The Temptation of Christ 1854 (wikipedia)

The roots of demonology are nearly impossible to trace.  A brief study of world religions both current and past turns up a variety of malevolent beings that behave in similar ways to how Christians perceive demons.  It is known for example that the grimoires, books of magic, used in Babylon and Sumeria refer to evil spirits that cause disease and other ills.  These texts also contained spells for driving them off and recommendations of ways to ward them off.  While this is the earliest written example of demonology it can also be reasonably inferred that traditions of malevolent spirits that were not of human origin go back even farther.  Beliefs found both among the Native Americans and   in Africa reference evil spirits that interact with human beings up to and including possession.

The forms of demonology most recognizable in the modern world really begin in Judaism.  While the names given for the spirits are different records do exist of rabbi’s performing rites of exorcism.  Of particular note here is the belief in dybbuks and Lilith.  Dybbuks are spirits of the dead who possess human bodies to fulfill specific goals.  These spirits can be either good or evil and ritual methods to remove them do exist.  Lilith herself is one of the most interesting figures in demonology.  She has been seen as: a fertility goddess, the first wife of Adam, the original old hag/succubus, mother of demons, Queen of Hell and wife, at least one of many, of Satan.  Originally, at least in Jewish lore, she was simply seen as a demonic figure known for sitting upon her victims in the night and choking the life out of them.   Later speculation arose that she was the original wife of Adam, who left the garden of Eden after growing tired of Adam’s demands she submit to him.  The story goes on that three angels were sent to fetch her back.  She refused, cursing them and again is believed to have become a demon with a particular taste for human children.  While no version of Lilith’s story appears in the Bible it’s worth noting that the screech owl, or night monster depending on the translation used, referred to in Isaiah 34:14 is often thought to be a reference to Lilith.

Read complete article here. {via The Examiner}