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The False teaching of Satan
Many people get annoyed when told that God’s adversary in Bible, Satan and sometimes wrongly referred to as Lucifer is not a real person. The majority of them are theists and specifically Christians.
The most difficult question they very rarely answer is the following…
Why would an Almighty God would need to have a Devil or Satan?
The lack of knowledge of their own religion and origins of their religion are sometimes astounding.
For this exercise, I will use a specific source, however urge the readers to verify the content with any other source they choose to.
In order to explain this, when have to start with the background.
The region where all events in Bible is happening
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levant
“The Levant (/l?'vænt/), also known as the Eastern Mediterranean, is a geographic and cultural region consisting of the "eastern Mediterranean littoral between Anatolia and Egypt".[2] The Levant today consists of Cyprus, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, and part of southern Turkey (the former Aleppo Vilayet).”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levant#mediaviewer/File:Levant_(orthographic_projection).png
What were the Hebrew and more specifically the Jewish view of this “Satan” before they were taken into captivity to Babylon
There is no Satan in the old Hebrew religion. They were strictly monotheists.
The Jewish view before Babylon
http://judaism.about.com/od/judaismbasics/a/jewishbeliefsatan.htm
“In Judaism, yetzer hara (Hebrew: ????? ?????, for the definite "the evil inclination"), or yetzer ra (Hebrew: ????? ???, for the indefinite "an evil inclination") refers to the inclination to do evil, by violating the will of God. The term is drawn from the phrase "the imagination of the heart of man [is] evil" (Hebrew: ????? ??? ??????? ???, yetzer lev-ha-adam ra), which occurs twice in the Hebrew Bible, at Genesis 6:5 and 8:21.
The yetzer hara is not a demonic force, but rather man's misuse of things the physical body needs to survive. Thus, the need for food becomes gluttony due to the yetzer hara. The need for procreation becomes sexual abuse, and so on. The idea that humans are born with a yetzer ra (physical needs that can become "evil"), but that humans don't acquire a yetzer tov ("a good inclination") until an age of maturity—12 for girls and 13 for boys—has its source in Chapter 16 of the Talmudic tractate Avot de-Rabbi Natan.
Traditionally, a person's indulgence of either the good or evil impulse is seen as a matter of free choice. For example, Moshe Chaim Luzzatto wrote in Derech Hashem ("The Way of God") that "Man is the creature created for the purpose of being drawn close to God. He is placed between perfection and deficiency, with the power to earn perfection. Man must earn this perfection, however, through his own free will... Man's inclinations are therefore balanced between good (Yetzer HaTov) and evil (Yetzer HaRa), and he is not compelled toward either of them. He has the power of choice and is able to choose either side knowingly and willingly..."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yetzer_hara
The Jewish view during and after Babylon
Leviathan (/l?'va?.???n/; Hebrew: ?????????, Modern Livyatan Tiberian Liwya?an ; "twisted, coiled") is a sea monster referenced in the Tanakh, or the Old Testament. The word has become synonymous with any large sea monster or creature.
The Leviathan is mentioned six times in the Tanakh, with Job 41:1–34 being dedicated to describing him in detail; In Psalm 74 God is said to "break the heads of Leviathan in pieces" before giving his flesh to the people of the wilderness; in Psalm 104 God is praised for having made all things, including Leviathan; and in Isaiah 27:1 he is called the "wriggling serpent" who will be killed at the end of time.
For further reading
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leviathan
Understanding the concept of Satan in the Bible
The leviathan was an important piece that leads to the transition of satan or “embodiment of evil. The name of the Leviathan was Rahab.
Rahab m.n. (Hebrew: ?????, Modern Rahav Tiberian Raha? ; "blusterer") is used in the Hebrew Bible to indicate rage, fierceness, insolence, pride. Rahab is the emblematic name of Egypt and is also spoken of with the sea.[1] In mediaeval Jewish folklore, Rahab is a mythical sea monster.
Rahab is a poetical name for Egypt. It might have Egyptian origins that were accommodated to the Hebrew language. However, there is nothing revealing in the Coptic language.[1]
I mention Rahab (Egypt)[2] and Babel to those knowing Me, Lo, Philistia, and Tyre, with Cush! This [one] was born there. (Psalm 87:4)YLT
Thou [Jehovah] art ruler over the pride of the sea, In the lifting up of its billows Thou dost restrain them. Thou hast bruised Rahab (Egypt),[2] as one wounded. With the arm of Thy strength Thou hast scattered Thine enemies. (Psalm 89:8–10)YLT
Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of Jehovah, Awake, as [in] days of old, generations of the ages, Art not Thou it that is hewing down Rahab (Egypt),[2] Piercing a dragon! (Isaiah 51:9)YLT
Raha? as insolence or pride
In Isaiah 30:7, raha? (insolence, strength) becomes a proverbial expression that gives an allusion to the Hebrew etymology insolence.[1]
Yea, Egyptians [are] vanity, and in vain do help, Therefore I have cried concerning this: `Their strength (raha?)[3] [is] to sit still. (Isaiah 30:7)YLT
In the Book of Job, raha? (pride, blusterer) occurs in the Hebrew text and is translated in the King James Version as "proud".[3]
[If] God will not withdraw his anger, the proud (raha?) helpers do stoop under him. (Job 9:13)KJV
He divideth the sea with his power, and by his understanding he smiteth through the proud (raha?). (Job 26:12)KJV
Jewish folklore
In mediaeval Jewish folklore, Rahab (noise, tumult, arrogance) is a mythical sea monster, a dragon of the waters, the "demonic angel of the sea". Rahab represents the primordial abyss, the water-dragon of darkness and chaos, comparable to Leviathan and Tiamat. Rahab later became a particular demon, inhabitant of the sea, especially associated with the Red Sea.
With the above information all instances where “Satan” appears, it can be explained in detail.
Most theists usually refer Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 24, and temptation of Jesus as prime examples that Satan is a real being. Quite ironic that monotheistic religion like Christianity would allow the idea of another “deity” in its religion. In effect they become henotheists, and Jesus Himself said that He will “spit out the luke warm ones”
So, if you feel up to it, please bring all your verses where you see “satan” and lets discuss it.
Who knows, maybe we will get to see the good (Yetzer HaTov) and evil (Yetzer HaRa) in the comments.
My personal view, if you do credit Satan as a person, then he exist only between your ears. Take responsibility of your own actions, and stopping blame a little red man with horns, a tail, and pitchfork.
Many people get annoyed when told that God’s adversary in Bible, Satan and sometimes wrongly referred to as Lucifer is not a real person. The majority of them are theists and specifically Christians.
The most difficult question they very rarely answer is the following…
Why would an Almighty God would need to have a Devil or Satan?
The lack of knowledge of their own religion and origins of their religion are sometimes astounding.
For this exercise, I will use a specific source, however urge the readers to verify the content with any other source they choose to.
In order to explain this, when have to start with the background.
The region where all events in Bible is happening
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levant
“The Levant (/l?'vænt/), also known as the Eastern Mediterranean, is a geographic and cultural region consisting of the "eastern Mediterranean littoral between Anatolia and Egypt".[2] The Levant today consists of Cyprus, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, and part of southern Turkey (the former Aleppo Vilayet).”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levant#mediaviewer/File:Levant_(orthographic_projection).png
What were the Hebrew and more specifically the Jewish view of this “Satan” before they were taken into captivity to Babylon
There is no Satan in the old Hebrew religion. They were strictly monotheists.
The Jewish view before Babylon
http://judaism.about.com/od/judaismbasics/a/jewishbeliefsatan.htm
“In Judaism, yetzer hara (Hebrew: ????? ?????, for the definite "the evil inclination"), or yetzer ra (Hebrew: ????? ???, for the indefinite "an evil inclination") refers to the inclination to do evil, by violating the will of God. The term is drawn from the phrase "the imagination of the heart of man [is] evil" (Hebrew: ????? ??? ??????? ???, yetzer lev-ha-adam ra), which occurs twice in the Hebrew Bible, at Genesis 6:5 and 8:21.
The yetzer hara is not a demonic force, but rather man's misuse of things the physical body needs to survive. Thus, the need for food becomes gluttony due to the yetzer hara. The need for procreation becomes sexual abuse, and so on. The idea that humans are born with a yetzer ra (physical needs that can become "evil"), but that humans don't acquire a yetzer tov ("a good inclination") until an age of maturity—12 for girls and 13 for boys—has its source in Chapter 16 of the Talmudic tractate Avot de-Rabbi Natan.
Traditionally, a person's indulgence of either the good or evil impulse is seen as a matter of free choice. For example, Moshe Chaim Luzzatto wrote in Derech Hashem ("The Way of God") that "Man is the creature created for the purpose of being drawn close to God. He is placed between perfection and deficiency, with the power to earn perfection. Man must earn this perfection, however, through his own free will... Man's inclinations are therefore balanced between good (Yetzer HaTov) and evil (Yetzer HaRa), and he is not compelled toward either of them. He has the power of choice and is able to choose either side knowingly and willingly..."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yetzer_hara
The Jewish view during and after Babylon
Leviathan (/l?'va?.???n/; Hebrew: ?????????, Modern Livyatan Tiberian Liwya?an ; "twisted, coiled") is a sea monster referenced in the Tanakh, or the Old Testament. The word has become synonymous with any large sea monster or creature.
The Leviathan is mentioned six times in the Tanakh, with Job 41:1–34 being dedicated to describing him in detail; In Psalm 74 God is said to "break the heads of Leviathan in pieces" before giving his flesh to the people of the wilderness; in Psalm 104 God is praised for having made all things, including Leviathan; and in Isaiah 27:1 he is called the "wriggling serpent" who will be killed at the end of time.
For further reading
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leviathan
Understanding the concept of Satan in the Bible
The leviathan was an important piece that leads to the transition of satan or “embodiment of evil. The name of the Leviathan was Rahab.
Rahab m.n. (Hebrew: ?????, Modern Rahav Tiberian Raha? ; "blusterer") is used in the Hebrew Bible to indicate rage, fierceness, insolence, pride. Rahab is the emblematic name of Egypt and is also spoken of with the sea.[1] In mediaeval Jewish folklore, Rahab is a mythical sea monster.
Rahab is a poetical name for Egypt. It might have Egyptian origins that were accommodated to the Hebrew language. However, there is nothing revealing in the Coptic language.[1]
I mention Rahab (Egypt)[2] and Babel to those knowing Me, Lo, Philistia, and Tyre, with Cush! This [one] was born there. (Psalm 87:4)YLT
Thou [Jehovah] art ruler over the pride of the sea, In the lifting up of its billows Thou dost restrain them. Thou hast bruised Rahab (Egypt),[2] as one wounded. With the arm of Thy strength Thou hast scattered Thine enemies. (Psalm 89:8–10)YLT
Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of Jehovah, Awake, as [in] days of old, generations of the ages, Art not Thou it that is hewing down Rahab (Egypt),[2] Piercing a dragon! (Isaiah 51:9)YLT
Raha? as insolence or pride
In Isaiah 30:7, raha? (insolence, strength) becomes a proverbial expression that gives an allusion to the Hebrew etymology insolence.[1]
Yea, Egyptians [are] vanity, and in vain do help, Therefore I have cried concerning this: `Their strength (raha?)[3] [is] to sit still. (Isaiah 30:7)YLT
In the Book of Job, raha? (pride, blusterer) occurs in the Hebrew text and is translated in the King James Version as "proud".[3]
[If] God will not withdraw his anger, the proud (raha?) helpers do stoop under him. (Job 9:13)KJV
He divideth the sea with his power, and by his understanding he smiteth through the proud (raha?). (Job 26:12)KJV
Jewish folklore
In mediaeval Jewish folklore, Rahab (noise, tumult, arrogance) is a mythical sea monster, a dragon of the waters, the "demonic angel of the sea". Rahab represents the primordial abyss, the water-dragon of darkness and chaos, comparable to Leviathan and Tiamat. Rahab later became a particular demon, inhabitant of the sea, especially associated with the Red Sea.
With the above information all instances where “Satan” appears, it can be explained in detail.
Most theists usually refer Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 24, and temptation of Jesus as prime examples that Satan is a real being. Quite ironic that monotheistic religion like Christianity would allow the idea of another “deity” in its religion. In effect they become henotheists, and Jesus Himself said that He will “spit out the luke warm ones”
So, if you feel up to it, please bring all your verses where you see “satan” and lets discuss it.
Who knows, maybe we will get to see the good (Yetzer HaTov) and evil (Yetzer HaRa) in the comments.
My personal view, if you do credit Satan as a person, then he exist only between your ears. Take responsibility of your own actions, and stopping blame a little red man with horns, a tail, and pitchfork.
