Miss Seal I was in a Russian Lit class and we were discussing Nabokov's writing on Lilith. I seemed to be the only one who didn't know that Lilith was supposedly Adam's wife before Eve.
You mean in the beginning, things didn't work out? You know how people say, "Not even if you were the last person on earth"? Well, Adam and Lilith were the only people on earth, and they still couldn't be together.
I quote from the
Lilith Library:
When the Almighty created the first, solitary man, He said: It is not good for man to be alone. And He fashioned for man a woman from the earth, like him (Adam), and called her Lilith. Soon, they began to quarrel with each other. She said to him: I will not lie underneath, and he said: I will not lie underneath but above, for you are meant to lie underneath and I to lie above. She said to him: We are both equal, because we are both created from the earth. But they did not listen to each other.
Okay, I don't know about you, but I think some feminist had a field day here. This clearly is apocryphal, but myths and legends about Lilith have been circulating for ages. Lilith ends up running away and stealing children throughout the ages. She actually sounds a lot like a crazy ex-girlfriend. So in the beginning, there were crazy exes? When did people get a break?
As stories often trace cultural ideas and alternate ways of experiencing life, the myth of Lilith holds very interesting implications, mainly that the first two humans were equals. In one version of the story of how things began, the first two people were no different, or at least, Lilith wanted to be just like Adam. This didn't work.
Why?
I was fascinated by this story for a long time. Of all the things I didn't want to exist immediately, the number one thing was a break-up. It sounds ridiculous, but why does shit have to hit the fan from the very beginning?
I guess my question then is, what do you make of the idea that the first couple ever broke up, and what do you make of the story of Lilith in general? What about a strong and stubborn girl is so scary? Do you prefer a Lilith or an Eve?
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Comments (49)
Lilith for snatching children.
That's truly beautiful. Truth comes out.
Jewish legend has a second wife for Adam also; Eve was the third. The second wife was created for Adam before his eyes. He watched her being stitched together from the inside out, and was so disgusted that he begged for God to take her away from him. She never even got a name.
That is why God put Adam into "a deep sleep" for the creation of Eve, and created her from a part of Adam himself.
-NDSR
Hmmm Eve who fucked up all of humanity by eating a damn piece of fruit (should have gone for the burger!) or Lillith who apparently was a nut case. I pick Steve.
I don't agree with it at all. I take the bible as pure truth so, I don't agree with it. But I'm not offended by it.
I do like learning about extrabiblical legends and myths (such as the whole da Vinci code thing.).
Supposedly Lilith was the first vampire, isn't that where the vampire legends come from?
Myths of Lilith have been around for ages, its not just some feminist (speaking in modern day terms) creation. And really so what if it is? The whole Bible was written from a male POV, and so women are treated as less then equals more often then not. Of course men wouldn't put the story of Lilith in there; she undermines what they want. Personally I love the story of Lilith, baby kidnapping and all because that just goes to show even more how afraid men were of strong women and went to such lengths to make them seem awful. She represents equality.
and adam... what an idiot. he chose the woman who was the weakest and got us kicked out of the garden of eden (if you believe that stuff).
I love how because they couldnt agree on a sex position they broke up and she became a hateful bitch.
Good old bible =)
Oh, I guess I should point out that during OT times it wasn't uncommon for men to have more than one wife, nor was it frowned upon. That law came about with the creation of the new law following the resurrection of Christ.
So, it really wouldn't be surprising if Adam had another wife, but the bible is mum about it.
@sirnickdon@revelife - that is very interesting, i was not aware of that one.
Aw! Lilith was only standing up for herself. He didn't like it, so she
left. Adam sounds like the first jerk in history!
Look at what he did to the
second wife. ''Oh she is inside out, yuck, please take her away, she is
so disgusting!'' And she didn't even get a name *tear* At least let God
finish her up and turn her outside in. XD
@EarthsAzureLight@xanga - That's not actually in the Bible =)
I've actually always known about this story, much to the chagrin of my pastor, and I think it's fantastic. It works for me, it's not HORRIBLE and it's actually very humorous. Not everyone can be a goody two shoes until something snaps like Eve. Some people actually start off with PERSONALITY.
I think before this discussion gets biblically heated, keep in mind that a bunch of old men put together what we know in modern day to be our "bible," so it should be no shock that this isn't smushed in somewhere around Genesis.
I would highly suggest people check out a copy of the Apocrypha (if for no other reason that to know what the old men left out! teehee)
Thank you, Lilith!
I've heard about the myth, but you put it quite humorously. I don't "prefer" either story because I don't take the Bible literally.
@Moktral@xanga - I'll second that!
@xo_vintagelove_xo@xanga - No, but its pretty well known section that was taken out, along with many others.
@EarthsAzureLight@xanga - Interesting, I've never heard of that. I mean i've heard the legend, but even here the writer doesn't say it's from the Bible in any way.
That sounds like a song and a revelation to the public. First loves break up all the time, and I guess loves are meant not to last without compromise. Oh! So, that is supposed to be the situation, eh?
That's new info right there. Christians who try to bring up Adam and Eve have a LOT of explaining to do.
@XxFireXboltxX@xanga - you might want to reconsider that thought. Some materials... PBS NOVA: Bible's Buried Secrets.
And for starters, First Council of Nicea- "Once the Nicea Council meeting was underway Constantine demanded that
the 300 bishops make a decision by majority vote defining who Jesus
Christ is. Constantine commanded them to create a "creed" doctrine that
all of Christianity would follow and obey, a doctrine that would be
called the "Nicene Creed," upheld by the Church and enforced by the
Emperor. The bishops voted to make the full deity of Christ the
accepted position for the church. The Council of Nicea voted to make
the Trinity the official doctrine of the church."
Bishops voted to adopt whatever Bible doctrines they think are appropriate. And they voted to confirmed who Jesus is. "What the heck?" was my response.
Lol Lilith!
Never heard of Lilith before. Interesting.
I first heard about Lilith in the Magician's Nephew, but CS Lewis says she was a giantess
eve was a ditz. she got the both of them kicked out from the garden of eden
@scottymelon@xanga - I am not entirely sure what you are asking me to reconsider but I'm going to reply with what I THINK you are asking me so if I'm replying to the wrong thing, just let me know. :)
I understand that there was a Council that go together and decided on what went into the Bible. However, I *have* to believe, with some faith, that the Bible we have today is what God intended for us to have. I believe that the God I serve is an all-powerful God and controls this universe. I still believe that humans have free will but, I have to believe that what's in the bible is there for a reason and there was a reason as to why it ended up there, even if it was decided by men.
The works of the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke ad John) are the works of inspired men who were guided by the Holy Spirit. I have faith, without a doubt in the world, that we have the words of the Bible that were meant to be there.
I know many people really have trouble living their lives on the belief or the faith that things happen for a reason but, my relationship with God is such that I don't have problems believing it.
Anyway, like I said, I hope I'm replying to the right thing. :)
Also, I don't want to cause a monopoly on comments so if you want to leave messages to me on my xanga, feel free. :) I don't want to take away from the point of this blog or offend anyone.
Oh, PS - my dad showed me this article on Lilith. I thought it was very interesting.
So many "books"/scriptures are left out of the holy bible....there were/are
man the agreed to put certain scriptures in and to leave certain
scriptures out. This is one of the reasons that made me turn away from
Christianity...my friend and I have had many conversations about the
bible from what she had learned from her teacher that was teaching her the language of
Hebrew. Lilith was one of them....and trust me the teacher was a reliable source...a priest. :)
I don't agree with letting man pick what we should read and "obey".
Picking out what they think is appropriate and not letting "us" see the
whole story is egotistical and irresponsible. They are leading people
blindly down a path that they are "told" to follow.
I mean, personally, I have seen this done....for YEARS I went to church, sunday school and conformation class. But never knew that God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit were the same "person" until one of my Catholic friends told me. Also, during the time of going to church and everything...i had MANY questions...and most, if not all, "could not be answered" and I was told just to believe and have faith. Yeah thanks that helps....
Also, I don't agree with following something that can be interpreted a million different ways...if i'm going to follow something it's going to be straight forward and something i can understand without someone TELLING me what it means....Oh and having the "whole story" is good also
PS. Am I the only one that thought this?
When I first started to read Shakespeare in high school; the
first thing that came to mind was "damn this writing is so similar to
the bible". Now im not saying that Shakespeare wrote the bible...but
who really knows?
@scottymelon@xanga - Yeah I know...WTF right? Most people don't know or want to acknowledge those facts....it's sad really.
lol @ lily