Feminist Criticism - The Story of Lilith

 The Queen of the Night Relief or the Burney Relief, an ancient Babylonian bas-relief depicting a woman with the wings and feet of an owl. This is believed to be the earliest depiction of Lilith. Recent scholarship, however, said that this is actually an image of the Babylonian goddess Ishtar. (Image from Wikipedia).

According to Jewish legends, Lilith is said to be the original and first wife of Adam. The legend arose to explain the seemingly two stories of Creation in the book of Genesis. In the so-called “first” Creation story, God created man “in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27, emphasis added). Meanwhile, in the so-called “second” creation story, the Lord first created Adam. When he could not find a “suitable partner” for himself among the animals, God put him into a deep sleep and created woman out of his rib (Genesis 2:4-25). In the “first” Creation story, the female who was created at the same time as Adam was called Lilith in Jewish folklore; while in the “second” story the woman was called Eve in the Bible (Genesis 3:1).

The Bible does not mention Lilith. Some scholars point out that her name is mentioned in Isaiah 34:14—

Jewish Publication Society version (1917): And the wild-cats shall meet with the jackals, and the satyr shall cry to his fellow; yea, the night-monster (Hebrew, lilith) shall repose there, and shall find her a place of rest.

King James Version (1611): "The wild beasts of the desert shall also meet with the wild beasts of the island, and the satyr shall cry to his fellow; the screech owl (Hebrew, lilith) also shall rest there, and find for herself a place of rest."

Sumerian legends tell of a female vampire called “Lilu” while there are Mesopotamian myths on “Lilin”, female night demons. In the Middle Ages, a Jewish text “Alphabet of Ben-Sira” (son of Sirach) gives an account of the story of Lilith.

Soon afterward the young son of the king became ill. King Nebuchadnezzar said to Ben Sira, "Heal my son. If you do not, I will kill you." Ben Sira immediately sat down and wrote an amulet with the Holy Name, and he inscribed on it the angels in charge of medicine by their names, forms, and images, and by their wings, hands, and feet. Nebuchadnezzar looked at the amulet. "Who are these?"

Ben Sira answered, “These are the angels who are in charge of medicine: Senoy, Sansenoy and Semangelof. While God created Adam, who was alone, He said, 'It is not good for man to be alone' (Genesis 2:18). He also created a woman, from the earth, as He had created Adam himself, and called her Lilith. Adam and Lilith immediately began to fight. She said, 'I will not lie below,' and he said, 'I will not lie beneath you, but only on top. For you are fit only to be in the bottom position, while I am to be the superior one.'  Lilith responded, 'We are equal to each other inasmuch as we were both created from the earth.' But they would not listen to one another. When Lilith saw this, she pronounced the Ineffable Name [of God] and flew away into the air. Adam stood in prayer before his Creator: 'Sovereign of the universe!' he said, 'the woman you gave me has run away!' At once, the Holy One, blessed be He, sent these three angels to bring her back.

"The Holy One said to Adam, 'If she agrees to come back, what is made is good. If not, she must permit one hundred of her children to die every day.' The angels left God and pursued Lilith, whom they overtook in the midst of the sea, in the mighty waters wherein the Egyptians were destined to drown. They told her God's word, but she did not wish to return. The angels said, 'We shall drown you in the sea.'

"'Leave me!' she said, 'I was created only to cause sickness to infants. If the infant is male, I have dominion over him for eight days after his birth, and if female, for twenty days.'

‘When the angels heard Lilith's words, they insisted she go back. But she swore to them by the name of the living and eternal God: 'Whenever I see you or your names or your forms in an amulet, I will have no power over that infant.' She also agreed to have one hundred of her children die every day. Accordingly, every day one hundred demons perish, and for the same reason, we write the angels names on the amulets of young children. When Lilith sees their names, she remembers her oath, and the child recovers."

An amulet in Hebrew letters with the names of Senoy, Sansenoy and Semangelof and one of the Names of God.

R E F E R E N C E S

Hefner, A. G. (March 3, 2007). “Lilith”. Encyclopedia Mythica in the Pantheon.Org. Accessed: October 2, 2013 from <http://www.pantheon.org/articles/l/lilith.html>.

“Lilith”. Wikipedia. Accessed: October 2, 2013 from <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lilith>.

“Lilith”. (1906). Jewish Encyclopedia (online version). Accessed: October 2, 2013 from <http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/9986-lilith>.

Piela, A. “Where does the legend of Lilith come from?”.  Judaism.About.Com. Accessed: October 2, 2013 from <http://judaism.about.com/od/jewishculture/a/Where-Does-The-Legend-Of-Lilith-Come-From.htm>.

Segal, E. (February 6, 2005). “Looking for Lilith”. From the sources in the University of Calgary website. Accessed: October 2, 2013 from <http://people.ucalgary.ca/~elsegal/Shokel/950206_Lilith.html>.

“The story of Lilith: The Alphabet of ben Sira question #5 (23 a-b).” Jewish Christian Literature. Accessed: October 2, 2013 from <http://jewishchristianlit.com//Topics/Lilith/alphabet.html>.