religion · Shared topic · Revision 0

Is the Devil in the Old Testament?

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Starting explanation, not independently reviewed

The current answer

A prosecutor, a serpent, and a mistranslated king, but no cosmic enemy yet

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The Hebrew Bible has ha-satan ("the satan," a courtroom prosecutor on God's own staff (Job 1-2; Zechariah 3)) and the Genesis 3 serpent, which the text never names as Satan.

Imported citation, not independently checked: Job 1-2; Zechariah 3; Genesis 3

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The Devil as a rebel rival to God is a later composite, assembled after the Old Testament closed.

Imported citation, not independently checked: H. A. Kelly, Satan: A Biography (2006)

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In 2 Samuel 24:1, it is YHWH whose anger "incited David" to take the forbidden census of Israel.

Imported citation, not independently checked: 2 Samuel 24:1

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When the Chronicler retells the identical episode generations later, one word has moved: now "Satan stood up against Israel and incited David to number Israel" (1 Chronicles 21:1).

Imported citation, not independently checked: 1 Chronicles 21:1

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