In The Secret Book of John
The Secret Book of John gives its ruler of darkness three names, Yaldabaoth, Sakla and Samael. The passage presents Samael as a name of this ruler, alongside the other two names.
In The Nature of the Rulers
In The Nature of the Rulers, a voice from the imperishable realm answers Samael's boast by declaring him mistaken. Samael breathes into a man's face, giving him a soul, but the man remains lying on the ground for many days. The serpent later asks Adam and Eve about Samael's instruction concerning the tree of knowing good and evil.
In Ascension of Isaiah
In Ascension of Isaiah, Sammael dwells in Manasseh after he becomes king and forgets his father Hezekiah's commands. The text describes Sammael's anger against Isaiah because of what Isaiah has seen concerning the Beloved. When Isaiah ascends to the firmament, he sees Sammael and his hosts amid fighting and envy among Satan's angels.
Where Samael appears
- The Secret Book of JohnThe Secret Book of John names Samael alongside Yaldabaoth and Sakla as names of a ruler of darkness. · The Nag Hammadi Scriptures
- The Nature of the RulersThe Nature of the Rulers describes Samael breathing into a man's face, after which the man receives a soul. · The Nag Hammadi Scriptures
- Ascension of IsaiahAscension of Isaiah describes Sammael dwelling in Manasseh and clinging to him after he becomes king. · The Complete Books of Enoch
- 3 EnochThe passage calls Sammael the Prince of the Accusers and describes his dread on seeing the speaker. · The Complete Books of Enoch
- Hekhalot RabbatiHekhalot Rabbati describes Sammael receiving authority to destroy ten of the mighty so that a decree is fulfilled. · The Complete Books of Enoch
- On the Origin of the WorldOn the Origin of the World describes Pistis responding angrily to the highest ruler's arrogance and addressing him as Samael. · The Nag Hammadi Scriptures
- Three Forms of First ThoughtThree Forms of First Thought names Samael alongside Sakla and Yaldabaoth, describing him as one who seizes power. · The Nag Hammadi Scriptures
What the texts say, in their own words
“Three names belong to this ruler of darkness: Yaldabaoth is the 1st name, Sakla the 2nd, Samael the 3rd.”
“Samael breathed into his face, and the man received a soul, yet he lay upon the ground for many days.”
“And we ascended to the firmament, I and he, and there I saw Sammael and his hosts, and there was great fighting therein and the angels of Satan were envying one another.”
“Each day, Satan, along with Sammael, the Prince of Rome, and Dubbiel, the Prince of Persia, writes down the sins of Israel on tablets.”
Questions
Who is Samael?
In The Secret Book of John, Samael is one of the names of a ruler of darkness. The same passage gives Yaldabaoth and Sakla as the ruler's other two names.
What does Samael do in The Nature of the Rulers?
Samael breathes into a man's face, and the man receives a soul but stays on the ground for many days.
Does Ascension of Isaiah connect Samael with Manasseh?
Ascension of Isaiah describes Sammael dwelling in Manasseh and clinging to him after Manasseh becomes king.
Where is Samael mentioned in the lost texts?
Samael appears in The Secret Book of John, The Nature of the Rulers, On the Origin of the World and Three Forms of First Thought, in The Nag Hammadi Scriptures; Ascension of Isaiah, 3 Enoch and Hekhalot Rabbati, in The Complete Books of Enoch.
