Editing Demon (section)

=== Talmudic tradition and Midrashim ===
{{Further|Midrash}}
In the [[Jerusalem Talmud]], notions of ''{{Lang|hbo-latn|shedim}}'' ({{Gloss|demons}} or {{Gloss|spirits}}) are almost unknown or occur only very rarely, whereas in the [[Babylonian Talmud]] there are many references to ''{{Lang|hbo-latn|shedim}}'' and magical incantations. The existence of ''{{Lang|hbo-latn|shedim}}'' in general was not questioned by most of the Babylonian [[Talmudist]]s. As a consequence of the rise of influence of the Babylonian Talmud over that of the Jerusalem Talmud, late rabbis, in general, took as fact the existence of ''{{Lang|hbo-latn|shedim}}'', nor did most of the medieval thinkers question their reality.{{sfn|Kohler|2020|p=123}} However, rationalists like [[Maimonides]] and [[Saadia Gaon]] and others explicitly denied their existence, and completely rejected concepts of demons, evil spirits, negative spiritual influences, attaching and possessing spirits. They thought the essential teaching about ''shedim'' and similar spirits is, that they should not be an object of worship, not a reality to be acknowledged or feared.{{sfn|Kohler|2020|p=124}} Their point of view eventually became mainstream Jewish understanding.<ref name="JE-shedim" />

The opinion of some authors is not clear. [[Abraham ibn Ezra]] states that insane people can see the image of ''{{Lang|hbo-latn|se'irim}}'', when they go astray and ascribe to them powers independent from God. It is not clear from his work, if he considered these images of ''{{Lang|hbo-latn|se'irim}}'' as manifestations of actual spirits or merely delusions.{{citation needed|date=December 2023}} Despite academic consensus, [[Rabbi]]s disputed that Maimonides denied the existence of demons entirely. He would only dispute the existence of demons in his own life time, but not that demons had existed once.{{sfn|Taylor|2020|pp=185–188}}

Occasionally an [[Angels in Judaism|angel]] is called ''[[satan]]'' in the Babylon Talmud. But ''satans'' do not refer to demons as they remain at the service of God: "Stand not in the way of an ox when coming from the pasture, for Satan dances between his horns".<ref>Pes. 112b; compare B. Ḳ. 21a</ref>

[[Aggadah|Aggadic]] tales from the Persian tradition describe the ''{{Lang|hbo-latn|shedim}}'', the'' [[Mazzikin|mazziḳim]]'' ("harmers"), and the'' ruḥin'' ("spirits"). There were also ''[[lilin]]'' ("night spirits"), ''ṭelane'' ("shade", or "evening spirits"), ''ṭiharire'' ("midday spirits"), and'' ẓafrire'' ("morning spirits"), as well as the "demons that bring famine" and "such as cause storm and earthquake".<ref>(Targ. Yer. to Deuteronomy xxxii. 24 and Numbers vi. 24; Targ. to Cant. iii. 8, iv. 6; Eccl. ii. 5; Ps. xci. 5, 6.)</ref><ref name="JE-shedim"/> According to some [[Aggadah|aggadic]] stories, demons were under the dominion of a king or chief, usually ''[[Asmodai]]''.<ref>Targ. to Eccl. i. 13; Pes. 110a; Yer. Shek. 49b</ref>