In religion, folklore, and mythology a demon or demoness is a supernatural being that has generally been described as a malevolent spirit but outside Christian circles was viewed as a sort of elemental spirit: compare daemon and djinn. A demon is frequently depicted as a force that may be conjured and insecurely controlled. The "good" demon in recent use is largely a literary device (eg: Maxwell's demon). In common language, "demonizing" one's opponent is an aspersion. As the Indo-Iranian Avestan and Vedic traditions and also other branches of Indo-European mythologies show, the not ...

Including:

• Demon - Etymology
• Demon - Demons in ancient Persia
• Demon - Demons in the Hebrew Bible
• Demon - Influences from Chaldean mythology
• Demon - In Jewish rabbinic literature
• Demon - The King and Queen of Demons
• Demon - In the New Testament and Christianity
• Demon - In Christian myth and legend
• Demon - War in Heaven
• Demon - Demonologies
• Demon - In pre-Islamic Arab culture
• Demon - In Islam
• Demon - In Hinduism
• Demon - Demons in other cultures and religions
• Demon - Demons in Hellenistic Neopaganism
• Demon - In art literature and television
• Demon - In science
• Demon - In games
• Demon - External link

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Hell is, according to many religious beliefs, a place or a state of painful suffering. The English word 'hell' comes from the Teutonic 'Hel', which originally meant "to cover" and later referred to the goddess of the Norse underworld, Helgardh. Compare Anglo-Saxon helan, Greek kalyptein and Latin celare = "to hide, to cover" (all from IE *kel). In many religions, after death, evildoers either suffer eternally or until they have paid for their bad deeds before reincarnation or redemption. In monotheis ...

Including:

• Hell - Origins
• Hell - Religious accounts
• Hell - Rabbinic Judaism
• Hell - Ancient Greek religion
• Hell - Christianity
• Hell - Islam
• Hell - Chinese and Japanese religions
• Hell - Hinduism
• Hell - Buddhism
• Hell - Bahá'í Faith
• Hell - Taoism
• Hell - Hell in Literature
• Hell - Hell in entertainment and other popular culture
• Hell - Non-religious context
• Hell - Euphemistic ways of saying hell
• Hell - Language edits
• Hell - Places named Hell

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Satan (שָׂטָן Standard Hebrew Satan, Greek and Latin Sátanas, Tiberian Hebrew Śāṭān; Aramaic שִׂטְנָא Śaṭanâ: both words mean "Adversary; accuser") is an angel, demon, or minor god in many religions. Satan plays various roles in the Hebrew Bible, the Apocrypha and the New Testament. In the Hebrew Bible, Satan is an angel that God uses to test man for various reasons usually dealing with his level of piety (i.e. the test in the Book of Job). In the Apocrypha and New Test ...

Including:

• Satan - In the Hebrew Bible
• Satan - Different uses of the word Satan in the Tanakh
• Satan - Biblical description of Satan
• Satan - Satan as an accuser
• Satan - In Rabbinic literature
• Satan - In the Hebrew Apocrypha
• Satan - In the New Testament
• Satan - Satan in Islam
• Satan - Shaitan and Adam and Eve
• Satan - Among polytheists
• Satan - Syncreto-Paganism
• Satan - Neopaganism
• Satan - New Age movement
• Satan - Satanists
• Satan - Skepticism
• Satan - Satan in fiction
• Satan - Bibliography

Read more here: » Satan: Encyclopedia - Satan

Owing to his direct descent from Judah and to his being the progenitor of so many kings, Nahshon is extolled by the rabbis as a most noble man. Nahshon's sister Elisheba married Aaron (Ex. vi. 23), and this is especially mentioned as a hint that one should take care to select a wife whose brothers are noble (B. B. 110a). At the crossing of the Red Sea Nahshon was the first to spring into the water (whence his name "Nahshol" = "stormy sea-waves"), and it is in virtue of this that he was chosen to be the first to bring the dedicatory offering ...

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Nahshon, Nahshon - Biblical data, Nahshon - In Rabbinical literature:

Read more here: » Nahshon: Encyclopedia II - Nahshon - In Rabbinical literature:

In rabbinic Jewish literature Joshua is regarded as a faithful, humble, deserving, wise man. Biblical verses illustrative of these qualities and of their reward are applied to him. "He that waits on his master shall be honored" (Pro. xxvii. 18) is construed as a reference to Joshua (Midrash Numbers Rabbah xii.), as is also the first part of the same verse, "Whoso keepes the fig-tree shall eat the fruit thereof" (Midrash Yalk., Josh. 2; Numbers Rabbah xii. 21). That "honor shall uphold the humble in spirit" (Pro. xxix. 23) is pr ...

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Joshua, Joshua - Conquest, Joshua - End of his life, Joshua - Analysis, Joshua - In Rabbinical literature, Joshua - External link

Read more here: » Joshua: Encyclopedia II - Joshua - In Rabbinical literature

The Jebusites, who are identical with the Hittites, derived their name from the city of Jebus, the ancient Jerusalem, which they inhabited. Within their territory lay the cave of Machpelah, which Abraham wished to buy. But they said to him: "We know that God will give this country to your descendants. Now, if you will make a covenant with us that Israel will not take the city of Jebus against the will of its inhabitants, we will cede to you the cave and will give you a bill of sale." Abraham, who was very anxious to obtain this holy burial-p ...

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Jebusite, Jebusite - Ethnic Origin, Jebusite - During the Israelite period, Jebusite - In Rabbinical literature

Read more here: » Jebusite: Encyclopedia II - Jebusite - In Rabbinical literature

Bath-sheba, the granddaughter of Ahithophel, David's famous counselor, was only eight years and eight months of age when her son Solomon was born, while some maintain that she was not older than six (Sanh. 69b). The influence of the evil tempter of humanity brought about the sinful relation of David and Bathsheba. Bath-sheba was making her toilet on the roof of her house behind a screen of wickerwork, when Satan came in the disguise of a bird; David, shooting at it, struck the screen, splitting it; thus Bath-sheba was revealed in her ...

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Bathsheba, Bathsheba - Biblical Data, Bathsheba - In Rabbinical Literature, Bathsheba - Christianity, Bathsheba - In the Qur'an, Bathsheba - Critical View

Read more here: » Bathsheba: Encyclopedia II - Bathsheba - In Rabbinical Literature

Rabbinical literature identifies Samson with Bedan; Bedan was a Judge mentioned by Samuel in his farewell address (1 Samuel 12:11) among the Judges that delivered Israel from their enemies. However, the name "Bedan" is not found in the Book of Judges. The name "Samson" is derived from shemesh (= "sun"), so that Samson bore the name of God, who is also "a sun and shield" (Psalms 84:12). As God protected Israel, so did Samson watch over it in his generation, judging the people even as did God. Samson's strength was divinely derived (Talmud, Tractate Sotah 10a]). Samson resembled God in requiring neither aid nor ...

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Samson, Samson - Biblical story, Samson - In rabbinic literature, Samson - In other literature, Samson - Samson as myth, Samson - Samson's name and birthplace, Samson - Dusk, Samson - The day, Samson - The yearly sun

Read more here: » Samson: Encyclopedia II - Samson - In rabbinic literature

The festival is known in the Mishnah and Talmud as Atzeret. This term is usually translated a "solemn assembly," meaning the congregation at the pilgrimage festivals. The name is applied also to Passover (Deut. xvi. 8) and to Sukkot (Lev. xxiii. 36). In post-Talmudic and geonic literature the Biblical name Shavuot was resumed. Shavuot falls on the 6th of Sivan and never occurs on Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday. In many communities out ...

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Shavuot, Shavuot - Connection with harvest, Shavuot - In Rabbinical literature, Shavuot - The morrow after Sabbath, Shavuot - Tikkun Lel Shavuot, Shavuot - Floral decorations and confirmation, Shavuot - Confirmation in Reform Judaism, Shavuot - Date of the giving of the law

Read more here: » Shavuot: Encyclopedia II - Shavuot - In Rabbinical literature

Rabbinical literature identifies Samson with Bedan; Bedan was a Judge mentioned by Samuel in his farewell address (1 Samuel 12:11) among the Judges that delivered Israel from their enemies. However, the name "Bedan" is not found in the Book of Judges. The name "Samson" is derived from shemesh (= "sun"), so that Samson bore the name of God, who is also "a sun and shield" (Psalms 84:12). As God protected Israel, so did Samson watch over it in his generation, judging the people even as did God. Samson's strength was divinely derived (Talmud, Tractate Sotah 10a]). Samson resembled God in requiring neither aid nor ...

See also:

Samson, Samson - Biblical story, Samson - In rabbinic literature, Samson - In other literature, Samson - Samson's Life, Samson - Samson's name and birthplace, Samson - Dusk, Samson - The day, Samson - The yearly sun

Read more here: » Samson: Encyclopedia II - Samson - In rabbinic literature

Early rabbinic Jewish statements in the Mishnah and Talmud show that Satan played little or no role in Jewish theology. In the course of time, however, Judaism absorbed the popular concepts of Satan, most likely inherited from Zoroastrianism. The later a rabbinic work can be dated the more frequent is the mention therein of Satan and his hosts. An example is found in Genesis: The serpent who had Eve eat the forbidden fruit. The consensus of the Biblical commentators in classical Judaism is that the serpent of the narrative in Genesis ...

See also:

Satan, Satan - In the Hebrew Bible, Satan - Different uses of the word Satan in the Tanakh, Satan - Biblical description of Satan, Satan - Satan as an accuser, Satan - In Rabbinic literature, Satan - In the Hebrew Apocrypha, Satan - In the New Testament, Satan - Satan in Islam, Satan - Shaitan and Adam and Eve, Satan - Among polytheists, Satan - Syncreto-Paganism, Satan - Neopaganism, Satan - New Age movement, Satan - Satanists, Satan - Skepticism, Satan - Satan in fiction, Satan - Bibliography

Read more here: » Satan: Encyclopedia II - Satan - In Rabbinic literature

Jochebed is identified by some rabbis in the Talmud with Shiphrah, one of the midwives ordered by Pharaoh to kill the new-born male children (Exodus 1:15-16). Her name is given various interpretations (Talmud, Sotah 11b; Midrash Exodus Rabba i. 17). The "houses" with which God recompensed the midwives (Exodus 1:21) were those of priesthood and royalty, realized, in the case of Jochebed, in the p ...

See also:

Jochebed, Jochebed - In Jewish rabbinic literature

Read more here: » Jochebed: Encyclopedia II - Jochebed - In Jewish rabbinic literature

In rabbinic literature Balaam is represented as one of seven gentile prophets; the other six being Beor (Balaam's father), Job, and Balaam's four friends (Talmud, B. B. 15b). In this literature, Balaam gradually acquired a position among the non-Jews, which was exalted as much as that of Moses among the Jews (Midrash Numbers Rabbah 20); at first being a mere interpreter of dreams, but later becoming a magician, until fi ...

See also:

Balaam, Balaam - The stories, Balaam - Balaam and Balak, Balaam - Balaam and the Midianites, Balaam - Balaam and the donkey, Balaam - The Poems, Balaam - Balaam in rabbinic literature, Balaam - Balaam in the New Testament, Balaam - Etymology, Balaam - Balaam and other gods

Read more here: » Balaam: Encyclopedia II - Balaam - Balaam in rabbinic literature

The shofar is mentioned frequently in the Hebrew Bible, from Exodus to Zechariah, and throughout the Talmud and later rabbinic literature. It was the voice of a shofar, "exceeding loud," issuing from the thick cloud on Mount Sinai that made all the Israelites tremble in awe (Exodus xix, xx). This horn appears to be a normal trumpet. It can be sounded as a normal horn, but if the command word is spoken and the instrument is then played, it deals 5d6 points of sonic damage to creatures within a 40-foot cone and causes them to be ...

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Shofar, Shofar - In the Bible and rabbinic literature, Shofar - Post-Biblical times, Shofar - Construction, Shofar - Physical horns, Shofar - The sounds, Shofar - Unique sound waves, Shofar - The performer, Shofar - Use in modern times

Read more here: » Shofar: Encyclopedia II - Shofar - In the Bible and rabbinic literature

The shofar is mentioned frequently in the Hebrew Bible, from Exodus to Zechariah, and throughout the Talmud and later rabbinic literature. It was the voice of a shofar, "exceeding loud," issuing from the thick cloud on Mount Sinai that made all the Israelites tremble in awe (Exodus xix, xx). The shofar is prescribed for the announcement of the New Moon and solemn feasts (Num. x. 10; Ps. lxxxi. 4), as also for proclaiming the year of release (Lev. xxv. 9). The first day of the seventh month (Tishri) is termed "a memorial of blow ...

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Shofar, Shofar - In the Bible and rabbinic literature, Shofar - Post-Biblical times, Shofar - Construction, Shofar - Physical horns, Shofar - The sounds, Shofar - Unique sound waves, Shofar - The performer, Shofar - Use in modern times

Read more here: » Shofar: Encyclopedia II - Shofar - In the Bible and rabbinic literature

Belshazzar appears in many works of classical Jewish rabbinic literature. The chronology of the three Babylonian kings is given in the Talmud (Megillah 11a-b) as follows: Nebuchadnezzar reigned forty-five years, Evil-merodach twenty-three, and Belshazzar was monarch of Babylonia for two years, being killed at the beginning of the third year on the fatal night of the fall of Babylon (Meg. 11b). The references in the Talmud and the Midrash to Belshazzar emphasize his tyrannous oppression of his Jewish subjects. Several passages i ...

See also:

Belshazzar, Belshazzar - Belshazzar in contemporary Babylonian sources, Belshazzar - Belshazzar in classical sources, Belshazzar - Belshazzar in the Bible, Belshazzar - In classical rabbinic literature, Belshazzar - The Sacred Royal Feast, Belshazzar - External link, Belshazzar - Reference

Read more here: » Belshazzar: Encyclopedia II - Belshazzar - In classical rabbinic literature

A number of sections of the Talmud show a belief in the power of curses (Berachot 19a, 56a.) In some cases, a curse is described as related to the nature of a prayer (Ta'an. 23b); an undeserved curse is described as ineffective (Makkot 11a) and falls back upon the head of him who utters it (Sanhedrin 49a). Not only is a curse uttered by a scholar unfailing in its effect, even if undeserved (Mak. 11a), but one should not regard lightl ...

See also:

Curse, Curse - Philosophy and Religion, Curse - Folk Use, Curse - Cursed places, Curse - Cursed objects, Curse - Curses in the Bible, Curse - Curses in the Quran, Curse - Curses in rabbinic literature, Curse - Ancient Roman Curses, Curse - Other curses

Read more here: » Curse: Encyclopedia II - Curse - Curses in rabbinic literature

Rabbinical demonology has three classes of, demons, though they are scarcely separable one from another. There were the shedim, the mazziḳim ("harmers"), and the ruḥin ("evil spirits"). Besides these there were lilin ("night spirits"), ṭelane ("shade", or "evening spirits"), ṭiharire ("midday spirits"), and ẓafrire ("morning spirits"), as well as the "demons that bring famine" and "such as cause storm and earthquake" (Targ. Yer. to Deuteronomy xxxii. 24 and Numbers vi. 24; Tar ...

See also:

Demon, Demon - Etymology, Demon - Demons in the Hebrew Bible, Demon - Influences from Chaldean mythology, Demon - In Jewish rabbinic literature, Demon - The King and Queen of Demons, Demon - In the New Testament and Christianity, Demon - In Christian myth and legend, Demon - War in Heaven, Demon - Demonologies, Demon - In pre-Islamic Arab culture, Demon - In Islam, Demon - In Hinduism, Demon - Demons in other cultures and religions, Demon - Demons in Hellenistic Neopaganism, Demon - In art literature and television, Demon - In science, Demon - In games, Demon - External link

Read more here: » Demon: Encyclopedia II - Demon - In Jewish rabbinic literature

The Bible ascribes similar miraculous powers to the Rod of Aaron and to the staff of Moses (compare, for example, Exodus 4:2 et seq. and 7:9). The Haggadah goes a step further, and entirely identifies the Rod of Aaron with that of Moses. Thus the Midrash Yelamdenu states that: "the staff with which Jacob crossed the Jordan is identical with that which Judah gave to his daughter-in-law, Tamar (Genesis 32:10, 38:18). It is likewise the holy rod with which Moses worked (Exodus 4:20, 21), with which Aaron performed wonders before Ph ...

See also:

Aaron's rod, Aaron's rod - Biblical data, Aaron's rod - In Rabbinical literature, Aaron's rod - Haggadic modification, Aaron's rod - Christian modifications, Aaron's rod - In Islam, Aaron's rod - In modern literature

Read more here: » Aaron's rod: Encyclopedia II - Aaron's rod - In Rabbinical literature

Philo, in his treatise on the festivals, calls New-Year's Day the festival of the sacred moon and feast of the trumpets, and explains the blowing of the trumpets as being a memorial of the giving of the Law and a reminder of God's benefits to mankind in general ("De Septennario," § 22). The Mishnah, the core text of Judaism's oral law, contains the first known reference to the "Day of Judgment". It says: "Four times in the year the world is judged: On Passover a decree is passed on the produce of the soil; on the Pentecost, on the fr ...

See also:

Rosh Hashanah, Rosh Hashanah - Date, Rosh Hashanah - Traditions and customs, Rosh Hashanah - In the Hebrew Bible, Rosh Hashanah - In rabbinic literature, Rosh Hashanah - In the New Testament

Read more here: » Rosh Hashanah: Encyclopedia II - Rosh Hashanah - In rabbinic literature

Halakha (Jewish law) as derived from the Talmud is binding upon all Jews. However, in addition to these halakhot, there have always been local customs and prohibitions. Some customs were eventually adopted universally (e.g. wearing a head covering) or almost universally (e.g. monogamy). Others are observed by some major segments of Jewry but not by others (e.g., not eating rice on Passover). These Minhagim exist in various forms: Ancient minhagim go back to the time of the Talmud, and are today, gener ...

See also:

Minhag, Minhag - Minhag and Jewish law, Minhag - Discussion in Rabbinic literature, Minhag - Present day, Minhag - Nusach

Read more here: » Minhag: Encyclopedia II - Minhag - Minhag and Jewish law