Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!ub!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: dhosek@euler.claremont.edu (Don Hosek) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Lilith Message-ID: Date: 4 Jun 91 02:43:38 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: Harvey Mudd College Lines: 38 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In article , donaldm@eng.auburn.edu (Donald H MacGregor) writes: > Can someone tell me about Lilith? (including scriptural references) Lilith was Adam's first wife (note: before I go any further, let me indicate that I am simply presenting the legend and not claiming any of this to be truth). She was born in a gloss on the verse in Genesis, "And God created them man and woman, man and woman he created them." She apparently was a bit less submissive than Eve and became rather upset that Adam wouldn't let her be on top. In a fit of rage, she used God's holy name to give her the power to leave the Garden of Eden and flew to the shores of the Red Sea where she met with the demons: the demons, in Jewish mythology were leftover souls from creation which had no bodies. They were also all male. As such, they were more than willing to let Lilith be on top. In these circumstances, she became their queen (with Asmodeus as her King). She is a frequent figure in Jewish folktales, often associated with the Queen of Sheba. The only explicit reference to her in the Bible (other than the Genesis "mention" above) is in Psalm 34 (although some translations render this "Screech owl" or "night monster"). She is said to menace pregnant women and children and to haunt deserted ruins. The legend appears in its earliest extant form in the Talmud (don't know exactly where) and is believed to be of Babylonian origin. A good source for stories about her is a collection of Jewish folktales edited by Howard Schwartz entitled "Lilith's Cave". I had a chance to hear a talk on the topic by Schwartz a few years back in Chicago (it was a rather interesting experience being not only the only gentile in the room, but also apparently the only person not collecting from their pension plan, but at lunchtime on a Monday at the something Institute of Judaica, what does one expect?) and it was really quite fascinating. I definitely recommend reading any of Schwartz' collections for those interested in Judaica or folktales. -dh