The Fall of ha'Satan

Who is Satan?

The word Satan means “adversary.” The Hebrew word ha’Satan means “the adversary” or “the Satan.” When using the definite article “the/ha” this title refers to a specific adversary consistently mentioned throughout the Hebrew Scriptures --- some call him by Satan, the Devil, or Lucifer. The Satan(ha’Satan) is a created being that was once precious to God, a covering Cherub(Ezekiel 28:14), that was cast down from heaven to wander the Earth because of rebellion against God.

[Isaiah 14] (3) It shall come to pass in the day YHWH gives you rest from your sorrow, and from your fear and the hard bondage in which you were made to serve, (4) that you will take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say: “How the oppressor has ceased, the golden city ceased! (5) YHWH has broken the staff of the wicked, the scepter of the rulers; (6) he who struck the people in wrath with a continual stroke, he who ruled the nations in anger, is persecuted and no one hinders. (7) The whole earth is at rest and quiet; they break forth into singing. (8) Indeed the pine trees rejoice over you, and the cedars of Lebanon, saying, ‘Since you were cut down, no woodsman has come up against us.’ (9) Sheol from beneath is excited about you, to meet you at your coming. It stirs up the dead for you, all the chief ones of the earth; it has raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations. (10) They all shall speak and say to you: ‘Have you also become as weak as we? Have you become like us? (11) Your pomp is brought down to Sheol, and the sound of your stringed instruments; The maggot is spread under you, and worms cover you.’ (12) How you are FALLEN FROM HEAVEN, O morning star, son of the morning! How you are CUT DOWN TO THE GROUND, you who weakened the nations! (13) For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; (14) I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’ (15) Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit. (16) “Those who see you will gaze at you, and consider you, saying: ‘Is this the man who made the earth tremble, who shook kingdoms, (17) who made the world as a wilderness and destroyed its cities, who did not open the house of his prisoners?’ (18) All the kings of the nations, all of them, sleep in glory, everyone in his own house; (19) But you are cast out of your grave like an abominable branch, like the garment of those who are slain, thrust through with a sword, who go down to the stones of the pit, like a corpse trodden underfoot. (20) You will not be joined with them in burial, because you have destroyed your land and slain your people. The brood of evildoers shall never be named. (21) Prepare slaughter for his children because of the iniquity of their fathers, or else they rise up and possess the land, and fill the face of the world with cities. (22) For I will rise up against them,” says YHWH Tzevaot, “And cut off from Babylon the name and remnant, and offspring and posterity,” says YHWH. (23) “I will also make it a possession for the porcupine, and marshes of muddy water; I will sweep it with the broom of destruction,” says YHWH tzevaot.

Who or what is a “morning star”?

Morning stars refer to the angels/messengers of God, not exclusively Satan as we see in the book of Job.

[Job 38:7] “When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy”

What forms can Satan take?

The Satan (ha’Satan) can present himself in a variety of forms such as a serpent like in Eden, an angel or messenger of light, an earthly king etc. The Satan (ha’Satan) has historically influenced/possessed many great kings, the king of Tyre for example mentioned in the Book of Ezekiel (Ezekiel 28:12-19).

[Ezekiel 28] (11) Moreover the Word of YHWH came to me, saying, (12) “Son of man, take up a lamentation for the king of Tyre, and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord YHWH: “You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. (13) You were in Eden, the garden of God. Every precious stone was your covering: The sardius, topaz, and diamond, Beryl, onyx, and jasper, Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes was prepared for you on the day you were created. (14) You were the anointed Cherub who covers; I established you. You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. (15) You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, till iniquity was found in you. (16) By the abundance of your trading you became filled with violence within, and you sinned; Therefore I cast you as a profane thing out of the mountain of God; and I destroyed you O covering cherub from the midst of the fiery stones. (17) Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty. You corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor; I CAST YOU BEFORE THE GROUND, I LAID YOU BEFORE KINGS, that they might gaze at you. (18) You defiled your sanctuaries by the multitude of your iniquities, by the iniquity of your trading; Therefore I brought fire from your midst; it devoured you, and I turned you to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all who saw you. (19) All who knew you among the peoples are astonished at you; you have become a horror, and shall be no more forever.”’”

What about when Satan stood before God in the book of Job?

In the Book of Job ha’Satan had already been cast out of heaven and was left wandering to and fro upon the earth. God allowed ha’Satan to come before Him in the account of Job. God knows all, yet asks ha’Satan twice: “where did he come from,” it seems almost in a mocking manner, in which ha’Satan responded “from going to and fro on the Earth, and walking back and forth on it.”

[Job 1] (6) Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before YHWH, and ha’Satan also came among them. (7) And YHWH said to ha’Satan, “From where do you come?” So ha’Satan answered YHWH and said, “FROM GOING TO AND FRO ON THE EARTH, AND WALKING BACK AND FORTH ON IT.” (8) Then YHWH said to ha’Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?” (9) So ha’Satan answered YHWH and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? (10) Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. (11) But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!” (12) And YHWH said to ha’Satan, “Behold! All that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.” So Satan went out from the presence of YHWH. (13) Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house; (14) and a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, (15) when the Sabeans raided them and took them away—indeed they have killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!” (16) While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell you!” (17) While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three bands, raided the camels and took them away, yes, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!” (18) While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, (19) and suddenly a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead; and I alone have escaped to tell you!” (20) Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. (21) And he said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there. YHWH gave, and YHWH has taken away; Blessed be the Name of YHWH!” (22) In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.

Note: An interesting observation is that God allowed ha’Satan to do want he wanted as long as he didn’t kill Job. Ha’Satan commits wicked acts as well as tempts people. Much of the wickedness in this world is a result of Satan’s doings, not God’s. God allows ha’Satan a limited amount of power on the Earth.

[Job 2] (1) Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before YHWH, and ha’Satan came also among them to present himself before YHWH. (2) And YHWH said to ha’Satan, “From where do you come?” ha’Satan answered YHWH and said, “FROM GOING TO AND FRO ON THE EARTH, and from walking back and forth on it.” (3) Then YHWH said to ha’Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil? And still he holds fast to his integrity, although you incited Me against him, to destroy him without cause.” (4) So ha’Satan answered YHWH and said, “Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life. (5) But stretch out Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will surely curse You to Your face!” (6) And YHWH said to ha’Satan, “Behold! He is in your hand, but spare his life.” (7) So Satan went out from the presence of YHWH, and struck Job with painful boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. (8) And he took for himself a potsherd with which to scrape himself while he sat in the midst of the ashes. (9) Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!” (10) But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks! Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.