Throughout the year, various demons are stronger and more influential than others during a certain month. Some believe that people are more susceptible to their ploys during this time. In this article, you will learn about the dominant demon of the month of March ”“ the infamous Satan, who plays a significant role in the Hebrew Bible.
Satan is known by many different names that range from ‘the opposer’ to other entities associated with various religions. In the Hebrew Bible, he presents challenges to humans that test their faith. Christians see Satan as the chief of the rebellious fallen angels, who chose wickedness over following the goodness that God represents. Satan also appears in various myths, such as playing the role of the deceiver in Zoroastrianism belief circles. He is known as Lie, and acts as a guide to the forces of darkness.
References in the Hebrew Bible
When the Hebrews used the term ‘satan,’ it was initially meant as a noun that came from a verb meaning to obstruct or oppose. Appearing as Ha-Satan in some texts, his name translates into ‘the accuser’ or ‘the adversary.’ In the Books of Job and Zechariah, Ha-Satan is mentioned 13 times in the Masoretic Text. In the various versions of the Bible, Satan or a reference to an adversary appears in the following books and passages:
”¢ 1 Chronicles 21:1 ”“ “Satan stood up against Israel” (King James Version) and “And there standeth up an adversary against Israel” (Young’s Literal Translation).
”¢ Psalm 109:6b ”“ “and let Satan stand at his right hand”(King James Version)
”¢ Numbers 22:22 ”“ “and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him.”
Satan is known by many different names. In the New Testament, Satan is appears alongside Diabolos (the Greek word for ‘devil’) more than 30 times in the New Testament. In the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament, Satan is referred to as Beelzebub (which means ‘Lord of Flies’). Sometimes, Satan is referred to as a serpent ”“ it is he that convinces Eve to eat the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. Another form of serpent that Satan appears as is a dragon ”“ as seen in the Book of Revelation. In the Book of John, Satan is referred to as ‘the prince of this world.’
Other Texts
There are various writings associated with religion that feature Satan or make reference to him. The Book of Enoch speaks of ‘Satariel’ ”“ who is believed to be a reference to Babylonian text. Sometimes, he is spoken of in a time before his fall from Heaven. In the Second Book of Enoch, a ‘watcher’ named Satanael is mentioned. He is described as the prince of the Grigori who was cast out of heaven. This evil spirit was one that knew the difference between what was “righteous” and “sinful.” The devil is presented as a being who brought death into the world in the Book of Wisdom ”“ which is linked to Solomon. When reading the Ascension of Isaiah and the Life of Adam and Eve, you will learn that Satan ruled over a host of angels. In the Book of Jubilees, Satan appears as Mastema, who persuades God to test Abraham with the sacrifice of Isaac.