crumbs on the floor, and rest on the surface of drinking water, and on oil in vessels. They are set over all even numbers, and care must therefore be taken not to drink an even number of cups (Ber. 516). They are found on hands that remain unwashen for religious purposes, and on water that has been thus used. The blind prefer caper bushes for their abode. These things annoy demons-turning in between a wall and a date-palm or between two date-palms, drinking borrowed water, or stepping across spilt water (Pes. 111a). Shadows cast by the moon, certain trees, and other objects may be the lurking place of demons. The places of uncleanness are highly congenial to them. Graveyards are their favourite resorts (Nidd. 17a; Chag. 3, 6). When a man spends a night there, a demon may descend upon him. "The searcher after the dead" remained fasting on a grave to get into touch with an unclean spirit.1 Ruins should not be entered on account of these foes (Ber. 3a). Ruined baths are their beloved haunts. There they may cause injury in the daytime, even in the presence of two men (Kidd. 396). One ought not to sleep in a house alone, for fear of Lilith (Shab. 1516). Demons invade the Academies. Samaria and Tiberias had their local Shedim.2 The desert is, however, their special home (Ber. 3a). There one may hear them howl (Jer. Targ. I. Deut. xxxii. 10). They may be connected with certain animals, such as the mad dog;

1 Cf. Isa. lxv. 4.

2 The latter was built on the site of an old burying-ground.

apparently also with the fly of Egypt, the wasp of Nineveh, the scorpion of Hadabiah, the serpent of the land of Israel (Shab. 1216). The stubborn ass and the bull from the cane-brake are likewise associated with demons. In the case of the latter, one is warned not to face the bull; for a satan sports between his horns (Pes. 112b).

Times of activity. The demons form themselves into bands (Ber. 51a), "the society of the angels of destruction." According to the same passage, a whole legion lies in wait for a person to fall into their hands, on the commission of some fault. Their action is thus a kind of obsession which may readily pass into possession. The demons have been arranged in four classes, according to the divisions of the day

Tsaphririn or morning spirits (Targ. Ps. cxxi. 16; Targ. Cant. iv. 6).

Tiharin or midday spirits (Targ. Ps. Jon. Deut. xxxii. 24; Targ. Cant. iv. 6).

Telanin or evening spirits (Targ. Cant. iii. 8, iv. 6; Targ. Eccles. ii. 5).

Lilin or night spirits (Targ. Ps. Jon. Deut. xxxii. 34; Targ. Is. xxxiv. 14).

The morning and evening spirits seem least baleful. The midday demons start at noon to destroy (Targ. 2 Chron. xi. 15; Ps. xci. 7). The Lilin are the most malignant. On account of them it is particularly dangerous to drink water on the eve of Wednesday or the Sabbath. To do so is to have one's blood on one's own head. Similarly, the night-traveller has to brave

great perils on these occasions also (Pes. 112a b). This is said to have been due to the imprudent generosity of Rabbi Chanina, who had once been threatened with serious harm by Agrath, the daughter of Machloth. He escaped, because his greatness was known in heaven; and he would have imposed his majesty on the demoness by banning her from all inhabited places. In the end, however, he gave her liberty for the occasions mentioned. The Lilin are specially deadly to children who venture out of the house during the hours of darkness. Even for adults the night was reckoned most unsafe without a torch; though moonlight was far safer. Under cover of darkness, demons surround the house and injure those that fall into their hands. The risk of going out to unclean places was enormous (Shab. 67a; Ber. 3ab, 62a). A company of two generally escaped the danger, but not always (Kidd. 396). Before three persons the Shed did not even venture to appear (Ber. 436). No one should greet a person in the dark, as he might unwittingly wish a demon Godspeed (Sanh. 44a). Shabriri was always a menace to those who drank water by night. Unless special precautions were taken, such individuals rushed into the danger of death. At cock-crow, the power of the demons of the night comes to an end, and they return to their places (Ber. R. 36).

Powers. These have been in part adverted to; but others remain which are peculiar and varied. Demons have the gift of speech; and Rabbi Ben Zacchai knew

their language as well as that of the angels (Succah 28a). They know the future and the past, so that they may be consulted in both respects; but questions about lost property had better not be directed to them. on the Sabbath (Sanh. 101a). Accidents, such as

an encounter with a bull, are traceable to them. Chamath, the demon of oil, causes eruptions on the face; Cardicus (Cardiacus) is a demon that rules over those who take too much wine; also causing headache (Gittin 776). Asinam causes the birth of epileptic children on Sabbath night. Asmodæus tempted Noah, saying to the planter of the vine, Let me partake with thee.1 Shabriri smites with blindness at night. Bath-Chorin is a demoness of sickness, resting on the hands at night. Disease in general is caused by demons. Sick women, at and after childbirth; also brides, bridegrooms, mourners, and the pupils of the Rabbis, are specially obnoxious to the demons of darkness (Ber. 54b). To demons are ascribed leprosy (Horayoth 10a), rabies (Yoma 83b), croup (Yoma 776; Taanith 206), asthma (Bekhoroth 446), cardiac disease (Gittin 676). Nervous diseases are the speciality of evil demons; such as epilepsy (Shab. Bab. 67a; Jos. Ant. VI. viii. 2, VIII. ii. 5). Rambanus says that the Jews held that all kinds of melancholy were due to an evil spirit.1 Bodily distortions and mental distractions were thus produced.1 Shibta causes convulsive ailments among children,

1 Lightfoot, Hora Hebraicæ. See on Luke xi. 15, xiii. 14; Matt.

xviii. 15.

specially at night.

Possessing spirits are always

busy. Among the humbler functions of the Shedim was the sending of evil dreams (Ber. 55b), or compelling a man to go beyond the Sabbath boundary (Erub. 416), or inducing one to eat the passoverbread (Rosh-ha-Shanah 28a), or causing a religious crank to afflict himself with fasting (Bab. Taanith 226).

Restrictions. Life would be intolerable if the demons had all their own way. But, like SatanSammael, they are under strict limitations. They are half-spirits"; and are therefore possessed of a semisensuous or psycho-sarcous constitution. This imposes upon them many restrictions. They require sustenance; and that they find in certain essences, or in the elements of fire and water. Wine is a great abomination to them as to Ashmedai, their chief. Pungent odours or loathsome smells are equally detested by them. The blind may suffer death by misadventure. One such pursued a Rabbi; but tripped over a root and was killed (Pes. 1116). In any case, all of them are mortal. They are said to be unable to create anything. kind.

They can produce nothing, save their own

They have no power over what has been measured or sealed or tied up tied up (Chullin 1056). According to their divisions, their activities are confined to the hours, the days, and the environments noted. On the evening of the Passover, they are bound (Pes. 1096-1126). The loss of the divine image has rendered man subject to those agents of