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by Yair Davidiy
[Job 1:6] Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them.
Contents:
Introduction.
(1. Concerning Lucifer and Satan.
(2. Concerning Satan and the Power of Adversity.
(3. Satan as an Agent of the Almighty?
(4. Satan and Modern Ideological Movements.
(5. Will A Future Adherent of Satan Lead the World Against Israel?
(6. Satan as the Great Accuser.
(7. Satan as Samael or the Protective Spirit of Esau-Edom.
(8. Satan in the Book of Job.
(9. Interim Conclusions.
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Introduction.
We in Brit-Am regard ourselves as scholars and students. We try to learn with you and alongside you rather than laying down doctrine. We present information and form opinions based on it. Later we are prepared to moderate and adapt our conclusions according to whatever additional knowledge and input of opinion we may receive.
Recently in our study of the Book of Job we realized that a more comprehensive consideration of who or what the Satan is should be presented.
Below we give a collation of remarks (slightly adapted here and there) and Brit-Am commentaries concerning the Satan that we have made over the years.
(1. Concerning Lucifer and Satan.
[Ezekiel 28:16]
http://britam.org/ezekiel/chapter28.html
[Ezekiel 28:16] BY THE MULTITUDE OF THY MERCHANDISE THEY HAVE FILLED THE MIDST OF THEE WITH VIOLENCE, AND THOU HAST SINNED: THEREFORE I WILL CAST THEE AS PROFANE OUT OF THE MOUNTAIN OF GOD: AND I WILL DESTROY THEE, O COVERING CHERUB, FROM THE MIDST OF THE STONES OF FIRE.
The Prophet is speaking about the King of Tyre and the verses have been understood as also alluding to a mystical being, a kind of angel who was expelled. This person was identified by Greek Jews with Lucifer and with
the Satan. Later the Christians took this identification up.
Cf. Isaiah and our Commentary there:
[Isaiah 14:12] HOW ART THOU FALLEN FROM HEAVEN, O LUCIFER, SON OF THE MORNING! HOW ART THOU CUT DOWN TO THE GROUND, WHICH DIDST WEAKEN THE NATIONS!
"LUCIFER, SON OF THE MORNING" in Hebrew "Hilel ben Shachar". Here Babylon is epitomized by a prince of Tyre who like Babylon ascribed to himself divinity.
Christian tradition identified "Lucifer" with an angel who rebelled against God and became the Satan or devil. A whole doctrine has developed around this concept. The tradition has Jewish folk-lore roots derived from
Apocryphal Literature and obscure sources. The concept of fallen angels does exist in legend and in Jewish mysticism. Mainstream Judaism does not concern itself overduly with this subject. Judaism in general at the practical level concentrates on what one should do and how one should think and act. Other considerations are related to as largely superfluous.
Even so, a lot of attention in some schools of thought is dedicated to overcoming the Evil Impulse whom the Satan represents.
There is such a thing as a "Satan" and there are forces of evil. "Satan" in Hebrew means adversary. We all have internal and external adversaries to doing what we should. We should strive to overcome,
cast down, or re-channel all negative forces.
On the simple level the Prophet is referring to a real political entity that once existed. On the other hand the imagery used does lend itself to supernatural interpretations.
# AND I WILL DESTROY THEE, O COVERING CHERUB, FROM THE MIDST OF THE STONES OF FIRE#:
Was this man himself? Was the real "satan" a force inside of us?
(2. Concerning Satan and the Power of Adversity.
[Psalms 109:6]
http://britam.org/psalms/psalms109.html
[Psalms 109:6] SET THOU A WICKED MAN OVER HIM: AND LET SATAN STAND AT HIS RIGHT HAND.
This is part of a curse against an evildoer. Satan represents the Power of Adversity. In other words let everything he tries come undone. Anyone who has ever had a string of bad luck knows just how potent this malediction can be.
The thing is that everything has a reason even if we are unaware of it and everything can come to an end. Even bad luck can come to an end.
We should always continue to believe in the Almighty, pray, and do what we can. Sooner or later the Almighty will save us and help us. Even if HE does not for reasons of HIS own we at least will not be ashamed or be less ashamed when the time comes for Judgement. Someone who does not believe in the Almighty or believes yet still acts in an evil manner will experience the opposite effects...
(3. Satan as an Agent of the Almighty?
http://britam.org/2samuel-24.html
[2-Samuel 24:1] AND AGAIN THE ANGER OF THE LORD WAS KINDLED AGAINST ISRAEL, AND HE MOVED DAVID AGAINST THEM TO SAY, GO, NUMBER ISRAEL AND JUDAH.
The previous chapter ended with the recollection of Uriah the Hittite where Uriah is listed at the end of the list of Warriors: URIAH THE HITTITE.. The Sages suggested that Uriah was listed here at the end in order that his name should adjoin the first verse in our chapter concerning the anger of the Almighty "again" being kindled against Israel. The Sages said that Israel was liable for punishment as well as the King because they had not protested when the matter (of David sinning against Uriah) became public.
In the parallel account in Chronicles it says,
AND SATAN STOOD UP AGAINST ISRAEL, AND PROVOKED DAVID TO NUMBER ISRAEL [1-Chronicles 21:1].
"Satan" in Hebrew connotes "Adversary". It can mean what we call the "Devil" or otherwise some element or cause that works to our detriment.
The Commentary "MishbatzotZehav" (Moshe Yaacov Weiss, 5763) suggests several possibilities (according to the sources) to explain the above passage. Israel had sinned but the punishment had been suspended. Now temptation was being placed before them in order to settle accounts.
In our private lives when we look back we may find instances of a similar sequence. It may happen that we live ordinary lives and then suddenly encounter serious temptation. We either succumb or we overcome. Probably at some time or other both eventualities have played themselves out in our lives. When we look back we may realize that when we overcame we passed a test; a formative stage that helped us keep going well for a good long time. When we look back at the times we gave in we may realize that just before that time we had been on an upward path that afterwards we never really succeed in getting back on.
The message we should receive from the above is that every minute may be important and every temptation a turning point for better or for worse depending on whether we overcome or go under.
(4. Satan and Modern Ideological Movements.
By going to a foreign god you are not only betraying the ALMIGHTY. You are also committing treason against Israel. The Hebrew people will be subject to foreign influences, thought patterns, and domination whenever they turn to foreign gods.
Our young people and intellectuals who take an interest in Asiatic idolatry or in pagan practices are making a mistake. This mistake is liable to have serious consequences. This is not a new phenomenon but it is perhaps getting worse. In the past the British and American upper classes placed too much importance on Greek and Roman Mythology. Nationalist elements also tried to play with Ancient Germanic and "Celtic" idolatry. They still do. This was compounded with Spiritualism and sometimes Demonology. The climate that gave rise to the Nazis and others did not stop at human sacrifice. This is not something we have picked up from some wacky Conspiracy site but rather a known truth that they themselves admitted.
See:
Hitler and the secret Satanic cult at the heart of Nazi Germany
by Danny Penman
http://www.newsmonster.co.uk/paranormal-unexplained/hitler-and-the-secret-satanic-cult-at-the-heart-of-nazi-germany.html
Nowadays we are going along the same downward path.
On the one hand, we have:
The left wing with its Mother Earth philosophy, liberal usage of chemical substances, tolerance of perversion, and easy going attitude to the murder of unwanted babies in their mothers wombs. This attitude contributed to the placing in the Presidency of a Black Muslim Hater of Whites and of Israelites, a nut case, who despises us all.
On the other hand we have the Serpent Doctrine People and the Identity Freaks... The Identity Freaks advocate treason, hatred, and self-destruction. Under the guise of Israelite Identity they want the Israelite Peoples to deny their true Biblical Heritage and betray Judah. The Jew in popular imagery is sometimes represented by Judas. The irony is that Judah is the one being sold out. It happens every time.
Isaiah 8: 18 Here am I and the children whom the LORD has given me! We are for signs and wonders in Israel. From the LORD of Hosts, Who dwells in Mount Zion.
Isaiah 8: 19 And when they say to you, Seek those who are mediums and wizards, who whisper and mutter, should not a people seek their God? Should they seek the dead on behalf of the living?
Isaiah 8: 20 To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
(5. Will A Future Adherent of Satan Lead the World Against Israel?
http://britam.org/now/807aNow.html
From the Book of Isaiah:
Babylon is likened unto the Morning Star ("Hillel ben Shachar" literally "Shining son of the Morning") high up in the heavens which is brought down to the depths. This is translated in the King James as "LUCIFER, SON OF THE MORNING" (14:12). "Lucifer" was an angel who rebelled against God (Isaiah 14:12-15) and was cast out of heaven becoming the Satan. This interpretation appears to be of Jewish origin and is referred to in some Jewish sources BUT it was later emphasized by Christianity and has become associated with Christian Doctrine. Whoever "Hillel ben Shachar" (Lucifer) represents Isaiah continues and applies his figuration as representing a real historical personage who headed a might Empire (will a new Hitler arise? Someone more terrible than Hitler, Stalin, and Mao together?) who upset kingdoms (14:16), made the world a wilderness, destroying cities and creating "Gulags" of slave labor (14:17). While other national leaders have peace in the grave "Lucifer" (the new Greater Stalin-Hitler enhanced clone) will be expelled from his tomb like the mythical figure "Netser", translated as "branch" (14:19). He (whoever "he" is) will have murdered his own people. The descendants of Babylon will be destroyed (14:2-22). Assyria will be destroyed in the Land of God and trodden down on His hillsides. The yoke of Assyria will be removed (14:25). All of this has been decided by the Almighty to befall all the nations of the earth. It will come to pass (14:26-27).
(6. Satan as the Great Accuser.
http://britam.org/Kings/1Kings22.html
1-Kings 22:21 Then a spirit came forward and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him.
BAC. Spirit. Hebrew "ruach".
These are matters we no little about.
Below are different explanations:
Yehudah Kiel (Daat Mikra):
# "spirit" (ruach) a certain angel whose task is to seduce and entice human beings to commit sins and foolish deeds. #
The Sages said: A person does not sin unless a spirit of stupidity enters into him.
Psalm 104:4 Who makes His angels spirits, His ministers a flame of fire.
Judges 9:23 God sent a spirit of ill will between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech,
At the beginning of the Book of Job and in the Book of Zechariah (3:1-2) this spirit is referred to as the "satan" or adversary.
The Sages said that this spirit was connected to the death of Naboth (1-Kings 21:1-10).
The Malbim points out that Ahab (through his wife Jezebel) had been responsible for the death of Nabaoth by bearing false witness against him.
Now he was being punished by "measure for measure" in that the Spirit was causing his "prophets" to bear false witness in their prophesying for him.
The "spirit" here may be understood as representing the "satan" or power of adversity he had created through his transgression.
(7. Satan as Samael or the Protective Spirit of Esau-Edom.
http://britam.org/Daniel/Michael.html
Extracts:
Esau was blessed by his father Isaac:
[Genesis 27:40] AND BY THY SWORD SHALT THOU LIVE, AND SHALT SERVE THY BROTHER; AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS WHEN THOU SHALT HAVE THE DOMINION, THAT THOU SHALT BREAK HIS YOKE FROM OFF THY NECK.
Esau was a military man. The Talmud says that every war requires the presence of Esau in order to achieve victory.
"THAT THOU SHALT BREAK HIS YOKE FROM OFF THY NECK": Onkelos translates this to say that when Jacob sins then Esau will assert his independence or even acquire domination over Jacob.
The "Guardian Angel" of Esau was called "Samael" by the Sages possibly from the word-root "SAME" meaning "blind" and indicating that Samael has a blinding influence concerning how the world is run.
Esau like Jacob is scattered throughout the nations of world but has a dominating influence in some of them.
The Midrash (Shemot Rabah 18;5) says:
# At that time [the End Times] Michael the Great Prince who guards the Children of Your People will stand up to demand the needs of Israel. He will speak on their behalf as it says,
"THEN THE ANGEL OF THE LORD ANSWERED AND SAID, O LORD OF HOSTS, HOW LONG WILT THOU NOT HAVE MERCY ON JERUSALEM AND ON THE CITIES OF JUDAH" [Zechariah 1:12].
He [God] said there is no-one who struggles with me on behalf of My People except Michael,
"THERE IS NONE THAT HOLDETH WITH ME IN THESE THINGS, BUT MICHAEL YOUR PRINCE" [Daniel 10:21].
Rabbi Yose said what are Michael and Samael like?
[They may be compared to] the Prosecutor and the Defence in a Court of Law. First one speaks, then the other. One finishes what he has to say then the other does as well. The Defence knows he has won the case and he begins to praise the Judge who is issuing a Writ of Acquittal.
The Prosecution then requests to add something. The Defence tells him to be silent and listen to the Judge. So Michael and Samael stand before the Divine Presence. The Satan [i.e. the Adversary, Samael] attempts to speak and Michael silences him, as it says,
"I WILL HEAR WHAT GOD THE LORD WILL SPEAK: FOR HE WILL SPEAK PEACE [Hebrew: Shalom, i.e. well-being] UNTO HIS PEOPLE" [Psalms 85:8].
JOSEF GIKALITA (1248- c. 1310 CE) in "Shaarei Orah" ("The Gates of Light", Gates Two, Three) says:
# ...These Princes [Guardian Angels] of the [non-Israelite] Peoples do not help Israel at all, as it says,
"THERE IS NONE THAT HOLDETH WITH ME IN THESE THINGS, BUT MICHAEL YOUR PRINCE" [Daniel 10:21].
# This is even more pertinent regarding Samael the Prince [Guardian Angel ] of Edom [Esau] who stands and says negative things about Israel all the time and seeks to appeal against them and destroy their merits. So too the Prosecuting Forces amongst the [non-Israelite] Peoples of the World all stand between earth and heaven like a walled barrier to cut the connection between Israel and their Father in Heaven...
# Even in the Land of Israel [this principle holds] as it says,
BUT YOUR INIQUITIES HAVE SEPARATED BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR GOD, AND YOUR SINS HAVE HID HIS FACE FROM YOU, THAT HE WILL NOT HEAR [Isaiah 59:2].
Just as we are influenced by heavenly forces above us so too can we influence those forces.
Sin weakens, good deeds strengthen both above and below.
By our deeds, thoughts, and intentions we can give power to our own national "angel" and thus serve our own peoples as well as ourselves.
(8. Satan in the Book of Job.
[Job 1:6] Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them.
Here it seems that the Satan is also one of the Sons of God?
Sons of God in Hebrew is "Bnei Ha-Elohim".
Sons of God according to the Sages means the Angelic Spiritual forces through which the Almighty rules the world.
Sons in Hebrew Ben (singular) and Bnei (possessive plural) does not necessarily mean literally offspring. It can also refer to members of a group e.g. Sons of the Prophets (1-Kings 20:35).
The Almighty uses the Satan for his own purposes but this does not mean that the Satan is devoid of a will of his own
Satan in Hebrew means "adversary, accuser" usually with malicious intent.
The name is probably related to the root word "SoTeH" connoting divert, turn from the right path, pervert, incite, etc.
In Judaism I would say there is not that much emphasis on the Satan as a distinct personality.
The Satan is said to represent the Evil Impulse.
We all have positive and negative inclinations.
Even the negative impulses can be channelled for good purposes. The problem arises when the negative urges take over.
There are those who consider the Satan in the Book of Job to not be a real entity but rather a simile for the power of adversity.
Even though the Satan plays a central role in the Book of Job understanding (or not understanding) who the Satan is should not really affect our appreciation of the message that the Book of Job gives us.
(9. Interim Conclusions.
Whether the Satan means the Evil Impulse inside of us and no more than that or it represents something else of interdependent Malevolence we cannot say.
Perhaps both opinions are pertinent?
We should all strive to do as well we can for the sake of good with what we have.
If we act in this way the Almighty will show us the path we should go in.
See Also:
Job 2:1-3 Satan and Incitement.
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