Adam had more than one wife????

[james12]

One of my favorite books is Lilith by George Macdonald. It is full of symbolism and imagery while playing off the Adam and Lilith theme.

[Just_A_Guy]

[Mod Hat On]

Folks, Wikipedia has an excellent article on Lillith and several of you have helpfully provided links. However, given that the Wikipedia page leads out with very large late-19th century painting of Lillith in the buff, we're opting to redact direct links from LDS.net at this time.

So, for those wanting the Wikipedia article: Google and ye shall find. But you've been warned, and you may not want to access it from a work computer.

[rameumptom]

Here is another link to info on Lilith:

Lilith

Edited October 13, 2011 by rameumptom

[Blackmarch]

going up against a Lilith class Shivan cruiser escorted by a Rhakshasa and Maras was not fun.

now I have the giggles and I need to answer my friend in a serious way because for her its a serious question. I don't know if just telling her its an old Jewish legend is going to cut it. help???

That's what i would start out with, and add that it's not taught by the church.

Edited October 13, 2011 by Blackmarch

[Dravin]

going up against a Lilith class Shivan cruiser escorted by a Rhakshasa and Maras was not fun.

My goodness I wish there was a Freespace 3.

[HiJolly]

On the TV series Cheers, I believe Frasier Crane's wife Lilith was named for the "Adam's first wife" legend, but I never understood the humor of naming her that. I think maybe the legendary Lilith didn't like sex, or didn't like sex with Adam, or some such, so maybe that's the joke.

That's right.

The Gnostic Bible has a ton of stuff & much, much more that branches out from the Lilith legend. So it's not just Jewish legend.

Overall, it's nasty stuff.

HiJolly

[DonQuijote]

Looks like no one has brought this up yet, so here's a source from General Conference back in 1885 when they talked about this very thing. Hope this helps shed some more light on this.

"The Scriptures give an account simply of the woman Eve; declaring that this name was given her of Adam, because she was "the mother of all living;" but outside of biblical record there has been handed down from time immemorial the idea that Adam had two wives, the narrators go so far, or rather so near perfecting the tradition so as to give their names, Lilith being said to be the name of one as Eve was the name of the other, and while it may be difficult to harmonize all the Rabbinical and Talmulic versions of this matter, it is said that Joseph Smith the Prophet taught that Adam had two wives."

Elder H.W. Naisbitt

Mar 8, 1885

J.D. 26:115b

[ConvinceTheWorld]

I've never heard this before until today when an online friend began asking me what Mormon's believe. She said she heard that Adam had a second wife named Lilith.

Does anyone know the origin of this?

This is not true. Genesis says man and woman, not man and woman's:o

[Dravin]

This is not true. Genesis says man and woman, not man and woman's:o

I'm not sure why the possessive would change things much (in this context).

Edited October 17, 2011 by Dravin

[applepansy]

This is not true. Genesis says man and woman, not man and woman's:o

I agree.

[applepansy]

I first heard of Lilith on one of those History Channel or Discovery Channel shows about "Lost Bible Legends" or something. The show never mentioned Mormonism, so I don't know why it has been attributed to LDS theology. In my 40 years as a Mormon, I have never heard of it.

It wasn't attributed to LDS theology. A friend asked me if Mormons believed the story of Lilith.

[Backroads]

Looks like no one has brought this up yet, so here's a source from General Conference back in 1885 when they talked about this very thing. Hope this helps shed some more light on this.

Fascinating. Thanks for sharing.

[LeKook]

I've never heard this before until today when an online friend began asking me what Mormon's believe. She said she heard that Adam had a second wife named Lilith.

Does anyone know the origin of this?

"Cheers" I think it was...

[LADYWILLIAMS]

I've never heard this before until today when an online friend began asking me what Mormon's believe. She said she heard that Adam had a second wife named Lilith.

Does anyone know the origin of this?

Genesis Chapter 4

In this chapter we have both the world and the church in a family, in a little family, in Adam’s family, and a specimen given of the character and state of both in after-ages, nay, in all ages, to the end of time. As all mankind were represented in Adam, so that great distinction of mankind into saints and sinners, godly and wicked, the children of God and the children of the wicked one, was here represented in Cain and Abel, and an early instance is given of the enmity which was lately put between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent. We have here, I. The birth, names, and callings, of Cain and Abel (v. 1, 2). II. Their religion, and different success in it (v. 3, 4 and part of v. 5). III. Cain’s anger at God and the reproof of him for that anger (v. 5-7). IV. Cain’s murder of his brother, and the process against him for that murder. The murder committed (v. 8). The proceedings against him. 1. His arraignment (v. 9, former part). 2. His plea (v. 9, latter part). 3. His conviction (v. 10). 4. The sentence passed upon him (v. 11, 12). 5. His complaint against the sentence (v. 13, 14). 6. The ratification of the sentence (v. 15). 7. The execution of the sentence (v. 15, 16). V. The family and posterity of Cain (v. 17–24). VI. The birth of another son and grandson of Adam (v. 25, 26).

Gen 3:20 ¶ And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living. God having named the man, and called him Adam, which signifies red earth, Adam, in further token of dominion, named the woman, and called her Eve, that is, life. Adam bears the name of the dying body, Eve that of the living soul. The reason of the name is here given (some think, by Moses the historian, others, by Adam himself): Because she was (that is, was to be) the mother of all living. He had before called her Ishah—woman, as a wife; here he calls her Evah—life, as a mother. Now, 1. If this was done by divine direction, it was an instance of God’s favour, and, like the new naming of Abraham and Sarah, it was a seal of the covenant, an assurance to them that, notwithstanding their sin and his displeasure against them for it, he had not reversed that blessing wherewith he had blessed them: Be fruitful and multiply. It was likewise a confirmation of the promise now made, that the seed of the woman, of this woman, should break the serpent’s head. 2. If Adam did it of himself, it was an instance of his faith in the word of God. Doubtless it was not done, as some have suspected, in contempt or defiance of the curse, but rather in a humble confidence and dependence upon the blessing. (1.) The blessing of a reprieve, admiring the patience of God, that he should spare such sinners to be the parents of all living, and that he did not immediately shut up those fountains of the human life and nature, because they could send forth no other than polluted, poisoned, streams. (2.) The blessing of a Redeemer, and promised seed, to whom Adam had an eye, in calling his wife Eve—life; for he should be the life of all the living, and in him all the families of the earth should be blessed, in hope of which he thus triumphs.:)

[LADYWILLIAMS]

LILITH is The wild beasts of the desert. Ish 31:14

[LADYWILLIAMS]

It wasn't attributed to LDS theology. A friend asked me if Mormons believed the story of Lilith.

Isaiah 34:14f

Wildcats shall meet with hyenas,

goat-demons shall call to each other;

there too Lilith shall repose,

and find a place to rest.

There shall the owl nest

and lay and hatch and brood in its shadow

Discussion: Does this passage refer to Lilith?

She is sometimes associated with other biblical characters, although she is not named anywhere else. So, for example (off the top of my head) she has been associated with the foolish woman in Proverbs (esp. ch. 9, and see also the Qumran poem Wiles of the wicked woman), and she has been identified with the queen of the Sabeans who raided Job's cattle (Job 1:14f).

[LADYWILLIAMS]

Poor Adam, his first wife cheats on him with some archangel then his second wife gets him evicted from paradise.

[isaiah 34:14f

Wildcats shall meet with hyenas,

goat-demons shall call to each other;

there too Lilith shall repose,

and find a place to rest.

There shall the owl nest

and lay and hatch and brood in its shadow

Discussion: Does this passage refer to Lilith?

She is sometimes associated with other biblical characters, although she is not named anywhere else. So, for example (off the top of my head) she has been associated with the foolish woman in Proverbs (esp. ch. 9, and see also the Qumran poem Wiles of the wicked woman), and she has been identified with the queen of the Sabeans who raided Job's cattle (Job 1:14f).

SIZE="6]:)

[annewandering]

If Lilith was truly before Eve then it wrecks the story of the apple. Perhaps it was Lilith that ate the apple not Eve at all. Honestly that would make sense. Who knows at this point if its true and it doesnt really matter much anyway.

[Gwen]

I've never heard the idea of Adam having more than one wife taught in our church.

Never really thought about it to be honest. Though now that I am I kinda like the idea he would have more than one. I mean really the idea of one woman having to jump start the population of the entire earth.... that's a far greater punishment than she deserved. The idea that she had help is much more merciful.

However, taking the thought further you would have to accept that god created more than one woman or Adam subsequently married his daughters as soon as they were old enough to procreate. That one doesn't sit well with me. It's hard enough to not be uncomfortable at the idea that their kids had to marry each other.

So... It's an interesting thought, but I think I will stick with the traditional story. lol

[Backroads]

I've never heard the idea of Adam having more than one wife taught in our church.

Never really thought about it to be honest. Though now that I am I kinda like the idea he would have more than one. I mean really the idea of one woman having to jump start the population of the entire earth.... that's a far greater punishment than she deserved. The idea that she had help is much more merciful.

However, taking the thought further you would have to accept that god created more than one woman or Adam subsequently married his daughters as soon as they were old enough to procreate. That one doesn't sit well with me. It's hard enough to not be uncomfortable at the idea that their kids had to marry each other.

So... It's an interesting thought, but I think I will stick with the traditional story. lol

Same here. I figure one day we can know all the particulars, but until then I'll file it under "cool story, don't necessarily believe it."

[Blackmarch]

personally it doesnt matter to me if adam had more than one wife or not. I just don't think the Lillith mythology has much water to it if at all.

If it was a single family starting the human race at some point or another they'd have to practice things that would not be acceptable in today's society.

[Juan_P]

Hmmmm, so Lilith was made from the dust like Adam but she ran off with some angel, so then they changed the production technique to make the woman from a rib? so she couldn't run off so easily? and could be subservient to Adam too.

Beggs the question then of why did Eve also listen to Satan and partake of the forbidden fruit?

Maybe the lesson is that we just can't trust women, not matter how they are made....!

Edited October 18, 2011 by Juan_P
typo

[Vort]

Maybe the lesson is that we just can't women, not matter how they are made....!

Can't what? Can't stand? Can't eat? Can't play with? Can't smell? Can't lavish with praise and affection? WHAT CAN'T WE DO TO WOMEN?!

I swear, Juan, sometimes I just can't understand you.

[Juan_P]

Can't what? Can't stand? Can't eat? Can't play with? Can't smell? Can't lavish with praise and affection? WHAT CAN'T WE DO TO WOMEN?!

I swear, Juan, sometimes I just can't understand you.

Can't trust

But swear?

easy there Vort, just a typo. And the smilie is there too ie it's just a joke

Edited October 18, 2011 by Juan_P

[Dravin]

Can't trust

But swear?

easy there Vort, just a typo. And the smilie is there too ie it's just a joke

Vort knows it's a joke, he's poking fun at you leaving out a critical word. As far as his use of the phrase, "I swear" is a pretty common, in America at least, idiomatic phrase used as an intensifier (of varying intensity) and doesn't necessarily signify that actual oath making is taking place.

Edited October 18, 2011 by Dravin