The Idaho scimitar. [volume] (Boise, Idaho) 1907-1908, 1908-07-11
Adams First Wife.

New York Tribune: The Talmudists say that
Adam had wife before Eve, whose name was Li11is
or Ii1lith Refusing to submit to Adam, she left
Paradise for region of the air She still haunts
the night as spectre and is especially hostile to
new born infants. The fable of Lilith was invented
to reconcile Genesis I with Genesis II. Genesis I
represents the simultaneous creation of man and
woman out of the earth, but Genesis II represents
that Adam alone and Eve made out of
rib and given to Adam as helpmeet for him. Of
the three Assyrian demons, Lu, Liit and Ardat Lii
it. the second is referred to in Isaiah xxxiv A. She
is said have been worshpped by the Jewish exiles
as goddess of light. Lilith is more fully described
in Biblical literature, where she appears as a
demon of night Three classes of spirits are men
toned-spirts, devils and "1ilin' The first have ne
Their body form, the second appear in complete
human shape, the third in human shape but with
wings (Rashi to Sanh., 1o9A). Adam procreated all
the spirits while he was under spell. Similarly
Eve bore demons to male spirits for the space of
100 years. Lilith is seductive woman with long
hair; she is the queen of Zemarad; Abrman is
her son. She goes about at night fastening herself
upon anyone sleeping alone in room. The Lord
will protect thee Numbers vi. 24) means, accord
ing to Talmudic comment from 'lilin" The
meteor stone is her arrow, and is remedy against
diseases. King Solomon, who commanded all spirits,
had the "ln'' dance before him.
Some identify "Lith" with the Parsee Bushyantsa,
while the Arabic translators render the word in
Isaiah xxxv, A. Y 'ghul" which is Identical with
the lama" of the \'rlgate In the Talmud, however,
there is nothing tc indicate that "Lilith" is
pire The Arabians the contrary, are said to re-
gard her under the form of "Laa" as the 'holy
dame"
In the later middle ages the mystcs Systematically
amplified demonology the basis of the traditions
and the current European superstitions, and they
also assigned definite form to "Lilith." The
superstitons regarding her and her nefarious dongs
were, with other supersttions, disseminated
and more among the of the Jewish people. She
became nocturnal spirit, flying about in the form of
night owl and stealing children. She is permitted
to kill all children which have been sinfully be-
gotten from lawful wife. "Lith" likewise APP
pears to in their Dreams she is the bride of
Samael. 1t is said in Judaeo-G German book ("Ham-
hagat ha-Hasidm'), published in the beginning of
the eighteenth century that 81 t1" deceives and
has children by Them and infant mortality is
garded as a consequence of this mscegenation. In
4 certain legend she apears the Queen of Sheba,
who in the guise of a beautiful seduced a
poor Jew of Worms AS she was eager to seize new
born infants, mother and child provided with
with labels which the names of
Adam and Eve were inscribed, with the words
'Avaunt thee Lilith (which since early times
regarded as efficient protection against magic
md demons The name 'Lilith' also occurs in nom
Jewish superstitions The conception that she was
Adams wife appears to have spread through Bux-
orfs Lexicon Ta1mudicum' where the subject is
1ealt with. "Lilith" is clear instance of the per-
stence of popular supersttious beliefs.