Lilith In Judaism

The apocryphal legend of Lilith’s desertion of Eden is well known, and –one of the most controversially sexist morality tales from Judeo-Christian religions. According to apocryphal text from the Hebrew Bible, Lilith was created with Adam, from the dirt and clay of the earth. When Adam commanded to Lilith that she lay beneath him, she refused, replying she was equal, and made from the same earth as he; why then was it her duty to be beneath, and not above? Adam was outraged, and prayed to God asking why his wife was disobedient, God sought to find Lilith, and correct her, but she had left Eden to travel to the sea. God sent three angels after Lilith, and they sought to bring her back, but she refused; then they threatened to drown her in the sea.

Lilith then said to the three angels; Senoy, Sansenoy, and Samangelof, that it was her duty now to cause illness in infants; for every male child born would be under her power for eight days, and if female, then twenty days. When the angels heard this, they begged Lilith to come back to Eden, but she refused once more, and told them that, if she should see the angels’ names near the child, then she would hold no power over him or her. Lilith also agreed to allow one hundred of her children to perish every day; thusly, every day, one hundred demons die.

This story was told exclusively in The Alphabet of Ben Sira, though it may or may not be a much older tale; certain passages in the Book of Genesis also indicate that there was a predecessor to Eve, such as conflicting remarks in the continuity. Though the Bible itself is not known for its accuracy in chronological matters. The story can also be found in the Hebrew text, Genesis Rabbah.