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Belial (also '''Belhor''', '''Baalial''', '''Beliar''', '''Beliall''', '''Beliel;''' from Hebrew ''Bliyaal'' '''בליעל'''; meaning "without worth") is the name for a Demon in the Old Testament . He has been identified with Satan , both as a minion of Satan and sometimes as another name for Satan himself. Among certain Jewish sects, this demon was considered the chief of all the devils. He is also called "the angel of lawlessness" and "the king of this world", and is sometimes considered the father of Idolatrous Nation s and the source of the seven spirits of seduction that enter men at birth, the source of impurity and lying, and the spirit of darkness. In the '' Book Of Jubilees '', Uncircumcised Heathens are called "sons of Belial". The etymology for his name is unclear. Some scholars translate it from Hebrew as "worthless" (Beli yo'il), while others translate it as "yokeless" (Beli ol), "may have no rising" (Belial) or "never to rise" (Beli ya'al). Only a few etymologists have assumed it to be a proper name from the start. {Link without Title} IN JUDAISM In the Old Testament, Belial is mentioned several times, referring to him as ''father of Pagan nations'', ''rivers of destruction'', ''rivers of death'', and impious men are considered ''the sons of Belial''. The Dead Sea Scrolls In '' The War Of The Sons Of Light Against The Sons Of Darkness ''(1QM), one of the Dead Sea Scrolls , Belial is the leader of the Sons of Darkness: :'But for corruption thou hast made Belial, an angel of hostility. All his dominions are in darkness, and his purpose is to bring about wickedness and guilt. All the spirits that are associated with him are but angels of destruction.' The fact that in Judaism Belial claimed to be the Messiah led some 1st Century Christians to consider him the Antichrist . IN CHRISTIANITY In early Christian writings, Belial was identified first with an Angel of Confusion and Lust , created after Lucifer . Paradoxically, some Apocrypha credit Belial as being the father of Lucifer and the Angel that convinced him to wage a Rebellion in Heaven against God , and that Belial was the first of the fallen angels to be expelled. Belial is referred to as Satan when asked by St. Paul as to how Christ and Belial can agree. Since the ''. As a demon he was said to have an agreeable aspect, and to induce to any type of sins, especially those related to sex and lust. Sebastian Michaelis states that Belial seduces by means of arrogance and his adversary is St. Francis Of Paola ; in this sense his name is translated as "Lord of Arrogance" or "Lord of Pride" (Baal ial). In the Biblia Vulgata fewer allusions to this demon are made, referring to Belial as ''torrents of death'', and to impious men as ''sons of Belial'' and ''men of Belial''. Belial is listed as the sixty-eighth spirit of the '' Ars Goetia '', and appears in '' The Lesser Key Of Solomon '' as well. Apocrypha Belial plays heavily in Christian apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha . In addition to his appearance in the Book of Jubilee, Belial appears in other texts as well. Belial is also mentioned in the Fragments of a Zadokite Work (which is also known as The Damascus Document (CD)), which states that at the time of the Antichrist, "Belial shall be let loose against Israel, as God spake through Isaiah the prophet." (6:9). The Fragments also speak of "three nets of Belial" which are said to be fornication, wealth, and pollution of the sanctuary. (6:10-11) In this work, Belial is sometimes presented as an agent of divine punishment and sometimes as a rebel, as Mastema is. It was Belial who inspired the Egyptian sorcerers, Jochaneh and his brother, to oppose Moses and Aaron. The Fragments also say that anyone who is ruled by the spirits of Belial and speaks of rebellion should be condemned as a necromancer and wizard. Testament of the Twelve Patriarchs Belial is also mentioned in the '' Testaments Of The Twelve Patriarchs ''. The author of the work seems to be a dualist because he presents Belial as God's opponent, not as a servant, but does not mention how or why this came to be. Simeon 5:3 says that fornication separates man from God and brings him near to Beliar. Levi tells his children to choose between the Law of God and the works of Beliar (Levi 19:1) It also states that when the soul is constantly disturbed, the Lord departs from it and Beliar rules over it. Naphtali (2:6, 3:1) contrasts the Law and will of God with the purposes of Beliar. Also, in 20:2, Joseph prophesies that when Israel leaves Egypt, they will be with God in light while Beliar will remain in darkness with the Egyptians. Finally, the Testament describes that when the Messiah comes, the angels will punish the spirits of deceit and Beliar (3:3) and that the Messiah will bind Beliar and give to his children the power to trample the evil spirits (18:12). The Martyrdom of Isaiah In ''The Martyrdom of Isaiah '', Belial is the angel of lawlessness and is the ruler of this world. :"And Manasseh turned aside his heart to serve Beliar; for the angel of lawlessness, who is the ruler of this world, is Beliar, whose name is Matanbuchus." - ''Martyrdom of Isaiah'' 2:4 Belial also plays a significant role in the '' Ascension Of Isaias ''. IN OTHER RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS The Satanic Bible names Belial as one of the Four Crown Princes of Hell (specifically, the North Crown), and states that his name means "'without a master' and symbolizes true independence, self-sufficiency, and personal accomplishment." {Link without Title} Belial represents the earth element, is the Master of Mankind and the Champion of Humanity, and represents the carnal and base urges of mankind. Offerings, sacrifices and gifts must be made to honor Belial, or he will not answer the truth to what the Conjurer demands. Gilles De Rais attempted to raise Belial and Beelzebub by using the dismembered remains of children as sacrifices. {Link without Title} IN FICTION Belial (or a likeness thereof) figures in many works of fiction, both medieval and modern. Among these are: Medieval fiction and Milton
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