Sama'el

We were told as children, “Beware the Serpent of Eden, the Shining One that was cast from Shamayim.” As we would recline in our seats after a meal or before bed some nights, my father would tell us the story of the great deceiver…the Elohim called Sama’el.

Father would tell us that before the deception of the first mother, Sama’el was beautiful in form and sat above all other Cherubim. The choirs of Sheidim would sing of his beauty and flitter around him like birds drawn to nectar. But his pride and vanity consumed him and he knew of things more beautiful than he. Creatures that ruled under the Creator in Shamayim, guardians of his throne. The Burning Ones, the holy Seraphim…dragons above the Divine Council courts. Sama’el longed to become like one of them for their beauty and authority. If he could become like the Seraphim, then he could rule in union with the Creator over Shamayim.

I was given permission to send my eyes to see his transgression, for I could not believe my father’s story…but it was true.

Sama’el sought the finest craftsmen amongst the ranks of Elohim. He persuaded some of them with promises of grandeur in his new kingdom, positions of authority within the Divine Council. The craftsmen and smiths began their terrible work. Sama’el believed he could be greater than the Seraphim, he would be like the Creator.

At the completion of this blasphemy, he demanded an audience with the Triune and that the Divine Council be assembled. One member of the Triune was present, the second creator. He stood in the midst of the Divine Council as it assembled. As Sama’el entered the inner court, the council stood and was appalled at his image. The second Creator did not speak, and in that moment I understood - Sama’el, in all of his beauty, could not become like the Seraphim. He had become a False Creation and took on the image of the Tannin, the chaos dragons my lord subdued during the ordering of creation.

The second creator spoke in gentle authority, “depart from me, Sama’el.” The first curse to befall him.

I watched as Sama’el raged in the presence of the Divine Council. I watched as the Elohim drew their blades against Sama’el, only to be met by the blades of the deceived Elohim that were promised authority in the new kingdom.

I could only watch…as the true Seraphim descended, and the first war for the Cosmos began.

I miss my father’s telling of this story.