Beelzebub

>
> * *You know, maybe you're wrong. Why can't you consider that you might be wrong? But, of course, it's impossible for the great Raphael to be wrong. You're too blind to see. God doesn't care; he didn't care about Lucifer, Satan, Samael, Samayaza, or Azazel. He didn't care about Adam, about Lilith, about Eve, and he doesn't care about you either dear sister.*
>

**Beelzebub**, once a Philistine deity venerated in Ekron, evolved into a demonic figure associated with the Canaanite god Ba'al.

In Christian theology, Beelzebub is occasionally used interchangeably with the Devil, or Satan. Within demonology, he is recognized as one of the seven princes of Hell. Described in the Dictionnaire Infernal as the "Lord of the Flyers" or "Lord of the Flies, where Beelzebub is depicted as a flying entity.

## OVERVIEW:

Before his fall, Beelzebub, once known as Ouranósel. He is a powerful demon who ruled over the eastern realms of Hell for billions of years. Influenced by Lucifer, he left Hell and settled in Spain. Ouranosel, a former Seraphim of exquisite beauty, had served under Archangel Raphael. When Beelzebub decided to rebel, he sought to convince Raphael to join him in the upcoming war.

## IN CHRISTIANITY:

In Mark 3:22, the scribes accuse Jesus of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons. This name also appears in the expanded versions of Matthew 12:24, 27 and Luke 11:15, 18–19. Additionally, the name occurs in Matthew 10:25.

The term "Zeboul" may have originated from a slurred pronunciation of "zebûb," possibly related to "zebel," a word meaning "dung" in the Targums, or from the Hebrew "zebûl" found in 1 Kings 8:13 in the phrase "bêt-zebûl," meaning "lofty house." In any case, "Beelzebub" replaced "Beelzeboul" in the Syriac and Latin Vulgate translations of the gospels, and this substitution persisted in the King James Version. The resulting form, "Beelzeboul," was largely unfamiliar to Western European and descendant cultures until some recent translations reinstated the original "Beelzebub."

Beelzebub is also identified in the New Testament as the devil, "prince of the demons".

## IN PHILISTINE THEOLOGY:

Ba'al is extensively documented in surviving inscriptions and prominently featured in theophoric names throughout the Levant. Although he is often mentioned alongside other gods, the specifics of his domain are rarely clearly defined. Ugaritic records portray him as a weather deity, holding dominion over lightning, wind, and rain. The dry summers in the region were explained as Baʿal's sojourn in the underworld, and his autumnal return was believed to bring the storms revitalizing the land. The worship of Baʿal in Canaan, where he eventually surpassed El as the chief deity and patron of kingship, was closely tied to the region's reliance on rainfall for agriculture. This differed from Egypt and Mesopotamia, which focused on river irrigation. Concerns about water availability heightened the significance of his cult, emphasizing his role as a rain god. Ba'al was invoked in battle, indicating a belief in his active intervention in the human world, in contrast to the more distant El. The city of Baalbeck in Lebanon derived its name from Baal. Originally an epithet of Hadad, over time, "Baʿal" transitioned from an epithet to the god's name, while Hadad became the epithet.

## IN JUDASIM:

The name Baʿal Zəvûv (Hebrew: בעל זבוב‎) is found in Melachim II 1:2-3, 6, 16, where King Ahaziah of Israel, after seriously injuring himself in a fall, sends messengers to inquire of Ba'al Zebûb, the god of the Philistine city of Ekron, to learn if he will recover.

Rabbinical literature commentary equates Baal Zebub of Ekron as lord of the "fly". The word Ba'al Zebûb in rabbinical texts is a mockery of the Ba'al religion, which ancient Hebrews considered to be idol worship.

## POWERS AND ABILITIES:

Beelzbub possesses the ability to manifest ethereal wings, allowing swift and agile flight across realms and dimensions, creating a trail of dark energy in its wake.

**Corruptive Influence**: Beelzbub can exert a corrupting influence on living beings, slowly tainting their thoughts and actions, leading them down a path of malevolence and darkness.

**Venomous Whispers**: The demon can unleash whispers that act like a venom, inducing madness and chaos in the minds of those who hear them, creating a sinister orchestra of dissonance.

**Hellfire Manipulation:** Beelzbub commands the power of hellfire, able to conjure and control intense flames that burn not only in the physical realm but also have metaphysical effects on the souls they touch.

**Shapeshifting Deception**: Beelzbub can assume various forms, adept at mimicking individuals or creatures to sow confusion and mistrust among its adversaries.

**Soul Consumption**: With a touch, Beelzbub can drain the life force from living beings, absorbing their essence to strengthen itself and prolong its existence.

**Dimensional Rifts**: The demon has the ability to tear open temporary rifts between dimensions, allowing it to traverse between Hell and the mortal realm at will, bringing with it an aura of infernal energy.

**Nightmare Projection**: Beelzbub can project nightmarish illusions into the minds of its targets, forcing them to experience their deepest fears and anxieties, weakening both their mental and physical resolve.

**Temporal Distortion**: The demon can manipulate time in localized areas, creating temporal distortions that either hasten or slow down the passage of time, disorienting and confounding its foes.

**Cursed Aura**: Beelzbub exudes a cursed aura that weakens the spiritual and magical defenses of those in proximity, making them more susceptible to its demonic influence and attacks.

## TRIVIA:

* Beelzebub is often equated with Satan or the Devil.
* Beelzebub is often confused with both gods, Ba'al and Hadad.