elsbet
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For those who might be interested, and because these ideas, found in the Bible, of the "serpent's seed" and "nephilim" have long intrigued the human imagination, here is something from Jewish midrashic, that is to say "extra-Biblical" legend and lore. This excerpt I quote involves the potentially mysterious birth of Cain, and only one (rabbinic) version or tradition at that, but if you click the source link, further details of the process by which the here specifically named angels, Shemhazai and Azazel, "left their first estate," that is, the presence of God, and became not only corrupt but also the cause of further corruption are given. What is more, the legend, here described, of the fallen angels and nephilim ties into Babylonian star lore, with Ishtar [Istahar] having a supporting role in the drama (subsection "The Star Maiden"). I post for informational purposes only and for what it may be worth.
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"... This [referenced] myth is a response to the enigmatic verse in which Eve says, I have gotten a man with the aid of Yahweh (Gen. 4:1). Targum Pseudo-Yonathan translates this verse as “I have acquired a man, the angel of the Lord.” One reading of this verse in the Talmud (B. Shab. 146a) suggests that Eve had intercourse with the serpent: “When the serpent consorted with Eve, he cast impurity into her.” This interpretation is echoed in the [Kabbalah] Zohar: “From the impurity with which the serpent infected Eve emerged Cain.” Pirkei de-Rabbi Eliezer builds on the talmudic interpretation, but changes it in an essential way. Here the true father of Cain is the angel [sometimes known as demon] Samael, who came to Eve riding on the serpent. Indeed, in this passage the angel and serpent are closely linked, creating a satanic figure and suggesting that Eve had intercourse with the serpent, a powerful phallic symbol.
In Pirkei de-Rabbi Eliezer, the Torah upbraids Samael as he rides upon the serpent like a camel: “The Torah began to cry aloud, saying, ‘Why, O Samael, now that the world is created, is it time to rebel against God? Is this the time to lift yourself on high? God will laugh at the horse and its rider.’” This establishes the role of the Torah as the defender of the human race against the evil intentions of Samael. Zohar 1:36b explains that two came upon Eve, the serpent and Adam, and that she became pregnant from both of them, and bore two sons. The son of the serpent is, of course, Cain. In order to explain why Cain was evil and Abel was good, Zohar 1:54a explains that Cain was conceived from the side of unholiness and Abel from the side of holiness. As a result, Abel was in the likeness of God’s image, as stated in the verse And God created man in His image (Gen. 1:27). But Cain was of the likeness of the nether image. Just what this is isn’t clear, although one commentary, Ziv ha-Zohar, identifies the nether image as that of an ape [which "serpent's seed" ideas, at times, give rise to racist mythologies and religiously-based ideologies, such as, for instance, so called "Christian Identity"]. Because Cain was from the side of the Angel of Death (another possible explanation of the “nether image”), he killed his brother ..."
I love [love, love] your formatting.
And looking forward to reading the linked material, as well. Some of this stuff is still cited in prognostication and such, like True Lilith, and (I think) Dark Moon Lilith... they are just points in the sky, but some people take it quite seriously-- both the placements and the notion that Adam had an ex-wife.