Editing Samael (section)

=== Second Temple period and posteriority ===
[[File:Jacob Wrestling with the Angel.jpg|thumb|''Jacob Wrestling with the Angel'', [[Gustave Doré]] (1855)]]
Samael was first mentioned during the [[Second Temple period]] and immediately after its destruction. He is first mentioned in the [[Book of Enoch]], which is a part of the [[Jewish apocrypha]], along with other rebellious angels. In Enoch 1, he is one of the [[Watcher (angel)|Watchers]] who descended to Earth to [[copulate]] with human women, although he is not their leader,<ref name="JVL"/> this being [[Samyaza]].<ref name=Patai/>

In the [[Greek Apocalypse of Baruch]],<ref name=JVL/> he is the dominant evil figure. Samael plants the [[Tree of the knowledge of good and evil]], thereupon he is banished and cursed by God.<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|257–60}} To take revenge, he tempts [[Adam and Eve]] into sin by taking the form of the serpent.<ref name=JVL/><ref name=Patai>{{Cite book |first=Raphael |last=Patai |title=Encyclopedia of Jewish Folklore and Traditions |publisher=[[Routledge]] |location=London|date=2015 |isbn=978-1317471714 |page=463}}</ref>

He appears further as the embodiment of evil in the ''[[Ascension of Isaiah]]'' and is called by various names:
* ''Melkira'' {{Langx|he|מלך רע}}, "king of evil/wicked"
* ''Malkira'' / ''Malchira'' {{Langx|he|מלאך רע|label=none}}, "Messenger of evil"
* ''Belkira'' prob. {{Langx|he|בעל קיר|label=none}}, "lord of the wall"
* ''Bechira'' {{Langx|he|בחיר רע|label=none}}, "elect/chosen of evil
The names [[Belial]] and [[Satan]] are also applied to him, and he gains control of King [[Manasseh of Judah|Manasseh]] to accuse [[Isaiah]] of treason.<ref name="Patai" />