6 replies to this topic

[jerzy]

Let us not use the N.T verses here to note that the existence of the fallen angel called Satan was not taught to Jews at all.

1. God kills and destroys
2. Word “Satan” translated
3. Word “Satan” not translated
4. Evil

1. God kills and destroys

Nowhere in the O.T. we come across information that Satan kills and destroys nor he leads people to sin. On contrary we are always told that God alone kills and destroys. Sadly this message is practically unknown in the Christian world today. God used pagans to test Israel. He is the sovereign power in His creation. He rules alone. Let me quote some of the verses (out of hundreds) to bring the picture home.

Deu 4:24 For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.
Deu 9:3 Understand therefore this day, that the LORD thy God is he which goeth over before thee; as a consuming fire he shall destroy them, and he shall bring them down before thy face: so shalt thou drive them out, and destroy them quickly, as the LORD hath said unto thee.
Deu 32:39 See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.
Jos 10:10 And the LORD discomfited them before Israel, and slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and chased them along the way that goeth up to Bethhoron, and smote them to Azekah, and unto Makkedah.
Jos 24:20 If ye forsake the LORD, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt, and consume you, after that he hath done you good.
Jdg 2:20 And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel; and he said, Because that this people hath transgressed my covenant which I commanded their fathers, and have not hearkened unto my voice;
Jdg 2:21 I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations which Joshua left when he died:
Jdg 2:22 That through them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of the LORD to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not.
Jdg 2:23 Therefore the LORD left those nations, without driving them out hastily; neither delivered he them into the hand of Joshua.
Jdg 7:2 And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.
Jdg 7:7 And the LORD said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the other people go every man unto his place.
Jdg 7:22 And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the LORD set every man's sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host: and the host fled to Bethshittah in Zererath, and to the border of Abelmeholah, unto Tabbath.
1Sa 2:6 The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.
1Sa 2:7 The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.
Job 12:17 He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and maketh the judges fools.
Job 12:18 He looseth the bond of kings, and girdeth their loins with a girdle.
Job 12:19 He leadeth princes away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty.
Job 12:20 He removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged.
Job 12:21 He poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength of the mighty.
Job 12:22 He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death.
Job 12:23 He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them again.
Job 12:24 He taketh away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, and causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.
Job 12:25 They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.
Job 27:13 This is the portion of a wicked man with God, and the heritage of oppressors, which they shall receive of the Almighty.
Job 27:14 If his children be multiplied, it is for the sword: and his offspring shall not be satisfied with bread.
Job 27:15 Those that remain of him shall be buried in death: and his widows shall not weep.
Isa 45:7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.
Isa 46:9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,
Isa 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
Isa 46:11 Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.
Jer 9:24 But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.
Jer 23:29 Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?
Isa 63:10 But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them.
Dan 4:32 And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
Dan 4:35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?
Eze 14:13 Son of man, when the land sinneth against me by trespassing grievously, then will I stretch out mine hand upon it, and will break the staff of the bread thereof, and will send famine upon it, and will cut off man and beast from it:
Lam 3:38 Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good?

Edited by jerzy, 14 August 2009 - 07:49 PM.

[jerzy]

2. Word “Satan” translated

I would like to stress that the word “Satan” doesn’t appear in the book of Genesis chapter three whereby the first sin is described. There is also no mention in the entire O.T. to suggest that the serpent was in any way influenced by Satan or was Satan himself.

If satan used the serpent then we must say that God had unjustly punished the innocent, stupid animal. If it was Satan himself then we can see him “go on his belly” today

Gen 3:14 And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:

God enabled serpent to tempt the woman.

Gen 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

Some may yet come with the brilliant idea of employing allegory here as they do in relation to Isa 14:12 and Eze 28:12-19.

Please note that the Hebrew word “satan” is often left not translated as if someone had a business in confusing people.

Satan means an enemy, an adversary (one who opposes another in purpose or act, attacker).

It appears 27 times in the O.T.

It is not translated 19 times: 1Ch21:1, Job1:6-9, Job1:12, Job2:1-4, Job2:6-7, Psa109:6, Zec3:1-2.
Translated as adversary 6 times: Num22:22, 1Ki5:4, 1Ki11:14, 1Ki11:23, 1Ki11:25,
Translated as adversaries in 2Sa19:22.
Translated as withstand in Num22:32.
It also appears in Ps 71:13, 109:20+29 in a slightly different form.

“The devil” appears only 4 times as a false and useless idol made of wood or stone worshipped by pagan nations. It never appears as a supernatural power or god.

2Ch11:15 And he ordained his own priests for the high places, and for the devils (sa`iyr), and for the calves which he had made
Le17:7 And they shall no more offer their sacrifices unto devils (sa`iyr) after whom they have gone a whoring…

Sa`iyr: kid 28, goat 24, devil 2, satyr 2, hairy 2, rough 1.

De32:17 They sacrificed unto devils (shed), not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not.
Ps106:37 Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils (shed)

Shed: devil - demon.

A foreign god in the Old Testament = demon = idol = the devil.

Let me deal with the verses where the word “satan” was translated

Num 22:22 And God's anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary (śâṭân - satan) against him. Now he was riding upon his , and his two servants were with him.
Num 22:32 And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine these three times? behold, I went out to withstand (satan) thee, because thy way is perverse before me:
2Sa 19:22 And David said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah, that ye should this day be adversaries (Satan) unto me? shall there any man be put to death this day in Israel? for do not I know that I am this day king over Israel?
1Ki 11:14 And the LORD stirred up an adversary (satan) unto Solomon, Hadad the Edomite: he was of the king's seed in Edom.
1Ki 11:23 And God stirred him up another adversary (Satan), Rezon the son of Eliadah, which fled from his lord Hadadezer king of Zobah:
1Ki 11:25 And he was an adversary (Satan) to Israel all the days of Solomon, beside the mischief that Hadad did: and he abhorred Israel, and reigned over Syria.

Satan also appears in Ps 71:13, 109:20+29 in a slightly different form.

Psa 71:13 Let them be confounded and consumed that are adversaries (śâṭan - attackers) to my soul; let them be covered with reproach and dishonour that seek my hurt.
Psa 109:20 Let this be the reward of mine adversaries (attackers) from the LORD, and of them that speak evil against my soul.
Psa 109:29 Let mine adversaries (attackers) be clothed with shame, and let them cover themselves with their own confusion, as with a mantle.

[jerzy]

3. Word “Satan” not translated

“Satan” in the book of Job refers to a person. We are told that Job was perfect and upright. God blessed him for this abundantly. So there were some who envied him. They had controversy so they presented themselves “before God” or God’s anointed persons to discuss unfair blessings granted to Job.

Job 1:6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.
Deu 19:17 Then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before the LORD, before the priests and the judges, which shall be in those days;

A son of God is every one to whom the word of God came

Psa 82:1 God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods.
Psa 82:2 How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah.
Psa 82:3 Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.
Psa 82:4 Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.
Psa 82:5 They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.
Psa 82:6 I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.

The accuser (Hebrew word “Satan) was also among them. If it was Satan then how did he became a friend of God? We are told that he is God’s grant enemy. The rest is simple. The adversary of Job “acted” the way as Moses or Samson did:

Exo 3:20 And I will stretch out my hand, and smite Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in the midst thereof: and after that he will let you go.
Jdg 13:25 And the Spirit of the LORD began to move him (Samson) at times in the camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol.

Job teaches that

Job 1:21 …Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
Job 2:10 But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

Another verse where the word was left not translated points to a wicked man

Psa 109:6 Set thou a wicked man over him: and let Satan (an opponent) stand at his right hand.

Many claim that Satan stood against Israel.

1Ch 21:1 And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.

Yet in exactly the same record of numbering Israel we are told that it was God who was angry at Israel

2Sa 24:1 And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.

This is only one of many accounts of God turning against Israel as their enemy, opposer, attacker and so forth.

Isa 63:10 But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them.

Isa 14:12 is said to introduce satan to Jews. We need to consider this verse in its context. In Isa 14:1-3 God promises that He will have mercy on Jacob and deliver Israel from the Babylonian bondage. In verses 4-27 God speaks how will He accomplish it so that Israel w0uld know that God has fulfilled His promised. In the desperate attempt to promote pagan god some say that it is an allegory. Please read the chapter carefully to make up your own opinion..

The word "Lucifer" appears only once in few translations of the word helel – pertaining to brightness; the morning star. In no way it suggests correlation to Satan. The word is never elaborated on elsewhere in the O.T. nor in the N.T. Instead it refers to

Dan 5:22 And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this;
Dan 5:23 But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified:
Dan 5:24 Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written.
Dan 5:25 And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.
Dan 5:26 This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it.
Dan 5:27 TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.
Dan 5:28 PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.
Dan 5:30 In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain.
Dan 5:31 And Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old.

There is nowhere a clue to suggest that Isa 14 is speaking about satan.

Again Eze 28:12-19 is said to introduce satan to Jews. There is a cluster of chapters in the book of Ezekiel dealing with Israel’s sin and her upcoming punishment. Also all countries that were against God or treated Israel badly during the time of her punishment are to be punished. God speaks about Tyrus in two chapters namely Eze 26 and 27.

Eze 26:7 For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will bring upon Tyrus Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, a king of kings, from the north…
Eze 26:12 And they shall make a spoil of thy riches, and make a prey of thy merchandise…
Eze 26:15 Thus saith the Lord GOD to Tyrus; Shall not the isles shake at the sound of thy fall, when the wounded cry, when the slaughter is made in the midst of thee?
Eze 26:16 Then all the princes of the sea shall come down from their thrones, and lay away their robes, and put off their broidered garments: they shall clothe themselves with trembling; they shall sit upon the ground, and shall tremble at every moment, and be astonished at thee.

Eze 27:3 And say unto Tyrus, O thou that art situate at the entry of the sea, which art a merchant of the people for many isles, Thus saith the Lord GOD; O Tyrus, thou hast said, I am of perfect beauty.
Eze 27:4 Thy borders are in the midst of the seas, thy builders have perfected thy beauty.
Eze 27:9 The ancients of Gebal and the wise men thereof were in thee thy calkers: all the ships of the sea with their mariners were in thee to occupy thy merchandise.
Eze 27:10 They of Persia and of Lud and of Phut were in thine army, thy men of war: they hanged the shield and helmet in thee; they set forth thy comeliness.
Eze 27:11 The men of Arvad with thine army were upon thy walls round about, and the Gammadims were in thy towers: they hanged their shields upon thy walls round about; they have made thy beauty perfect.
Eze 27:12 Tarshish was thy merchant by reason of the multitude of all kind of riches; with silver, iron, tin, and lead, they traded in thy fairs.
Eze 27:13 Javan, Tubal, and Meshech, they were thy merchants: they traded the persons of men and vessels of brass in thy market.
Eze 27:14 They of the house of Togarmah traded in thy fairs with horses and horsemen and mules.
Eze 27:15 The men of Dedan were thy merchants; many isles were the merchandise of thine hand: they brought thee for a present horns of ivory and ebony.
Eze 27:16 Syria was thy merchant by reason of the multitude of the wares of thy making: they occupied in thy fairs with emeralds, purple, and broidered work, and fine linen, and coral, and agate.
Eze 27:17 Judah, and the land of Israel, they were thy merchants…
Eze 27:18 Damascus was thy merchant in the multitude of the wares of thy making, for the multitude of all riches; in the wine of Helbon, and white wool.
Eze 27:19 Dan also and Javan going to and fro occupied in thy fairs: bright iron, cassia, and calamus, were in thy market.
Eze 27:20 Dedan was thy merchant in precious clothes for chariots.
Eze 27:21 Arabia, and all the princes of Kedar, they occupied with thee in lambs, and rams, and goats: in these were they thy merchants.
Eze 27:22 The merchants of Sheba and Raamah, they were thy merchants: they occupied in thy fairs with chief of all spices, and with all precious stones, and gold.
Eze 27:23 Haran, and Canneh, and Eden, the merchants of Sheba, Asshur, and Chilmad, were thy merchants.
Eze 27:24 These were thy merchants in all sorts of things, in blue clothes, and broidered work, and in chests of rich apparel, bound with cords, and made of cedar, among thy merchandise.
Eze 27:25 The ships of Tarshish did sing of thee in thy market: and thou wast replenished, and made very glorious in the midst of the seas.
Eze 27:26 Thy rowers have brought thee into great waters: the east wind hath broken thee in the midst of the seas.
Eze 27:27 Thy riches, and thy fairs, thy merchandise, thy mariners, and thy pilots, thy calkers, and the occupiers of thy merchandise, and all thy men of war, that are in thee, and in all thy company which is in the midst of thee, shall fall into the midst of the seas in the day of thy ruin.
Eze 27:32 And in their wailing they shall take up a lamentation for thee, and lament over thee, saying, What city is like Tyrus, like the destroyed in the midst of the sea?
Eze 27:33 When thy wares went forth out of the seas, thou filledst many people; thou didst enrich the kings of the earth with the multitude of thy riches and of thy merchandise.
Eze 27:34 In the time when thou shalt be broken by the seas in the depths of the waters thy merchandise and all thy company in the midst of thee shall fall.
Eze 27:35 All the inhabitants of the isles shall be astonished at thee, and their kings shall be sore afraid, they shall be troubled in their countenance.
Eze 27:36 The merchants among the people shall hiss at thee; thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt be any more.

Eze 28:1-19 is the parallel to Tyrus prophecy relating to the prince or king of Tyrus himself. In verse two we are told that the prince of Tyrus is a man (not satan):
Eze 28:2 Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God:

The prince of Tyrus demonstrates characteristic of Tyrus itself

Eze 28:4 With thy wisdom and with thine understanding thou hast gotten thee riches, and hast gotten gold and silver into thy treasures:
Eze 28:5 By thy great wisdom and by thy traffick hast thou increased thy riches, and thine heart is lifted up because of thy riches:
Eze 28:6 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast set thine heart as the heart of God;

His beauty and wisdom will be punished by a strange nation. He will die mans death

Eze 28:7 Behold, therefore I will bring strangers upon thee, the terrible of the nations: and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of thy wisdom, and they shall defile thy brightness.
Eze 28:8 They shall bring thee down to the pit, and thou shalt die the deaths of them that are slain in the midst of the seas.

Once again we are told that he is a man who will die as a man

Eze 28:9 Wilt thou yet say before him that slayeth thee, I am God? but thou shalt be a man, and no God, in the hand of him that slayeth thee.
Eze 28:10 Thou shalt die the deaths of the uncircumcised by the hand of strangers: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD.

God repeats the fate of this man whose character again is parallel to the character of Tyrus

Eze 28:12 Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.

There are few ways of considering of the verses 13-15.

One is that the king o Tyrus was a Jew. On this account he would be covered by Aaron’s breast’s plate with stones.
1Ki 7:13 And king Solomon sent and fetched Hiram out of Tyre.
1Ki 7:14 He was a widow's son of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in brass: and he was filled with wisdom, and understanding, and cunning to work all works in brass. And he came to king Solomon, and wrought all his work.

The next one is that Hiram was treated like a Jew. He had a league with Solomon and helped him with building of the temple. In return Solomon offered him twenty cities of the land of God. Hiram was not pleased with the offer so God punished him for his pride.

1Ki 9:12 And Hiram came out from Tyre to see the cities which Solomon had given him; and they pleased him not.
1Ki 9:13 And he said, What cities are these which thou hast given me, my brother? And he called them the land of Cabul unto this day.

To allude that the “anointed cherub” refers to Satan seems ridiculous. Just to mention but one reference whereby we are told that there were at least two cherubims. How would the “grant enemy” of God who just offended Him make place there?

Gen 3:24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

Eze 28:13 Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.
Eze 28:14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.
Eze 28:15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.

Again the characteristics of Tyrus are his characteristics. He will be laid before kings to see his fall

Eze 28:16 By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.
Eze 28:17 Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.

The common story has it that satan will be subjected to the everlasting torture yet the king of Tyrus was to be brought to ashes for his iniquity of traffic. All who knew him would be astonished at his fall.

Eze 28:18 Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee.
Eze 28:19 All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee…

And the prophecy continues. We have found not a hint to suggest that the king of Tyrus was an allegory of satan. All evidence indicates squarely to the physical king of Tyrus.

And lastly we come across satan in Zec 3:1-9. We are told that Zachariah had a series of night visions.

Zec 1:8 I saw by night... Zec 2:1 I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked…
Zec 3:1 And he shewed me (in a vision) Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.

There was a man (see exposition on Job) not happy with Joshua. The angel rebuked the man but why? Most likely because Joshua’s “clothing were filthy” or he was not serving God properly. Yet the angel says that this is all what God pulled out from the sinners of Israel to serve Him. He further says: “if thou wilt walk in my ways” indicating that Joshua must have been guilty.

Zec 3:2 And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?
Zec 3:3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel.
Zec 3:4 And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.

Zec 3:5 And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the LORD stood by.

Zec 3:6 And the angel of the LORD protested unto Joshua, saying,
Zec 3:7 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then thou shalt also judge my house, and shalt also keep my courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by.
Zec 3:8 Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH.
Zec 3:9 For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.

There is no hint to suggest that God introduced satan (a fallen angel) to Jews in any of those verses that have commonly been used to “prove” existence of satan. The distorted translations (mainly the N.T.) has been used to “prove” the existence of Satan in the O.T. It has been said that Satan is “allegorically” spoken of in Isa 14 and Eze 28. However there is a problem. How should the Jew have known that God was speaking about Satan if there is no other reference to it at all?

It has been forgotten that God alone kills and destroys. The glory of God has been attributed to the pagan god Satan.

[jerzy]

4. Evil

Isa 45:7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.
Num 27:16 Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation,
Jdg 9:23 Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:
1Sa 18:10 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul's hand.
1Sa 19:9 And the evil spirit from the LORD was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played with his hand.
1Ki 22:21 And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him.
1Ki 22:22 And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so.
1Ki 22:23 Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil concerning thee.
2Ch 18:21 And he said, I will go out, and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And the LORD said, Thou shalt entice him, and thou shalt also prevail: go out, and do even so.
2Ch 18:22 Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil against thee.
2Ch 21:16 Moreover the LORD stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines, and of the Arabians, that were near the Ethiopians:
Isa 19:14 The LORD hath mingled a perverse spirit in the midst thereof: and they have caused Egypt to err in every work thereof, as a drunken man staggereth in his vomit.
Isa 29:10 For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered.
Isa 37:36 Then the angel of the LORD went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.
Isa 40:7 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.
Jer 51:1 Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will raise up against Babylon, and against them that dwell in the midst of them that rise up against me, a destroying wind (ruach-spirit);
Eze 14:9 And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the LORD have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel.
Deu 13:1 If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder,
Deu 13:2 And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them;
Deu 13:3 Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

Last year I have visited a near by recently established Church (I always mean a Christian community) for their prophets were coming to speak. The hall looked reach, many people of above average social states. After the initial formalities the prophets began their message. One, a brilliant motivational speaker, led the deliverance while other two were affirming what he was saying from time to time. Then he came to the best part of his point that is frightening people with Satan and demons. He stated that a demon gets into the person when that yawns. To know that a person has a demon is a simple way. When you hear something moving in your tummy from one side to the other that is definitely the demon. So many realised that they had demons and came forward to have them "cast out". Some fell backward while the prophets blew on them, some stood strong. One older women, a devoted member, apparently had many demons for she was going lower and lower every time all three prophets blew on her yet fell not. Eventually she began to cry and fell to her knees but the demons left not. What a circus!!!

God bless

[Evangelion]

Great posts.

[jerzy]

Thanks be to God our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

God bless

[jerzy]

Nobody in defence of Satan?