Samael

Samael is an important figure in Talmudic and post-Talmudic lore, a figure who is accuser, seducer, and destroyer. Legends referring to Satan refer equally to him, such that Samael is often taken to be the true or angelic name of the Devil, as opposed to the epithet, Lucifer(light-bearer), which is based on a misapprehension of a verse against the King of Tyre, or the job title, Satan (Adversary). Samael cannot always be simply identified with Satan, since in the Books of Enoch, Satan's angelic name is confirmed to be Satanail or Satanael. Although, different translations of the Book of Enoch give the name Satanael as Samael, so there is still heavy discussion amongst scholars.

Related Topics:
Talmudic - Seducer - Satan - Angelic - Devil - Lucifer - Satanail - Satanael - Book of Enoch

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Samael appears in the Ars Goetia, under the name Göap.

Related Topics:
Ars Goetia - Göap

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Samael is etymologized as "Venom of God," since he is sometimes identified with the Angel of death. But the name could also be derived from that of the Syrian god Shemal.

Related Topics:
God - Angel of death - Syrian - Shemal

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In Jewish lore, he is said to be the Angel of Death, the chief ruler of the 7th Heaven, one of the 7 regents of the world served by 2 million angels; on the other hand, St. John speaks of him in the Book of Revelation as the "great serpent with 12 wings that draws after him, in his fall, the solar system." Yalkut I, 110 of the Talmud speaks of Samael as Esau's guardian angel. In Sotah 10b, Samael is Edom's guardian angel, and in the Sayings of Rabbi Eliezer, he is charged with being the one who tempted Eve, then seduced and impregnated her with Cain. Though other sources state Gadreel as being the angel which seduced Eve. According to some Hebrew scholars, it was Samael who tempted Eve in the guise of the Serpent. Samael is also sometimes identified as being the angelic antagonist that wrestled Jacob at Esau, and as the angel which held back the arm of Abraham when the latter was about to sacrifice his son.

Related Topics:
Book of Revelation - Yalkut - Talmud - Sotah - Cain - Gadreel - Abraham

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In The Holy Kabbalah (p. 255), Samael is described as the "severity of God" and is listed as 5th of the archangels of the world of Briah. Samael is said to have taken Lilith as his bride after she left Adam. According to Zoharistic cabala, also among Samael's mates were Eisheth Zenunium, Naamah and Agrat bat Mahlat - all angels of prostitution. Samael is also perhaps the true Personification of Wrath, rather than Satan, seeing as how Samael is also sometimes associated with Asmodeus, the demon of lust and wrath, and Satan is considered a juridical adversary, directed by God.

Related Topics:
The Holy Kabbalah - Briah - Asmodeus

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After Isaac Luria had introduced the practice of not pronouncing the name of Satan, the custom of calling Samael Samekh Mem became widespread among cabalists.

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