these dreams was to be cursed as one who has "spilled
his seed." Yet, this was something that could never be avoided—and
was thus going to be a continuing source of guilt. The relief for this guilt
was to blame it on a succubus, Lilith, rather than yourself.
And what of the demon children that Lilith spawned with
your seed? Why, upon your death, these spirits would hover around your
household, demanding their rightful inheritance from your estate. This
translated into much havoc being wreaked for the family, and may have
been used to explain the hardships associated with death. There were
even steps a family would take to ensure the illegitimate demon-children
were banished from the house upon the husband's death. Of course, Lilith
was not the only possible mother for these children. Jewish Folk Tales
are full of men being tricked into marriages with beautiful demonesses,
Lilith simply being the greatest among them.
It was thus that we have many examples of talismans against
Lilith. The bowls are the earliest examples of this. Even more recent
are the talismans which bear the images of the three Angels and the Hebrew
phrase: "Senoy, and Sansenoy, and Semangeloph! Adam and Eve! Out
Lilith!" These would be hung over wedding beds as well as delivery
tables and cribs. In many cases the inscription was painted upon or over
the door to the place. All of this done as per the agreement Lilith made
with the Enforcer Angels.
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Bacharach, , 'Emeq haMelekh,
84b, 84c, 84d
Lilith is a harlot who fornicates with men. She has no
mating with her husband, for He [God] castrated the male and cooled the
female. And she becomes hot from the fornication of men, through spontaneous
emission. And enough of this.... (Patai81:463) This Lilith -- the Merciful
One save us!-- has dominion over children who issue from a man who has
intercourse at candlelight, or with his wife naked, or at times when
he is forbidden to have intercourse. All those children who issue from
these mentioned, Lilith can kill them any time she wants to , because
they are delivered into her hand. And this is the secret of the children
laughing in their sleep when they are small: it is from Lilith who plays
with them. And I heard that when a small child laughs during the Sabbath
night or the night of the New Moon, it is because Lilith is playing with
him, and it is well that his father or mother or anyone who sees him
laugh should tap his nose with his finger and say: "Go from here,
you accursed one, for you have no resting place here!" Let him say
this three times, and each time he recites this incantation let him tap
the child's nose. And this is very good, for it is in the power of Lilith
to kill them when she wants to. And since she has permission to kill
these infants, these souls are called Oppressed Souls. (Patai81:463f)
Blind Dragon rides Lilith the Sinful -- may she be extirpated quickly
in our days, Amen!-- And this Blind Dragon brings about the union between
Samael and Lilith. And just as the Dragon that is in the sea (Isa. 27:1)
has no eyes, likewise Blind Dragon that is above, in the likeness of
a spiritual form, is without eyes, that is to say, without colors....
(Patai81:458) Samael is called the Slant Serpent, and Lilith is called
the Tortuous Serpent (Isa 27:1). She seduces men to go in tortuous ways....
And know that Lilith too will be killed. For the groomsman [BlindDragon]
who was between her and her husband [Samael] will swallow a lethal potion
at a future time, from the hands of the Prince of Power. For then, when
he rises up, Gabriel and Michael will join forces to subdue and bring
low the government of evil which will be in heaven and earth. (Patai81:468)
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Bacharach, 'Emeq haMelekh, 121b
And he [Blind Dragon] is castrated so that he cannot beget,
lest [his offspring] annihilate the world. (Patai81:458)
Bacharach, 'Emeq haMelekh, 140b
The Blind Dragon is between Samael and the Evil Lilith.
And he brings about a union between them only in the hour of pestilence,
the Merciful One save us! And he is castrated so that the eggs of the
viper should not dome forth into the world. For were it not so, they
would annihilate the world. And that kind which is called Lilin are full
of hair from their heads down to their feet, but on their heads they
have no hair and all their body and face is full of hair. And this Lilith
has fourteen evil times and evil names and evil factions. And all are
ordained to kill the children -- may we be saved!-- and especially through
the witches who are called Kinder Benimmerins in the language of the
Ashkenaz [German]. (Patai81:458f)
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Bacharach, 'Emeq haMelekh, 102d-103a
The Alien Woman is Lilith, and she is the sweetness of sin and the
evil tongue. And from the lips of the Alien Woman honey flows. And although
the Impure Female has no hands and feet for copulation, for the feet
of the serpent were cut off, nevertheless the Female in her adornments
looks as if she had hands and feet. And it is the mystery of her adornments
that she can seduce men.... And she leaves the husband of her youth [Samael]
and descends and fornicates with men who sleep below in the impurity
of spontaneous emission, and from them are born demons and spirits and
Lilin, and they are called the Sons of Man. (Patai81:462ff)
[8]. On Lilith = Serpent = Woman of Whoredom see 'Emeq haMelekh 23c-d.
[AH] The Zohar links sin, lust, and death. All these are the works of
Lilit acting in consort with Sama'el. The phrase "woman of whoredom" is
from Hosea 1:2; "end of all flesh" is from the story of the
Flood, Genesis 6:13; cf. Zohar 162b-63b. [Matt:228]
[9]. corresponding to the number of lashes administered by the court according
to rabbinic law; seee Deut. 25:3; Mishnah, Makkot 3:10. Lilit's allurements
soon turn into punishments. [Matt:228]
[10]. Cf. Talmud Bava Batra 16a, where Satan's itinerary is described: "He
descends and leads astray, ascendas and arouses [God's] anger, obtains permission
and takes the soul." [Matt:228]
[12]. He exposed himself to demonic and sexual temptation as part of his journey
of transformation. [Matt:228]
Bacharach, ''Emeq haMelekh, 19c
And behold, the harsh husk, that is Lilith, is always in
the sheet of the bed of a man and a woman who copulate, in order to take
the sparks of the drops of seed which go waste, because it cannot be
without this, and she creates from them demons, spirits and Lilin. And
there is an incantation to drive away Lilith from the bed and to bring
forth holy souls, which is mentioned in the holy Zohar. (Patai81:463f)
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R. Ya'aqov & R. Yitzhaq
Grandmother Lilith the Great--Samael the great demon and
great king over all demons has intercourse with her. And Ashmodai king
of the demons has intercourse with Little Lilith. The demon whose name
is Qaftzefoni, on rare occasions, when permission is granted him, has
intercourse with, and attaches himself to, and loves, a creature whose
name is Lildtha [Lilith], and she resembles Hagar the Egyptian. A great
jealousy sprang up between Samael the greater prince of all and Ashmodai
king of the demons over Lilith who is called Lilith the Maiden, and who
has the form of a beautiful woman from the head to the navel, and from
the navel down [she is] flaming fire. Like mother like daughter... And
there is no good intention in but only to arouse wars and all kinds of
destruction. And they are occupied with war, the war between Lilith the
Daughter, and Grandmother Lilith.... (Patai81:464) And they say that
of the offspring of Ashmodai and Lilith his wife was fashioned a great
prince in heaven who rules over eighty thousand destroyers and despoilers,
and he is called Sword of Ashmodai the King. And his face flames like
the fire of flame. (Patai81:469)
R. Ya'aqov and R. Yitzhaq
Samael resembles the form of Adam, and Lilith the form of Eve. Both
were born in an androgynous form, corresponding to the form of Adam and
Eve: below and above, two twin forms. And Samael and Grandmother Eve
[i.e., Lilith], who is the Northerner, are emanations from beneath the
Throne of Glory. And the sin [of Adam] caused this evil. (Patai81:453)
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Yalqut R'uveni 147a
And the Kabbalists said that the prince who serves before
her is called Sariel [My Prince is God], and they have received the tradition
that this prince is the greatest king of the demons who rule in the air.
In the middle of the night of Yom Kippur [Day of Atonement], forced by
the acts of the sages and elders, Sariel comes against his will, together
with 131 warriors, flying in the air, and their faces are aflame with
sparks of fire. And the scribe whose name is Pifiron brings, written
and sealed by the hand of Sariel, all the secrets of the firmament, and
reveals them to the elders. And from the emanation of Lilith's prince
come spirits and demons and Lilin, and evil spirits who have the likeness
of humans. And just as all that time Adam was separated from Eve he begot
spirits and demons and Lilin and all kinds of harmful spirits, likewise
Above, so to speak, a spirit of spiritual seduction emerged from Lilith
and brought accusations against the attribute of the Foundation of the
World[3]. And from that time on alien and evil cohorts were born, destroyers
of the world of Above and of Below. And the Holy Seed had no power to
materialize, except in two or three persons such as Seth, Enoch, Metushelah,
Noah, Sem and Eber, but most of the world were idolaters. (Patai81:467)
[1] The author identifies the "two women" mentioned by Zechariah
with Igrat and Naamah, just as he identifies "Wickedness" with
Lilith. [Patai, n. 11]
Zechariah 5:5-11 reads:
Then the angel who talked with me came forward and said to me, "Look
up and see what this is that is coming out.
"I said, "What is it?"
He said, "This is a basket coming out." And he said, "This is
their iniquity in all the land." Then a leaden cover was lifted, and there
was a woman sitting in the basket! And he said, "This is Wickedness." So
he thrust her back into the basket, and pressed the leaden weight down on its
mouth.
Then I looked up and saw two women coming forward. The wind was in
their wings; they had wings like the wings of a stork, and they lifted
up the basket between earth and sky. Then I said to the angel who talked
with me, "Where are they taking the basket?"
He said to me, "To the land of Shinar, to build a house for it; and when
this is prepared, they will set the basket down there on its base." [NRSV]
[2] On BlindDragon as the sexual go-between for Lilith and Samael see
Lilith, Samael and BlindDragon"
[3] One of the divine attributes. [Patai, n. 12]
19. In answer to your question concerning Lilith, I shall explain to
you the essence of the matter. Concerning this point there is a received
tradition from the ancient Sages who made use of the Secret Knowledge
of the Lesser Palaces, which is the manipulation of demons and a ladder
by which one ascends to the prophetic levels. In this tradition it is
made clear that Samael and Lilith were born as one, similar to the form
of Adam and Eve who were also born as one, reflecting what is above.
This is the account of Lilith which was received by the Sages in the
Secret Knowledge of the Palaces. The Matron Lilith is the mate of Samael.
Both of them were born at the same hour in the image of Adam and Eve,
intertwined in each other. Asmodeus the great king of the demons has
as a mate the Lesser (younger) Lilith, daughter of the king whose name
is Qafsefoni. The name of his mate is Mehetabel daughter of Matred, and
their daughter is Lilith.
This is the exact text of what is written in The Chapters of the Lesser
Palaces as we have received it, word for word and letter for letter.
And the scholars of this wisdom possess a very profound tradition from
the ancients. They found it stated in those Chapters that Samael, the
great prince of them all, grew exceedingly jealous of Asmodeus the king
of the demons because of this Lilith who is called Lilith the Maiden
(the young). She is in the form of a beautiful woman from her head to
her waist. But from the waist down she is burning fire--like mother like
daughter. She is called Mehetabel daughter of Matred, and the meaning
is something immersed (mabu tabal). The meaning here is that her intentions
are never for the good. She only seeks to incite wars and various demons
of war and the war between Daughter Lilith and Matron Lilith.
They say that from Asmodeus and his mate Lilith a great prince was born
in heaven. He is the ruler of eighty thousand destructive demons and
is called "the sword of king Asmodeus." His name is Alefpene'ash
and His face burns like a raging fire ('esh). He is also called Gurigur,
for he antagonizes and struggles with the prince of Judah, who is called
Gur Aryeh Yehudah (Lion-cub of Judah). From the same form that gave birth
to this war-demon another prince, a prince whose root is in Kingdom,
was born in heaven. He is called "the sword of the Messiah." He
too has two names: Meshihi'el and Kokhvi'el. When the time comes and
when God wishes, this sword will leave its sheath and verses of prophecy
will come True: "For My sword shall be drunk in the heavens; Lo,
it shall come down upon Edom" (Isaiah 34:5). "A star rises
from Jacob" (Numbers; 24:17). Amen. Soon in our days may we merit
to see the face of the Messiah our righteous one; we and all our people....
22. I shall now teach you a wonderful innovation. You already know
that evil Samael and wicked Lilith are like a sexual pair who, by means
of an intermediary, receive an evil and wicked emanation from one and
emanate to the other. I shall explain this relying on the esoteric meaning
in the verse "In that day the Lord will punish with His great, cruel,
mighty sword Leviathan the twisted serpent and Leviathan the tortuous
serpent"--this is Lilith--"and He will slay the dragon of the
sea" (Isaiah 27:1). As there is a pure Leviathan in the sea and
it is called a serpent, so there is a great defiled serpent in the sea
in the literal sense. The same holds true above in a hidden way. The
heavenly serpent is a blind prince, the image of an intermediary between
Samael and Lilith. Its name is Tanin'iver[24] The masters of tradition
said that just as this serpent slithers without eyes, so the supernal
serpent has the image of a spiritual form without color--these are "the
eyes." The tradiationists call it an eyeless creature, therefore
its name is Tanin'iver. He is the bond, the accompaniment, and the union
between Samael and Lilith. If he were created whole in the fullness of
his emanation he would have destroyed the world in an instant. .
When the divine Will arrives and the emanation of Samael and Lilith
weakens the emanation achieved by the blind prince, they will be completely
annihilated by Gabriel prince of Strength, who instigates war against
them with the aid of the prince of Lovingkindness. then the verse which
we have expounded according to its secret meaning will come true....
24. I found written in the name of an ancient traditionist and in the
name of the perfect Hasid of blessed memory[25] that Lilith is also Taninsam.[26]
They said that this name is based on the serpent who is in the image
of an intermediary between Lilith and her mate. He will eat deadly poison
at the hands of the prince of Strength; it is an elixir of life for all
whose inclination overcomes them. Then he participates with Michael,
the prince of Lovingkindness, in defeating the rule of evil in heaven
and on earth. Then the verse will come true: "For His Lovingkindness
has overcome us; the truth of God endures forever. Hallelujah" (Psalms
117:2).
The secret of the covenant of salt (melab)[27] is the kingdom of the
accompaniment of beauty[28] Therefore they hinted with secrets regarding
the salted fish [Leviathan] to feed the righteous in future time. Happy
is he who understands these things as they are.
Notes
[24]. Literally "blind serpent."
[25]. Rabbi Judah the Hasid?
[26]. Literally; "poisonous serpent," but also "blind" (suma').
[27]. See Numbers 18:19.
[28]. Malkhut Leviat Hen.
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Yalqut R'uveni 147a
And the Kabbalists said that the prince who serves before her is called
Sariel [My Prince is God], and they have received the tradition that
this prince is the greatest king of the demons who rule in the air. In
the middle of the night of Yom Kippur [Day of Atonement], forced by the
acts of the sages and elders, Sariel comes against his will, together
with 131 warriors, flying in the air, and their faces are aflame with
sparks of fire. And the scribe whose name is Pifiron brings, written
and sealed by the hand of Sariel, all the secrets of the firmament, and
reveals them to the elders. And from the emanation of Lilith's prince
come spirits and demons and Lilin, and evil spirits who have the likeness
of humans. And just as all that time Adam was separated from Eve he begot
spirits and demons and Lilin and all kinds of harmful spirits, likewise
Above, so to speak, a spirit of spiritual seduction emerged from Lilith
and brought accusations against the attribute of the Foundation of the
World[3]. And from that time on alien and evil cohorts were born, destroyers
of the world of Above and of Below. And the Holy Seed had no power to
materialize, except in two or three persons such as Seth, Enoch, Metushelah,
Noah, Sem and Eber, but most of the world were idolaters. (Patai81:467)
[1] The author identifies the "two women" mentioned by Zechariah
with Igrat and Naamah, just as he identifies "Wickedness" with
Lilith. [Patai, n. 11]
Zechariah 5:5-11 reads:
Then the angel who talked with me came forward and said to me, "Look up
and see what this is that is coming out."
I said, "What is it?"
He said, "This is a basket coming out." And he said, "This is
their iniquity in all the land." Then a leaden cover was lifted, and there
was a woman sitting in the basket! And he said, "This is Wickedness." So
he thrust her back into the basket, and pressed the leaden weight down on its
mouth.
Then I looked up and saw two women coming forward. The wind was in their wings;
they had wings like the wings of a stork, and they lifted up the basket between
earth and sky. Then I said to the angel who talked with me, "Where are
they taking the basket?"
He said to me, "To the land of Shinar, to build a house for it; and when
this is prepared, they will set the basket down there on its base." [NRSV]
[2] On BlindDragon as the sexual go-between for Lilith and Samael see Lilith,
Samael and BlindDragon"
[3] One of the divine attributes. [Patai, n. 12]
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Kabbala: Lilith the Seductress
In the following passages Lilith is revealed in her role
as succubus. Her job in this guise is to sleep with men (which they experience
as wet dreams), or otherwise collect their semen. Then she becomes pregnant
from them and bears demonic children. This process begins with Adam who
attempts celibacy for a period of time. That separation from his wife
leaves him vulnerable to Lilith (and Naamah, who functions similarly).
There may, in this, be an underlying invective against the practice of
celibacy as part of religious dedication. Celibacy was obviously a part
of Christianity at the time and the story teller may hope to prevent
its catching on in Jewish circles. Lilith may also collect semen even
from the marriage bed, though. The sage must be careful to ensure that
she is denied access to the bedroom through both proper modesty and the
performance of prophylactic rituals. Naamah, like Lilith, is a demon-seductress.
In that sense their roles appear identical. Naamah, however, doesn't
have Lilith's baby-stealer(/corrupter) role.
Kabbala: Lilith, Queen of the Demons
There are at least two demonesses named Lilith, and numerous
others with similar jobs on the dark side. Samael and his wife Lilith
the greater rule over all...
Kabbala: Lilith , Samael and Blindragon
Lilith's husband, Samael, has been castrated. In order
to have sexual union with him, they must use a third character, BlindDragon.
I'm not sure I want to know how this works. See also Pardes Rimmonim
186d
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School of the RaShBA
Then came two women harlots to King Solomon. They were
Lilith and Igrat. Lilith who strangles children because she cannot make
of them a veil for herself to serve as a hiding place for her. And the
second is Igrat. On night King David slept in the camp in the desert,
and Igrat coupled with him in his dream. And he had emission, and she
conceived and bore Adad [king of Edom]. When they asked him, "What
is your name?" he said, "Sh'mi Ad, Ad Sh'mi [My name is Ad,
Ad is my name]," and they called him Ashm'dai. He is Ashmodai, king
of the demons, who deprived Solomon of his kingship and sat on his throne,
and therefore he was of the seed of the king of Edom (1Ki. 11:14), for
he came from the side of the kingdom of evil. These two women strangled
the son of the Shunamite woman.... All [the four queens of the demons,
Lilith, Igrat, Mahalath and Naamah] and all their cohorts give birth
to children, except Lilith alone, who does not bear, but is just a fornication
in the world.... (Patai81:459)
b. Shab. 151b
Rabbi Hanina said, "One may not sleep alone in a
house, for Lilith takes hold of whoever sleeps alone in a house."
b. Baba Bathra 73a-b
Rabba bar bar Hana said, "I once saw Hormin, a son
of Lilith, running on the battlements of Mahoza.... When the demonic
government heard of it, they killed him [for showing himself]."
Nathan Nata Poira, Tuv haAretz,
p 19
Know that there are seventy heavenly patrons, one appointed over each
nation, and they all are under the rule of Samael and Rahab. Rahab was
given as his share all the borders of Egypt, which measures 400 by 400
parsangs Samael was given four kingdoms, and in each of them he has a
concubine. The names of his concubines are: Lilith, whom he took as his
consort, and she is the first one; the second is Naamah; the third, Even
Maskit; and the fourth, Igrat daughter of Mahalath. and the four kingdoms
are: first the kingdom of Damascus, in which is found the house of Rimmon;
the second, the kingdom of Tyre, which is opposite the land of Israel;
the third, the kingdom of Malta, which formerly was called Rhodos (?);
and the fourth, the kingdom called Granata [Granada], and some say that
it is the kingdom of Ishmael. And in each of these four kingdoms dwells
one of the four aforementioned concubines. (Patai81:460f)
Targum, Job 1:15
Lilith, the Queen of Zemargad, launched an attack and seized [the sons
of Job] and killed the young men.... (Patai81:465)
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Moses Cordovero, Pardes Rimmonim
186d
The ancient ones explained that there are two Liliths,
one little and one great. The great one is the spouse of Samael, and
she is a woman of harlotry, and the little one is the spouse of Ashmodai.
And about this Lilith, the bride of Samael, the Geonim explained the
she controls 480 legions as is the numerical value of her name. And on
the Day of Atonement they go forth into the deserts, they march, and
she screeches for she is the princess of screeching And Mahalath daughter
of Ishmael, she too is a concubine of Samael, and the two [Lilith and
Mahalath] go forth with 478 legions. She goes and sings in the Holy Tongue
songs and paens. And when the two meet on the Day of Atonement they quarrel
there in the desert. They strive, the one with the other, until their
voices rise up to heaven, and the earth shakes with their clamor. And
all this is brought about by the Holy One, blessed be He, so that they
should not accuse Israel while they [Israel] pray. And others wrote that
that husk [i.e., demoness] is called Meshullahel [Messenger of God],
and the reason is that she sends out evil angels, may the Merciful One
destroy them! And we found it written that the wicked Samael and the
evil Lilith have the likeness of a couple which, with the intermediacy
of a groomsman, receives an emanation of evil and insolence, flowing
from the one to the other.
And about this mystery it is written, And on that day
the Lord with His sore and great and strong sword will punish Leviathan
the Slant Serpent, and Leviathan the Tortuous Serpent, and He will slay
the Dragon that is in the sea (Isa. 27:1). Leviathan is the connection
and the coupling between the two who have the likeness of serpents.[2]
Therefore it is doubled: the Slant Serpent corresponding to Samael, and
the Tortuous Serpent corresponding to Lilith.... (Patai81:464f) The DragonAbove
is the BlindPrince who has the likeness of an intermediary groomsman
between Samael and Lilith, and his name is Tanin'iver, BlindDragon. And
he is like a blind dragon...and it is he who brings about the adhesion
and coupling between Samael and Lilith. Had he been created whole, in
the completeness of his emanation, he would have destroyed the world
in one minute. (Patai81:458)
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