Samael

Samael (/ˈsæməˌɛl/; Hebrew: סַמָּאֵל, Sammāʾēl, "Venom of God";[1] Arabic: سمسمائيل, Samsama'il or سمائل, Samail; alternatively Smal, Smil, Samil, or Samiel)[2][3][4] is an archangel in Talmudic and post-Talmudic tradition; a figure who is the accuser or adversary (Satan in the Book of Job), seducer, and destroying angel (in the Book of Exodus).

He appears frequently in the story of the Garden of Eden and engineered the fall of Adam and Eve with a snake in writings during the Second Temple period.

By the beginning of Jewish culture in Europe, Samael had been established as a representative of Christianity due to his identification with Rome.

[11][7]: 263 In some Gnostic cosmologies, Samael's role as a source of evil became identified with the Demiurge, the creator of the material world.

[12] In the Exodus Rabbah, Samael is depicted as the accuser in the heavenly court and tempter to sin, while Michael defends Israel's actions.

He also fulfills the role of the Angel of Death when he comes to take the body of Moses and is called the leader of Satan.

The title of satan is also applied to him in the midrash Pirkei De-Rabbi Eliezer, where he is the chief of the fallen angels,[7]: 257–60  and a twelve-winged seraph.

Among his portions are Esau, the people who inherit the sword and bring war; the goats and se'irim (demons); and the destroyer angels.

[10] Although both Samael and Lilith are major demons in earlier Jewish traditions, they do not appear paired until the second half of the thirteenth century, when they are introduced together.

[21] In the Kabbalistic work Treatise on the Left Emanation, Samael is part of the qlippoth, prince of all demons, and spouse of Lilith.

[22] According to the treatise (secondary source) which is unconfirmed, God castrated Samael in order not to fill the world with their demonic offspring.

[6] In the Zohar, one of Kabbalah's principal works, Samael is described as a leader of the divine forces of destruction, part of the qlippoth.

He is mentioned again as the serpent's rider,[8] and is described as having mated with Eisheth Zenunim, Na'amah, and Agrat bat Mahlat, all being "angels" of sacred prostitution.

His height was so great, it would have taken five hundred years to cover a distance equal to it, and from the crown of his head to the soles of his feet he was studded with glaring eyes.