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I've been hearing on and off over the years about this Lilith, who was Adam's first wife. When a bunch of women singers decided to name their concert series the "Lilith Fair" I gathered this personage had some qualities that appealed to feminists.
CEW's thoughtful series on Women of the Bible once again brought Lilith to mind, and I searched some information on her. From what I can gather:
1. Lilith was not formed from Adam's rib, but from the dust just like him, so she considered herself his equal. Some say Adam was originall created to be both man and woman, and the two parts of himself were split, with Lilith becoming the female aspect (and his equal).
2. Lilith fought constantly with Adam, who wanted her to maintain a subordinate role, including during sex. She wanted to know why she should lie beneath him when she was his equal. He tried to force her, and in a rage, Lilith uttered the name of God and disappeared into the air.
3. Lilith seemed able to get around even God. After she left Adam, she went to an area where lots of demons lived, and she went wild with them and bore lots of little demons. Adam still missed her and complained to God, who sent angels to fetch back Lilith. However, she pointed out that she couldn't return to Adam, because she could no longer be considered an honest wife. God then created Eve from Adam's rib as a replacement for Lilith.
4. Lilith and Adam did reconcile for a bit before Eve was created, but the reconciliation didn't last. However, during the reconciliation, Lilith did bear Adam a number of children, who later became demons.
5. After Eve came on the scene, Lilith became known as Queen of the Demons. She gives birth to children who are demons because they were conceived from masturbation and nocturnal emissions. (Eve's children on the other hand, are humans because they were produced through positive procreation practices.)
6. Lilith attains a role as a killer of babies in their early infancies (why, I'm not sure - in one account, she says that God has given her this role). One way to avoid her destructive power is to circumcise male children - thereby binding them to God and a more protective power.
Also, it appears that Lilith does appear in the bible, though briefly and inexplicably:
I'm curious that despite the efforts to diminish or darken her role, Lilith and her story still manage to lap at the edge of JudeoChristianity. Contemporary Christianity seems in many ways to refuse to acknowledge woman power (don't fling no rackstone, please [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] , me know seh me a generalize to some extent). People, especially women, are hungry for mythology that celebrates woman's capacity to be more than just a meek and subordinate helpmeet.
Like Vashti, Lilith can be both dangerous and empowering because of what they can reveal to women about themselves as equals to men, and this can upset the order that men have imposed in the name of religion.
Just some thoughts. Would welcome what others have to say about Lilith.
CEW's thoughtful series on Women of the Bible once again brought Lilith to mind, and I searched some information on her. From what I can gather:
1. Lilith was not formed from Adam's rib, but from the dust just like him, so she considered herself his equal. Some say Adam was originall created to be both man and woman, and the two parts of himself were split, with Lilith becoming the female aspect (and his equal).
2. Lilith fought constantly with Adam, who wanted her to maintain a subordinate role, including during sex. She wanted to know why she should lie beneath him when she was his equal. He tried to force her, and in a rage, Lilith uttered the name of God and disappeared into the air.
3. Lilith seemed able to get around even God. After she left Adam, she went to an area where lots of demons lived, and she went wild with them and bore lots of little demons. Adam still missed her and complained to God, who sent angels to fetch back Lilith. However, she pointed out that she couldn't return to Adam, because she could no longer be considered an honest wife. God then created Eve from Adam's rib as a replacement for Lilith.
4. Lilith and Adam did reconcile for a bit before Eve was created, but the reconciliation didn't last. However, during the reconciliation, Lilith did bear Adam a number of children, who later became demons.
5. After Eve came on the scene, Lilith became known as Queen of the Demons. She gives birth to children who are demons because they were conceived from masturbation and nocturnal emissions. (Eve's children on the other hand, are humans because they were produced through positive procreation practices.)
6. Lilith attains a role as a killer of babies in their early infancies (why, I'm not sure - in one account, she says that God has given her this role). One way to avoid her destructive power is to circumcise male children - thereby binding them to God and a more protective power.
Also, it appears that Lilith does appear in the bible, though briefly and inexplicably:
Isaiah 34:14f
Wildcats shall meet with hyenas,
goat-demons shall call to each other;
there too Lilith shall repose,
and find a place to rest.
There shall the owl nest
and lay and hatch and brood in its shadow
Wildcats shall meet with hyenas,
goat-demons shall call to each other;
there too Lilith shall repose,
and find a place to rest.
There shall the owl nest
and lay and hatch and brood in its shadow
Like Vashti, Lilith can be both dangerous and empowering because of what they can reveal to women about themselves as equals to men, and this can upset the order that men have imposed in the name of religion.
Just some thoughts. Would welcome what others have to say about Lilith.
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