LILITH. This, as the Rabbins say1; was Adam’s first Wife, who separated from her Husband, and refused to return to him, though God sent two Angels to compel her to it. They believe that she eats new-born Children. For which Reason the Jews, when a Child is born in any House, write with Chalk, or something else; May Adam and Eve be present in this Place, may Lilith keep at a Distance from it2. They write down the Names also of the three Angels, who pursued Lilith; Sennoï, Sansennoï, and Samangeloph; because Lilith promised them to do no Harm to any Places, where she should find their Names. We have already spoken of Lilith in the Article Lamia. Isaiah3 makes Mention of Lilith; Saint Jerom translates it Lamia, and the Septuagint, Onocentauri. We are of Opinion that this Word signifies a Bird of Night, and of bad Omen, such as the Scritch-Owl, Bat and Lapwing. Lilith in Hebrew signifies the Night. Isaiah says, that Edom will be reduced to a frightful Solitude, wherein there will be nothing to be seen but wild and ominous Beasts, Demons, Satyrs, Scritch-Owls, &c.
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Footnotes
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Ben. Sira, p. 23. Elias in Tisbi, &c. ↩
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Translators’ note. Some Jewish Doctors are of Opinion, that Lilith is the Moon, and is so called from לילLil, which signifies Night, the In- fluences whereof may be beneficial or hurtful to new-born Children; herein intimating the Superstition of the Heathens, who invoke the Goddess Lucina, or the Moon, at the Time when Women are in Labour. Montium Custos nemorumque Virgo, Quæ laborantes utero Puellas Tervocata audis, adimisque Letho, Diva triformis. Horat. Carm. l. iii. Ode xii. ↩
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If. xxxiv. 14. שם הרגיעו לילית ↩