Samael

Samael (Hebrew סמאל, also Semiel, Sammane and Sammuel ) is an archangel of Jewish and Christian mythology and gnosticism.

The name first appears in the sixth chapter of the Ethiopian Henochbuchs in the list of rebelling against God angels. The Greek versions of the non- traditional Hebrew text also contain the name forms Sammane (Greek Σαμμανή ) and Semiel ( Σεμιέλ ). The church father Irenaeus uses in his description of Ophites throughout the names form Semiel, Theodoret used here the name of the form Sammane. According to Irenaeus, the Ophites of them worshiped the serpent gave the double name Michael and Semiel. The Byzantine Georgios Synkellos retains the form of the name Samiel, which is recycled in various Jewish and non-Jewish etymologies on the Hebrew word סמי ( sami, blind) and passed on to the Middle Ages.

In addition to the forms of the name Samiel and Samael, the name Sammuel found in the Greek Apocalypse of Baruch. The angel Sammuel planted the wine, which leads Adam to fall, and it is for Satan. In Chapter 9 of the original text, he takes the form of a serpent to to seduce Adam, a version that is omitted in the later handing down in the Talmud.

In the Ascension of Isaiah, which contains both Jewish and early Christian elements, the name Belial and Samael are used synonymously for Satan and the Sibylline Oracles Samael is called among the angels of the last judgment. From the Jewish tradition starting he is viewed in various Gnostic works as a blind God who is identical with Yaldabaoth and leader of the forces of evil. With reference to his blindness Samael is in church-related writings as pseudepigraphical Apostle stories as a name for Satan. As leader of the devil he is mentioned in the will of Solomon and the blind demon Simjael from the Mandaean Sidra Rabba is to be understood as a variation.

In the tradition of rabbinic Judaism Samael first appeared in Yose ben Chalafta in his commentary on Exodus from Egypt at the same time in the roles as prosecutor and defender. As a prosecutor, he appears at Hanina ben Hama, the first identified him as a guardian angel of Esau, wrestles with his brother Jacob. In the Midrash Jelammedenu he appears in a positive function than that which divides the Red Sea during the Exodus from Egypt and back keeps the wheels of the Egyptian car.

As Samael Angel of Death first appears in the Targum Jonathan. In this role, he regularly appears in later Aggada, particularly in stories about the death of Moses. In Deuteronomy Rabbah it is explicitly referred to as evil, repeated several times in Heikhalot Rabbati. The Hebrew Book of Enoch he is the Lord of the seducer who is greater than all the heavenly kingdoms, but here distinguished from Satan. He also appears as a guardian angel over Rome.

In connection with the angelic rebellion against God Samael is the leader of the rebellious angels. Before his fall, he has twelve wings and stands in the hierarchy of angels nor the seraphim. He bears the responsibility of all States, has over Israel but only on Yom Kippur power. He had control of the snake in paradise and he hid himself in the golden calf. In the Midrash Abkir he is involved with Michael on the birth of Esau and Jacob, and also at the sacrifice of Isaac. The fight between him and Michael will continue to the end of the day when he will be put in chains extradited to Israel.

In the demonic writings of Spanish kabbalists Isaac and Jacob ben Jacob ha - Kohen of the 13th century, it is Sar Suma, the blind angel named. In the literature demonological he frequently as the angel who brought death into the world appear. In it, he is first described as a husband of Lilith, with which he ruled the kingdom of impurity. Are attributed to him in stories about the confrontation with Asmodeus different roles, some of which are contradictory, and it is called as a guardian angel of Ishmael. The different attributions in the demonology are due to the fact that at that time, various demons hierarchies were designed.

In the Kabbalah Samael (Hebrew Sammael ), the blind angel or prince of darkness and evil is a manifestation of the "other side", often (sometimes as the eighth and tenth Qlīpa ) in association with Lilith in the Zohar. The couple Samael and Lilith several times in the Zohar as a leader of the " other side" of evil mentioned. The snake is the symbol of Lilith and Samael riding on it and runs with it. Samael squints, is dark and has horns, possibly due to the influence of Christian Satan performances. In Tikkune Zohar various demons classes are listed, which are all named Samael.

Eliphas Levi referred to as an angel Samael of Mars. Incantations of Samael are common in the magical literature.