Belial
Belial (Hebrew: בליאל) is a Goetic demon. It is the 68th spirit of the 72 demons summoned by King Solomon according to the Lesser Key of Solomon. In the hierarchy of Hell, Belial is a mighty and powerful king, who was created first after Lucifer. He is the ruler of the Vessels of Iniquity, the 3rd degree of diabolical spirits.
He is ruled over by the Kabbalistic angel Habuhiah.
General description
Belial appears in the form of two beautiful angels sitting in a chariot of fire, but his true form is as a devil. He speaks with a comely voice, and declares that he fell first from among the worthier sort, that were before Michael, and other heavenly angels.
Hebrew origins
The term belial (בְלִיַּעַל, bĕli-yaal) with the broader meaning of worthlessness is used through the Old Testament to denote those who are against God or at least against God's order. In Deuteronomy 13:14 those who tempt people into worshiping something other than Yahweh are related to belial. In 1 Samuel 2:12, the sons of Eli are called "belial" for not recognizing Yahweh and therefore violating sacrifice rituals. In Psalm 18:4 and Psalm 41:8, Belial appears in the context of death and disease. In the Old Testament, both Satan and Belial make it difficult for humans to live in harmony with God's will.
Theologically, the role of Belial is in opposition to that of Satan: while Belial, representing chaos and death, stands outside of God's cosmos, Satan roams the earth, fighting for the maintenance of the divine order and punishing precisely everything Belial stands for.
Some scholars believe that in the Old Testament, Belial is merely an abstraction and not considered a real independent entity.
Abilities
His office is to distribute presentations and senatorships, and to cause favor of friends and of foes. He gives excellent familiars, and governs 50 legions of spirits. Astrologically, this spirit signifies famine and sickness.
King Belial must have offerings, sacrifices, and gifts presented to him by the exorcist, or else he will not give true answers to questions. He tarries not one hour in the truth, unless he be constrained by Divine Power.
After thieves broke open King Solomon's vessel of brass which contained the 72 spirits, the demon Belial entered a graven idol in Babylon. The local people there gave him sacrifices and worshipped him as a god. In return he answered their questions about the past, present, and future.
Belial is a servant demon of those born February 18 - 22.
See also
| Goetic demons of the Lesser Key of Solomon | ||
|---|---|---|
| Previous Demon | This Demon | Next Demon |
| Amdusias | Belial | Decarabia |