Editing Elijah (section)

=== Lilith ===
Elijah was always seen as deeply pious, and it seemed natural that he would be pitted against an equally evil individual. This was found in the person of [[Lilith]]. Lilith, in legend, was Adam's first wife. She rebelled against Adam, the angels, and even God. She came to be seen as a demon and a witch.<ref>Schwartz, Howard. ''Tree of Souls: The Mythology of Judaism.'' Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004.</ref><ref>Ginzberg, Lewis. ''Legends of the Bible.'' Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society of America, 1956.</ref>

Elijah encountered Lilith and instantly recognized and challenged her, "Unclean one, where are you going?" Unable to avoid or lie to the prophet, she admitted she was on her way to the house of a pregnant woman. She intended to kill the woman and eat the child.

Elijah pronounced his malediction, "I curse you in the Name of the Lord. Be silent as a stone!" But Lilith was able to make a bargain with Elijah. She promises to "forsake my evil ways" if Elijah will remove his curse. To seal the bargain, she gives Elijah her names so they can be posted in the houses of pregnant women or newborn children or used as amulets. Lilith promises, "Where I see those names, I shall run away at once. Neither the child nor the mother will ever be injured by me."<ref>Schwartz, Howard. ''Tree of Souls: The Mythology of Judaism.'' Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004. pp. 224–25.</ref>