11 myths
Myths, legends, and mystical writings about Asmodeus from across Jewish tradition.
11 myths on JewishMythology.com retell how Jewish tradition imagines asmodeus, drawn from the Hebrew Bible, Midrash, Talmud, Kabbalah, and later Jewish literature. Each story below synthesizes primary sources into a single narrative; follow any myth to read it, and from there into the source passages behind it.
Solomon needed a demon to build the Temple. He caught the king of demons with wine, used him, then kept him chained. The demon got his revenge.
Solomon bound a prince of demons and made him confess his secrets. Then he put the entire court of the underworld to work cutting marble for God's house.
A headless demon named Envy wanted Solomon's head. Soon Asmodeus wore the king's face, while Solomon begged to be recognized.
Sarah of Ecbatana had seven husbands. Asmodeus killed all seven before any marriage was consummated. Then God arranged a match the demon could not stop.
No iron could touch the Temple stones. Only the shamir could split rock without weapons. Only Asmodeus knew where the shamir was kept.
Asmodeus wore Solomon's face and ruled his throne. Solomon wandered for three years telling people his name while they laughed.
The princess did not tear his house down. She carried every broken oath to a court of human judges. Then she asked for one last kiss.
Seven men had married Sarah and seven died before morning. On the eighth night her father sent a maid into the chamber to look. She found the couple asleep.
Seven husbands died on Sarah's wedding nights. Tobiyyah refused bread and wine until the marriage deed was sealed, then brought her home to blind Tobit.
Asmodeus said his business was wrecking marriages. Solomon chained him and made him haul water jars, ten at a time, past fish liver burning on a reed.
A barefoot widow ran out of her hut and begged the chained prisoner not to lean on her wall. He bent away so hard he snapped one of his own bones.
