The Talmud & Demonology (Part II)
(Identifying the bibilical errors of Christian Zionism)
God warns that we are not to add to or take away from His holy, perfect word and that we are to become pure in thought and action.
Matthew 5:8:
"Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God."
1 John 1:6:
"If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth."
Makhlath and Agrath
Angelo Rappoport in, "The Story of Lilith" from Ancient Israel: Myths and Legends, shows the relationship of Makhlath and Agrath to Lilith and the Sabbath, mentioned previously.
The she-demon Makhlath (the dancer) and her daughter Agrath 4. are two female demons who live in strife with Lilith. Lilith is accompanied by four hundred and eighty hosts of evil spirits and destroying angels, and she is constantly howling. Makhlath is accompanied by four hundred and seventy-eight hosts of evil spirits. She and her daughter Agrath, from the Zend word Agra = beating, are in constant enmity with Lilith.
Constant war is waged between them, and they meet on the day of atonement. Whilst they are thus engaged in quarrel and strife, the prayers of Israel ascend to Heaven, whilst the accusers are absent, being otherwise engaged.5." 32.
"Agrath commands hosts of evil spirits and demons, and rides in a big chariot. Her power is paramount on Wednesdays and Saturdays, for on these days Agrath, the daughter of Makhlath, roves about in the air accompanied by eighteen myriads of evil spirits.6." 33.
Psalm 40:4:
"Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies."
The Midrash: Lillith and Creation
The Midrash, promoted by many leaders in the Hebrew Roots movement such as Jacob Prasch, carries the concept of Lillith as being associated with the "First Eve."
"The midrash (legends) of Genesis Rabbah discusses a "first Eve" but does not mention Lilith. According to Rabbi Hiya, she "returned to dust" (22:7). Judah, son of Rabbi Hiya, states that in the beginning God created Eve for Adam, but when Adam saw her being made with sinews and blood, he grew disgusted and became alienated from her. Thereupon God caused this first Eve to return to nothingness and proceeded to create a second Eve for Adam (18.4)." 34.
Angelo Rappoport provides the most common version of Lillith, which pereputates the idea that Lilith became the consort of Adam and their union started a line of demons:
"…She is supposed to have been the first wife of Adam. She had been one of the wives of Sammael, but of a wild, heroic and passionate nature she left her spouse and joined Adam. From their union issued the demons or Shedim, who rode about in the world as wicked spirits…Lilith, like Adam, had been created from the dust (Adamah) of the earth. But as soon as she had joined Adam they began to quarrel, each refusing to be subservient and Submissive to the other. "I am your lord and master," spoke Adam, "and it is your duty to obey me." But Lilith replied: "We are both equal, for we are both issued from dust (Adamah), and I will not be submissive to you…. And when Lilith saw this she spoke the Ineffable Name of the Creator and soared up into the air. Thereupon Adam stood in prayer before the Creator and thus he spake: " O Lord of the Universe, the woman Thou hast given me has fled from me."
"And the Holy One, blessed be His name, sent at once three angels whose names were Senoi, Sansenoi, and Sammangelof, to fetch and bring Lilith back to Adam…but she refused to return. And the angels spake to this rebel, this she-demon: "We will drown thee in the sea." But she made answer: "Know ye not that I have been created for the purpose of weakening and punishing little children, infants and babes. I have power over them from the day they are born until they are eight days old if they are boys, and until the twentieth day if they are girls." She swore to them in the name of the living God that whenever she came and saw the names or images or faces of these three angels, Senoi, Sansenoi, and Sammangelof, upon an amulet or cameo in the room where there was an infant, she would not touch it. But because she did not return to Adam, every day a hundred of her own children or spirits and demons die." 35.
Mr. Rappoport cites other authors who relate that the myth of Lilith perpetuated the use of incantations, amulets and cameos for protection against the demon.
"…The legend of Lilith and the message of the three angels is found in several sources of Rabbinical lore in some of which it is quoted from the Alphabetum Siracidis.2.
The book known as the Sefer Rasiel describes the formula to be written upon amulets or cameos and to be placed in the rooms where there are new-born babes. It refers to Lilith as the first Eve, and conjurers her in the name of the three angels and the angel of the sea to whom she had sworn not to harm the babes in whose rooms she found written on paper the names of the three angels.2.
Lilith is thus a female night demon, and is also known under the name of Meyalleleth or the howling one. 2." 36.
Isaiah 5:20:
"Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter."
The Talmud & Kabbalah: Adam the Bisexual
According to author Judy Weinberg, the Talmud, Midrash and Zohar present Adam as a hermaphrodite or bisexual:
"The Zohar (the central work of Jewish mysticism) develops a theory that Adam originally comprised both male and female elements. This is based on Talmudic and midrashic statements that "Adam, who was the first man, had two full faces" (Brachot 61a, Erubin 18b). Rabbi Samuel ben Nachman said: "When the Holy One, blessed be He, created the first man, he created him as a hermaphrodite." Rabbi Levi said the same thing:
"When man was created, he was created with two body fronts, and He sawed him in two, so that two bodies resulted, one for the male and one for the female (Lev. Rab. 14:1)." 37.
Weinberg shows how Adam's "bisexuality" links to Lilith.
"The Zohar picks up on this theme of Adam's bisexuality but now draws the connection with Lilith:
"The female was attached to the side of the male until God cast him into a deep slumber... God then sawed her off from him and adorned her like a bride and brought her to him, as it is written, "And He took one of his sides and closed up the place with flesh. " I have found it stated in an old book that the word "one" here means "one woman" to wit the original Lilith, who was with him and conceived from him. Up to that time, however, she was not a help to him, as it is written, "but for Adam there was not found a helpmeet for him." (134b)."
"Other references in the Zohar describe Lilith as a competitor to "the female affixed to his side."(see III 19a, II 276b, I 19b). " 38.
When we look to Genesis, we see no reference to this occult teaching. A review of what is being taught through Planned Parenthood, in Public Health, Mental health institutions, the educational system and many liberal churches would reveal the foundational New Age teachings of bisexuality and androgyny. Getting in touch with one's feminine or masculine side is the esoteric cliché found in psychology today.
Proverbs 28:4:
"They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them."
Controversies over giving credit to Lilith vs. the other demons seems to consume the intellectual and spiritual capabilities of Jewish scholars.
"….Kabbalistic tradition has numerous portrayals of Lilith as a demon, often linking her to other such female spirits as Naamah, Machlah and Agrat. In fact, Lilith is often confused with them. Yaalkut Re'uveni claims, for instance, that both Lilith and Naamah had intercourse with Adam and brought forth "plagues to the world." However, elsewhere the Zohar identifies Naamah as "the mother of demons" while Lilith, it seems, only functions as their governess: "
"Naamah "goes forth and makes sport with men and conceives from them through their lustful dreams."...[The offspring] all go to the ancient Lilith who brings them up. She goes out into the world and seeks her little ones and when she sees little children she cleaves to them in order to kill them and insinuate herself into their spirits (Zohar III, 76b)." 39.
The tradition of Lilith as a slayer of children is seen in the midrash in Numbers Rabbah: "...like Lilith, who, when she can find no strange children, slays her own" (16:25). This Lilith seems to resemble the Babylonian demon Labartu or Lamashtu, for the child-slayer image has no foundation in the Talmud and certainly no connection with the first Eve. Since scholars differ widely as to the dating of Numbers Rabbah, it is difficult to determine whether the author of the Alphabet based his portrayal of Lilith as the evil spirit who harms babies on this source, or whether both drew from a common antecedent. In any case, the unity of the motifs of promiscuity and child-slaying does not occur until the time of the Zohar (see Zohar 119b)…" 40.
Creation, as we understand it in the Bible, takes a definite perverted twist in the Talmud, Mishna, Midrash and Zohar, by introducing Lilith, demons, bisexuality and other esoteric concepts.
Through the study of Biblical truth, we know that Lucifer and demons exist. There is no question on that. However, no where in Scripture are found the ideas, myths, perversion of Scripture or blatant witchcraft which are presented in the very writings of the "sages", whom Hebrew Roots leaders recommend.
Teachings of the Sages or Ancient Wisdom
Some might suggest that these teachings are ancient, outdated and no longer apply. However, it is exactly these sources of teachings--the Talmud, Midrash, the Mishnah---the Oral teachings of the Sages--which we are encouraged to study to find understanding of our Hebrew Roots.
Avi ben Mordechai calls "the Gospel" what Jesus called "traditions of men."
"…It is halacha that was recognized during the First and/or Second Temple periods. …Understanding the concept that a Jewish talmid is a student of the rabbis’ Mishnah and Gemara (Mishnah is the Oral Tradition and the Gemara is the commentary and discussion, i.e., Mishnah + Gemara = Talmud, hence "talmidim"), I also recognize that our Rabbi Y’shua also had His Gemara (discussion and teaching) on the rabbinic Mishnah and the written code of Sinai. Thus, we are His talmidim or students of His Oral Traditions which is the proper definition of the term "Gospel." We are to follow His Mishnah and Gemara, i.e., His Talmud…"41.
In "Explaining the Midrash" Jacob Prasch promotes The Midrash, or Ancient Wisdom, as an important element of New Testament scholarship.
"…The clearest set of guidelines in Midrash are the Seven Midroth attributed to Rabbi Hillel, the founder of the Pharisaic School of Hillel, where Rabbi Shaul (St. Paul) was educated as a rabbi by Rabbi Gamaliel, the grandson of Hillel….A classical work of Midrash in Judaism is the Midrash Rabba on Genesis (Berashith). Another is Lamentations Rabba. …Both of these kinds of midrashim are haggadic. There are also wide bodies of midrashic literature which are halakik, but these are of less importance to New Testament scholarship…"
"It takes the wisdom of the ancients to really understand these things…not the wisdom of the 16th century, but the wisdom of the first century…"42.
What would make any teachings more or less important---we need to clearly see the foundations of all these teachings. To do less would be to disobey God. My research reveals that these commentaries and teachings have rarely changed in scope and intent, but rather have just been supplemented.
According to Peter Michas, since Jesus quoted from these writings of old, these works are worthwhile and able to help us fully comprehend the Bible. His e-mail messages are posted to "Ha-Talmidim" or The Students, meaning just as Avi ben Mordechai has stated, students of the Talmud's Mishnah and Gemara.
"… The New Testament is in the pattern of the Jewish traditional work of Torah, Mishnah, Haggadah, Halakah, Talmud and Midrash, but inspired by God Himself for the common people. These Hebraic works as well as the Inspired Scriptures were quoted from by Jesus and all the writers of the New Testament. But even now, to have full comprehension, we must read the scriptures in the proper Hebraic context…Most all of the Judaic writings have been preserved for us and now translated into proper English directly from the Hebrew…" 43.
When were these Hebrew Roots leaders going to divulge the teachings in the rest of the Talmud, Mishna and Midrash that directly pertain to Christians and the Talmud?
"Rosh Hashanah 17a. Christians (minnim) and others who reject the Talmud -Will go to hell and be punished there for all generations." 44.
"Sanhedrin 90a. Those who read the New Testament ("uncanonical books") -Will have no portion in the world to come." 45.
It has already been established that Jesus Christ was rejected and condemned in many Jewish writings including the Talmud. These major works include teachings that uphold occult practices. What Scripture recommends that we study the Jewish traditions or practice the occult???
Israel had been warned, as are we in Isaiah 32:6:
"For the vile person will speak villany, and his heart will work iniquity, to practice hypocrisy, and to utter error against the Lord, to make empty the soul of the hungry, and he will cause the drink of the thirsty to fail." [villany- wicked, detestable, or disgraceful things]
If we go again to the writings in the Talmud being advocated and supported by Peter Michas, Jacob Prasch, James Trimm, Avi ben Moredechai and so many others we read these unholy teachings that are so contrary to the word of God.
"Baba Kamma 113a. Jews may use lies ("subterfuges") to circumvent a Gentile." 46.
Proverbs 12:22:
"Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord: but they that deal truly are his delight."
Scripture asks and we must ask ourselves in Amos 3:3:
"Can two walk together, except they be agreed?"
2 Peter 3:17:
"Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness."
We can see that there are many connections between the Talmud, Midrash, Mishna and the Kabbalah. If we conclude that Jewish mysticism, which is diametrically opposed to the Bible, determines these teachings, why would we follow them?
Jeremiah 49:16 speaks of those who think they are hiding in the Rock, and are deceived by their own hearts.
"Thy terribleness hath deceived thee, and the pride of thine heart, O thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, that holdest the height of the hill: though thou shouldest make thy nest as high as the eagle, I will bring thee down from thence, saith the Lord."
Some have suggested that the Kabbalah is simply a facet of otherwise positive Jewish mysticism that is totally misunderstood by Christians, and these teachings are not of the occult. Many would deny any connections and state that the Kabbalah is not used, connected nor promoted, while others would agree with the following.
A Jewish Encyclopedia offered by Messengers of Messiah and promoted by Larry Rowland claims in its introduction to contain "the essential teachings of Judaism." However, the reader is informed that those teachings include The Apocrypha and the Kabbalah.
"…the introduction to the book "Encyclopedia of Jewish Concepts,"…You can read the intro. for yourself and make up your own minds. I would like to add, in its defense that some of the best known Jewish book sellers advertise it in their catalogues, i.e. Jonathan David Co., Menorah Publications, Source for Everything Jewish to name but a few. Jonathan David Co. writes: "Encyclopedic in scope, this work by one of the foremost contemporary scholars provides an interesting, lucid overview of the basic, universal concepts of Judaism. …" …NOTE: -: For those interested, it can be obtained at a better price from Messengers of Messiah Intl. Min; Pastor Peter A. Michas; P.O. Box 125; Troy, IL., 62294.)…" 47.
"INTRODUCTION: Encyclopedia of Jewish Concepts
The purpose of this book is to provide in a single handy volume the essential teachings of Judaism. It is written for those who want an up-to-date and easily intelligible account of basic Jewish concepts, a knowledge of which brings meaning to what may otherwise seem empty phrases …. Knowledge of Jewish values has reached an abysmally low point. It is of the utmost importance that the Jewish heritage be looked upon as a whole, not as a mere series of precepts and concepts linked together. Its study must not be the prerogative of specialists, but should be shared by the multitudes…"
"In all ages the rich literature of Judaism had a certain number of books of permanent value, which were a source of enjoyment to every class of Jews. There has not been a single period which did not make some permanent contribution to posterity. Each era deposited behind it a sort of layer. For thousands of years our people thought and felt and expressed itself in various styles and forms. The Bible, the Apocrypha, the Talmud, Philosophy, Kabbalah, Poetry, Ethics, Hasidism-each of these represents an entire era with its own atmosphere and character." 48.
The Jewish Encyclopœdia, in an article on the Cabala, provides these observations.
"... The fact is that the main ideas of the Zohar find confirmation in the Talmud. As the Jewish Encyclopœdia observes, " the Cabala, is not really in opposition to the Talmud," and "many Talmudic Jews have supported and contributed to it.4" 49.
Adolphe Franck's fundamental study of Jewish Mysticism in La Kabbale,
"…does not hesitate to describe it as "the heart and life of Judaism…5" 50.
P. Vulliaud, in his work, La Kabbale Juive: histoire et doctrine, quotes Greenstone from The Messiah Idea, who states;
"The greater number of the most eminent rabbis of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries believed firmly in the sacredness of the Zohar and of the infallibility of it's teaching. 6." 51.
What exactly is the Kabbalah? Where did it come from, and why is The Zohar being sold door to door in places where it was once forbidden literature? Why is the Cabala now being presented to children in the United States through such programs as the Jr. Great Programs for gifted children grades 4-8. In their revised Jr. Great Books Program, beginning Sixth graders will be reading "The Mysteries of the Cabala" by Isaac Bashevis Singer. This book is promoted as acceptable because, as stated to an inquiring parent by a representative of the Junior Great Books program, "it is mysticism, not occultism." A follow-up phone call yielded little information:
"I talked with the same person, Tom Kershner (I'm guessing on the spelling). He remembered our previous conversation but didn't want to talk to me and quickly sent me on to a woman who is one of the Great Books editors. Her name is Ann Speltz (guessing on spelling). I asked why they chose the story called THE MYSTERIES OF THE CABALA by Isaac Bashevis Singer. She told me it matches their criteria. I asked what that was. She said she could send me a two page write-up on that. I asked her to tell me. She told me it is a story of very high literary quality. It was written by a Nobel Prize winner. It is discussible because the meaning is not obvious. The meaning is not explicit, therefore 'everybody pools what they notice about the story'. The better readers help the not so good readers to understand. I asked her if the fifth and sixth graders will be curious about the Cabala after they read this. She said they won't because they'll be interested in the character (the boy). I said the boy is interested in the Cabala so won't the readers be too? Then she said a mouthful. She told me they won't be interested because the Cabala is about Judaism -- and then she acted like she had said too much and quickly told me that someone had come in that she had to talk to and asked for my address to mail me the 2-page criteria." 52.
Ephesians 5: 6--11:
"Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: [For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;] Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them."
All Scripture Quotes from the Authorized King James Bible
Footnotes:
Gershom Scholem, On The Kabbalah and Its Symbolism, p.33, Schocken Books, New York, 1996,1965.
baptist1.com
Harry Gersh "The Sacred Books of the Jews," marlowe.wimsey.com
James Trimm, The Society for the Advancement of Nazarene Judaism: nazarene.net
Daniel C. Matt, The Essential Kabbalah, Harper Collins, 1996, p. 7,8,11.
Talmud, treatise Berakhoth, folio 6; as Cited in Nesta H.Webster, p. 80, Secret Societies and Subversive Movements" Omni Publications, Eighth edition, 1964.
Talmud, treatise Hullin, folios 143,144; as Cited in Webster, Ibid. p. 80.
Michael A. Hoffman II & Alan R. Critchley, The Campaign for Radical Truth in History; hoffman-info.com
Hermann L. Strack, The Jews and Human Sacrifice, Eng. Trans. pp. 140,141 (1900) as Cited in Webster, op. cit., p. 82.
(2). Hastings' Encyclopœdia, article on Teutonic Magic by F. Hälsig.; 3. Talmud, tract Sabbath; as Cited in Webster, Ibid., p. 82.
Michael A. Hoffman II & Alan R. Critchley, op. cit.
Ibid.
Gershom Scholem, "On The Kabbalah And Its Symbolism," p.154, Schocken Books, 1965/1996
Hastings' Encyclopedia of Religion and Ethics, article on Jewish Magic by M. Gaster as Cited in Webster, op. cit., p. 80-81.
As Cited in Webster; Ibid., p. 81.
Footnote: 2. Margaret Alice Murray, The Witch Cult in Western Europe, and Jules Garinet, Historie de la Magie en France, p. 163 (1818) ; 3. Hastings' Encyclopedia of Religion and Ethics, article on Jewish Magic by M. Gaster. As Cited in Webster; Ibid., p. 81.
Webster, Ibid.p.80.
Judy Weinberg, "All you ever Wanted to Know about Lilith", "LILITH Magazine" original printed Fall of 1976. ; www.lilithmag.com/resources/lilithsources.shtml
Ibid.
Ibid.
Ibid.
Ibid.
Lilith in the Talmud; "Talmud citations are informed by the translations of I. Epstein. (The Babylonian Talmud .. London: Socino Press, 1978) and Raphael Patai, Patai81,pp.184f.). Cited on: ccat.sas.upenn.edu.
Ibid.
Ibid.
Ibid.
Michael A. Hoffman II & Alan R. Critchley, op. cit.
Ibid.
Ibid.
Ibid.
Ibid.
4. Pesachim,112b; Numbers Rabba, 12; 5. Yalkut Chadash, s.v. Keshaphim, No.56.; Angelo Rappoport, The Story of Lilith from Ancient Isael: Myths and Legends; cjnetworks.com
6. Pesachim, 112b., Rappaport, Ibid.
Lilith Magazine, op.cit., www.lilithmag.com/resources/lilithsources.shtml
Rappoport, op. cit., cjnetworks.com
Alphabetum Siracidis (Sepher Ben Sira), edit. Steinschneider, 1858. See on Lilith. Gaster, in Monatsschrift fuer Gesch. u. Wissenschaft d. Judent., Vol. XXIX (1880), pp. 553-555. 3. Elia Levita, Tishbi s.v. Lilith.; As Cited, Ibid.
Lilith Magazine, Ibid., www.lilithmag.com/resources/lilithsources.shtml
Ibid.
Ibid.
Ibid.
Avi ben Mordechai, Halacha, www.millenium7000.com/halacha.htm
Jacob Prasch; Explaining the Midrash; www.cw.co.za/moriel/midrash.html
Peter Michas, ez
Michael A. Hoffman II & Alan R. Critchley, op. cit.
Ibid.
Ibid.
"Larry G. Rowland" ; uJEWI7: (fr. Larry R) The Kabbalah 4-15-98;
"Encyclopedia of Jewish Concepts," Ibid.
Jewish Encyclopœdia, article on Cabala; as Cited in Nesta H. Webster, op.cit.,p. 9.
Adolphe Franck, La Kabbale,p. 288; as Cited Ibid. p. 9.
P. Vulliaud, La Kabbale Juive: histoire et doctrine, I. 256, quoting Greenstone, The Messiah Idea, p. 229; as Cited in Webster, Ibid. p. 9.
Connie Spillman, phone conversation 2/1/99 with Great Books Foundation,
1-800-222-5870.
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