Who Is Belial? What the Lost Texts Say

In Ascension of Isaiah

Ascension of Isaiah names Beliar as Matanbuchus and calls him the angel of lawlessness. He dwells in the hearts of Manasseh, the princes of Judah and Benjamin, the eunuchs, and the king's councillors. The text says Beliar acts against Isaiah through Belchira and Manasseh, describing his anger toward Isaiah.

The text also describes Beliar descending from his firmament in the likeness of a man, a lawless king. It then says the Lord will come with His angels and the armies of the holy ones. At that coming, the Lord will drag Beliar into Gehenna together with his armies.

In Jubilees

Jubilees uses the name Beliar in a warning about the people of Israel leaving their sons uncircumcised. The passage calls those who do not keep this command sons of Beliar.

Where Belial appears

What the texts say, in their own words

“And Manasseh turned aside his heart to serve Beliar; for the angel of lawlessness, who is the ruler of this world, is Beliar, whose name is Matanbuchus.”

Ascension of Isaiah · Manasseh turns aside to serve Beliar, and the passage gives Beliar's titles and name. · Read it in The Complete Books of Enoch

“And after one thousand three hundred and thirty-two days the Lord will come with His angels and with the armies of the holy ones from the seventh heaven with the glory of the seventh heaven, and He will drag Beliar into Gehenna and also his armies.”

Ascension of Isaiah · The Lord comes with heavenly armies and drags Beliar and his armies into Gehenna. · Read it in The Complete Books of Enoch

“And now I tell you that the people of Israel will not stay true to this command, and they will not circumcise their sons according to all this law; for in the act of their circumcision they will skip this circumcision of their sons, and all of them, sons of Beliar, will leave their sons uncircumcised just as they were born.”

Jubilees · A warning about Israel's sons describes a failure to keep the command of circumcision. · Read it in The Complete 88-Book Ethiopian Bible

Questions

Who is Belial?

Ascension of Isaiah calls him the angel of lawlessness and the ruler of this world.

What happens to Belial in Ascension of Isaiah?

The Lord will drag Beliar and his armies into Gehenna when He comes with His angels.

What does Hekhalot Rabbati say about Belial?

Hekhalot Rabbati describes Armilus as half from the stone and half from Belial.

Where is Belial mentioned in the lost texts?

Belial appears in Ascension of Isaiah and Hekhalot Rabbati, in The Complete Books of Enoch; Jubilees, in The Complete 88-Book Ethiopian Bible.