Was Lilith the First Wife of Adam?

[Displaced Bama Fan]

I was watching the history channel last night on lost books of the Bible and they did a segment on Lilith, the mythical first wife of Adam. It was interesting because if you read Genesis:

Genesis 1 - 26 Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."

27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.

Later in Genesis 2

But for Adam [h] no suitable helper was found. 21 So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh. 22 Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib [j] he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.

Interesting...did He create man and woman from the earth, and Adam was displeased with "Lilith" so she was banished and God created a new woman from Adam so that he could have dominion over her? Interesting stuff nonetheless.

 

[bamanut_aj]

never heard of that.

 

[Displaced Bama Fan]

More info on Lilith.

http://www.pantheon.org/articles/l/lilith.html

Wasn't there a concert a few years ago where all the female bands/singers were putting on "Lilith Fair"?

 

[It's On A Slab]

Eve must have been quite the looker if he kicked out Lilith.

 

[dayhiker]

Adam was walking around the Garden of Eden feeling very lonely, so God asked Adam, "What is wrong with you?"

Adam said, "Lord, I don't have anyone to talk to."

God said, "Then I will give you a companion, and she will be called a 'woman'. This person will cook for you and wash your clothes, she will always agree with every decision you make. She will bear your children and never ask you to get up in the middle of the night to take care of them. She will not nag you, and will always be the first to admit she was wrong when you've had a disagreement. She will never have a headache, and will freely give 'love' and compassion whenever needed. She will never question your behaviour or the company you keep. She will support you and understand that you have important decisions to make throughout your life and don't have time for nonsense..."

Adam asked God, "What will this woman cost?"

God said, "An arm and a leg..."

Adam said, "What can I get for just a rib?"

 

[cbi1972]

Lilith

The first medieval source to depict the myth of Adam and Lilith in full was the Midrash Abkier (ca. 10th century), which was followed by the Zohar and Kabbalistic writings. Adam is said to be a perfect saint until he recognizes either his sin or Cain's homicide that is the cause of bringing death into the world. He then separates from holy Eve, sleeps alone, and fasts for 130 years. During this time Lilith, also known as Pizna, and Naamah desired his beauty and came to him against his will. They bore him many demons and spirits called "the plagues of humankind".[47] The added explanation was that it was through Adam's own sin that Lilith overcame him against his will.

Older sources do not state clearly that after Lilith's Red Sea sojourn, she returned to Adam and begat children from him. In the Zohar, however, Lilith is said to have succeeded in begetting offspring from Adam during their short-lived connubium. Lilith leaves Adam in Eden, as she is not a suitable helpmate for him. She returns, later, to force herself upon him. However, before doing so she attaches herself to Cain and bears him numerous spirits and demons.

The modern interpretation of Lilith is as a woman who was not one to submit to the domination of men, or to their ideas of the virtue of female chastity. Lilith has also been co-opted by numerous occult groups.

Lilith's reputation as "Adam's first wife and seductress" was cemented in modernity by Goethe's 1808 work Faust Part I, which drew upon the medieval legends:

Faust:
Who's that there?

Mephistopheles:
Take a good look.
Lilith.

Faust:
Lilith? Who is that?

Mephistopheles:
Adam's wife, his first. Beware of her.
Her beauty's one boast is her dangerous hair.
When Lilith winds it tight around young men
She doesn't soon let go of them again.

 

[Toss Sweep]

The lost books of the Bible thing is interesting. Dragons, Fallen Ones, etc being mentioned. Makes me wonder though about which books were left out of the cannon and why. Some of the early church leaders did have their own interest at heart. Make you wonder some times if important stuff was left out. Gotta have faith I guess.

 

[NYBamaFan]

First wife of Adam? Hmmm. Since my faith is in God, not man - I don't really care. I see the story of Adam and Eve as a parable. Adding this other character just adds depth to Adam's character...

 

[Displaced Bama Fan]

The lost books of the Bible thing is interesting. Dragons, Fallen Ones, etc being mentioned. Makes me wonder though about which books were left out of the cannon and why. Some of the early church leaders did have their own interest at heart. Make you wonder some times if important stuff was left out. Gotta have faith I guess.

No doubt. It certainly makes you think there is more to the history than what is written though. Very interesting how so many religions have intertwined characters throughout their history.

 

[bamanut_aj]

First wife of Adam? Hmmm. Since my faith is in God, not man - I don't really care. I see the story of Adam and Eve as a parable. Adding this other character just adds depth to Adam's character...

if you interpret everything in the Bible literally, this could really shake you up. If, like you said, you take the Creation story as something of a parable or fable, it shouldn't bother you. I don't consider the Creation story to be one of Salvation depending on what version you believe.

 

[gmart74]

Every time I hear someone say they believe what is written in the Bible I always ask "Which one?" There are so many book sleft out or edited or different versions that made it in that it is ridiculous to say there is only one Bible. The apocrypha is some good reading and that history channel show was pretty good as well.

 

[derek4tide]

Every time I hear someone say they believe what is written in the Bible I always ask "Which one?" There are so many book sleft out or edited or different versions that made it in that it is ridiculous to say there is only one Bible. The apocrypha is some good reading and that history channel show was pretty good as well.

The History Channel is where I learned about the Book of Mary. I feel very betrayed when I learned how the early church sought to remove women from leadership roles by destroying holy scriptures.

 

[gmart74]

The role of the church in reducing the role of women to glorified sheep is well chronicled throughout history. Just one of my issues with "christianity" as we know it today. I am the furthest thing from a feminist, but I simply cannot tolerate hypocrisy and idiocy, especially from supposedly morally superior institutions.

 

[bamanut_aj]

I, too, always felt somewhat conflicted on the issue of women and their roles in the Church and family. I could never help but wonder if Paul made that his own "declaration" or if someone added/changed it in translation. For all the things that CHRIST taught about love, do unto others etc, it made so sense for Him to come back and say "oh yeah, keep your head covered, don't wear jewelry and keep your trap shut."

It's no secret that Paul was somewhat of an egomaniac and I've never been able to shake the thought that he took some liberties with his opinion from time to time.

 

[gmart74]

Genesis 19 Story of Lot and Sodom and Gomorrah:

Yeah go ahead and gangrape my two daughters, just leave my visitors alone.

I realize it is old testament but isnt there something written about a house built on a weak foundation.........

ok I've stirred the pot enough. I just don't understand especially why any woman would support christianity as it is taught today. I'm not sure how any man that believes in even a pseudo equality between the sexes could support it either.

 

[bamabake]

First wife of Adam? Hmmm. Since my faith is in God, not man - I don't really care. I see the story of Adam and Eve as a parable. Adding this other character just adds depth to Adam's character...

never mind

 

[It's On A Slab]

I, too, always felt somewhat conflicted on the issue of women and their roles in the Church and family. I could never help but wonder if Paul made that his own "declaration" or if someone added/changed it in translation. For all the things that CHRIST taught about love, do unto others etc, it made so sense for Him to come back and say "oh yeah, keep your head covered, don't wear jewelry and keep your trap shut."

It's no secret that Paul was somewhat of an egomaniac and I've never been able to shake the thought that he took some liberties with his opinion from time to time.

I've argued on numerous occasions on this forum that Christianity is more Paulist than Christian. And he certainly had a very dismissive view of women.....something that you see a lot in the way some denominations treat women.....for example, the Lutheran Missouri Synod (Wisconsin Synod as well) will not allow women to become ministers nor attain leadership roles in their churches.

 

[bamanut_aj]

Genesis 19 Story of Lot and Sodom and Gomorrah:

Yeah go ahead and gangrape my two daughters, just leave my visitors alone.

that has less to do with Christian teachings and more to do with Lot's willingness to go to any lengths to protect the visitors.

 

[bamanut_aj]

I've argued on numerous occasions on this forum that Christianity is more Paulist than Christian. And he certainly had a very dismissive view of women.....something that you see a lot in the way some denominations treat women.....for example, the Lutheran Missouri Synod (Wisconsin Synod as well) will not allow women to become ministers nor attain leadership roles in their churches.

When Christ ascended to Heaven and left the direction of the Church to the disciples, I too, tend to believe that Paul took some liberties.....

 

[bamanut_aj]

never mind

what's wrong with that? Not everyone takes the Creation story or the Garden story literally.