Forschungen zum Alten Testament 2. Reihe Edited by Bernd Janowski (Tübingen) · Mark S. Smith (New York) Hermann Spieckermann (Göttingen) 37 Judit M. Blair De-Demonising the Old Testament An Investigation of Azazel, Lilith, Deber, Qeteb and Reshef in the Hebrew Bible Mohr Siebeck Judit M. Blair, born 1966; 2008 PhD at the University of Edinburgh; presently involved with independent research. e-ISBN PDF 978-3-16-151135-6 ISBN 978-3-16-150131-9 ISSN 1611-4914 (Forschungen zum Alten Testament, 2. Reihe) The Deutsche Nationalbibliothek lists this publication in the Deutsche Nationalbiblio- graphie; detailed bibliographic data is available in the Internet at http://dnb.d-nb.de. © 2009 by Mohr Siebeck, Tübingen, Germany. This book may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, in any form (beyond that permitted by copyright law) without the publisher’s written permission. This applies particularly to reproductions, translations, microfilms and storage and processing in electronic systems. The book was printed by Laupp & Göbel in Nehren on non-aging paper and bound by Buchbinderei Nädele in Nehren. Printed in Germany. For Stuart, Sarah, Zsófia and Anna Preface This book is the result of a long and at times difficult but in the end re- warding journey. It was originally submitted as a PhD thesis to the University of Edin- burgh in 2008. Apart from minor updating and its reformatting to conform to the publisher’s style the work is unchanged. Along the way I received the help and support of a variety of people. I would like to thank the School of Divinity at the University of Edinburgh for the scholarship and the opportunity they provided me in being able to complete my studies. My gratitude goes to my initial supervisors Prof. Nick Wyatt and Dr Peter Hayman for their time, energy and attention to detail. My greatest thanks go to Prof. Hans Barstad who took over my supervi- sion after the retiral of my previous supervisors; without him this work would not have been completed. He was always generous with his time and ideas. He has been a source of constant support and encouragement throughout my studies and afterwards with the work for publication. It has been an honour and a privilege to work with him. I am also grateful to the examiners of my thesis, Prof. Robert Gordon and Prof. Timothy Lim for their positive reception of my work. Their cor- rections and suggestions for its improvement are much appreciated. I would also like to express my gratitude to the editors of the series Forschungen zum Alten Testament, Prof. Mark S. Smith, Prof. Hermann Spieckermann, and especially Prof. Bernd Janowski for accepting this work for publication and for drawing my attention to some other works. At Mohr Siebeck I would like to thank to Dr Henning Ziebritzki for his initial guidance. I am also indebted to Ms Tanja Mix for her advice and her pa- tience in the formatting process. And, last but not least, I would like to thank my family for their con- tinuing support. My parents provided me with constant loving support even from a distance; my parents – in – law’s help throughout my studies has been invaluable. My brother’s assistance with all things technical has been a great asset; I am deeply indebted to him for his help. Finally, my husband Stuart, and my three daughters, Sarah, Zsófia and Anna have lived with this work as long as I have, and they contributed to its completion in many ways. I am thankful for my husband’s willingness VIII Preface to always read my work, for his critical advice, for his always ‘being there’, and my daughters for sometimes ‘not being there’ and allowing me to work! With love and thanks for all I dedicate this book to them. Edinburgh, Scotland, September 2009 Judit M. Blair Table of Contents Preface ...............................................................................................VII Table of Contents................................................................................. IX Abbreviations ....................................................................................XIII Chapter 1: Introductory Remarks: Place, Aim and Method of Study ............................................................................... 1 1.1. The place of the present study within existing scholarship................. 1 1.2. A survey of ‘OT demonology’ ......................................................... 2 1.3. Summary observations and implications......................................... 11 1.4. Aim of present study ..................................................................... 13 1.5. Methodological and procedural remarks ......................................... 14 1.6. Results of investigation ................................................................. 15 Chapter 2: History of Research of Azazel, Lilith, Deber, Qeteb and Reshef ....................................................................................... 16 2.1. Introduction .................................................................................. 16 2.2. The interpretation of azazel............................................................ 16 2.2.1. Etymology and the ancient Near East.................................... 18 2.2.2. Intertestamental Literature: The Book of Enoch .................... 22 2.2.3. Evidence in the Hebrew Bible?............................................. 23 2.2.4. Summary azazel................................................................... 24 2.3. The interpretation of lilith in the Hebrew Bible............................... 24 2.3.1. Lilith in the ancient Near East and post-biblical Judaism........ 26 2.3.2. Summary lilith..................................................................... 30 2.4. History of research on deber .......................................................... 30 2.4.1. Deber in the ancient Near East ............................................. 32 2.4.1.1. Ebla ....................................................................... 32 2.4.1.2. Ugarit..................................................................... 33 2.4.2. Summary deber ................................................................... 34 2.5. History of research on qeteb........................................................... 35 2.5.1 Qeteb in the ancient Near East and post-biblical Judaism........ 37 X Contents 2.5.1.1. Assyria................................................................... 38 2.5.1.2. Ugarit..................................................................... 38 2.5.1.3. Post-biblical Judaism .............................................. 39 2.5.2. Summary qeteb.................................................................... 40 2.6. History of research on reshef ......................................................... 41 2.6.1. Ebla .................................................................................... 41 2.6.2. Egypt .................................................................................. 42 2.6.3. Ugarit.................................................................................. 43 2.6.4. Phoenician and Aramaic evidence......................................... 45 2.6.5. The interpretation of reshef .................................................. 46 2.6.6. Summary reshef................................................................... 52 2.7. Conclusion of History of research of azazel, lilith, deber, qeteb and reshef................................................................................... 53 Chapter 3: Azazel in the Hebrew Bible......................................... 55 3.1. Introduction .................................................................................. 55 3.2. Leviticus 16:8, 10 and 26............................................................... 55 3.3. Conclusion of azazel ..................................................................... 62 Chapter 4: Lilith in Context. An Examination of Terms Related to it in Isaiah 34 and Other Contexts .............................. 63 4.1. Introduction .................................................................................. 63 4.2. Isaiah 34 ....................................................................................... 63 4.2.1. Isa 34:1-7 ............................................................................ 64 4.2.2. Isa 34:8-13b ........................................................................ 68 4.2.2.1. =K >b and NPB :b.......................................................... 70 4.2.2.2. ^P,6[=T and L ;c?] ......................................................... 72 4.2.3. Isa 34:13c-15....................................................................... 72 4.2.3.1. XT :? =........................................................................ 73 4.2.3.2. O>[8]=TP[ 6L................................................................. 75 .2.3.3. XT :: :aand XT :: :K.......................................................... 77 4.2.3.4. The cT :]>- ................................................................ 79 4.2.3.4.1. Leviticus 17:7 .......................................... 80 4.2.3.4.2. 2 Chronicles 11:15 ................................... 82 4.2.3.4.3. 2 Kings 23:8 ............................................ 84 4.2.3.5. TWT: := ...................................................................... 90 4.2.3.6. QPB :b and P: =N................................................. 92 4.2.4. Isa 34:16-17 ........................................................................ 93 4.3. Conclusion of lilith.......................................................................