The Confusing Role of Samael
By James Donahue
The ancient writings have described the angel Samael as both a good entity possibly filling the role of the chief angel of the Fifth Heaven, and a fallen angel who is accuser, seducer and destroyer of God’s children on Earth. If we accept the reality of angels then how do we deal with Samael?
The very name Samael (and other spellings Smil, Samil and Samiel) are Hebrew words that mean “Venom of God,” “Poison of God” and other negative connotations. In Talmudic and post-Talmudic lore he is described as an important archangel who is the accuser, seducer and destroyer, thus making him both good and evil.
In ancient legend Samael is considered a member of the heavenly host but given grim and destructive jobs, but also a fallen angel, equal to Satan and chief of the evil spirits. Jewish lore marks him as the angel of death. So how do we consider him among God’s chosen servants? We might say that somebody has to be responsible for the presence of death, dark energy and evil deeds committed among mankind.
Thus Samael has another role whose name also means “the blind God.” He is the garbage collector charged with cleaning up the messes too ugly for God to look upon.
Hebrew writings, however, blame Samael for the sinful state of humanity. It was said he and his demonic host descended from Heaven to seduce the first human pair . . . Adam and Lilith, his first spouse. As the story is told in the Greek Apocalypse of Baruch Samael planted the vine and the forbidden tree of paradise. He took on the form of the serpent in the garden and was among the leaders of the angels who came down from Heaven and married the daughters of men. When Lilith was abandoned by Adam and replaced by Eve, she became the wife of Samael. In yet another legend it was said Eve was impregnated by Samael. But does that make Eve’s child the real source of the sinful nature of mankind?
A writing by Menahem of Recanati declares that the very filth of Samael caused the dark spot visible on the face of the Moon.
By James Donahue
The ancient writings have described the angel Samael as both a good entity possibly filling the role of the chief angel of the Fifth Heaven, and a fallen angel who is accuser, seducer and destroyer of God’s children on Earth. If we accept the reality of angels then how do we deal with Samael?
The very name Samael (and other spellings Smil, Samil and Samiel) are Hebrew words that mean “Venom of God,” “Poison of God” and other negative connotations. In Talmudic and post-Talmudic lore he is described as an important archangel who is the accuser, seducer and destroyer, thus making him both good and evil.
In ancient legend Samael is considered a member of the heavenly host but given grim and destructive jobs, but also a fallen angel, equal to Satan and chief of the evil spirits. Jewish lore marks him as the angel of death. So how do we consider him among God’s chosen servants? We might say that somebody has to be responsible for the presence of death, dark energy and evil deeds committed among mankind.
Thus Samael has another role whose name also means “the blind God.” He is the garbage collector charged with cleaning up the messes too ugly for God to look upon.
Hebrew writings, however, blame Samael for the sinful state of humanity. It was said he and his demonic host descended from Heaven to seduce the first human pair . . . Adam and Lilith, his first spouse. As the story is told in the Greek Apocalypse of Baruch Samael planted the vine and the forbidden tree of paradise. He took on the form of the serpent in the garden and was among the leaders of the angels who came down from Heaven and married the daughters of men. When Lilith was abandoned by Adam and replaced by Eve, she became the wife of Samael. In yet another legend it was said Eve was impregnated by Samael. But does that make Eve’s child the real source of the sinful nature of mankind?
A writing by Menahem of Recanati declares that the very filth of Samael caused the dark spot visible on the face of the Moon.