Satan\u2019s character is expressed in two ways in O.T. terminology:<\/p>\n
The Hebrew for Satan is: \u2018satan\u2019<\/strong>. According to the OLB<\/span><\/a>, \u2018satan\u2019<\/strong> is:<\/p>\n According to the OLB, the verb \u2018satan\u2019<\/strong> is translated as: being<\/strong> an adversary, behaving<\/strong> as an adversary, to resist, as among others, in the text, where David says:<\/p>\n Many have become my enemies without cause; those who hate me without reason are numerous. Those who repay my good with evil lodge accusations against (satan)<\/strong> me, though I seek only to do what is good.\u00a0\u00a0 (Psalms 38:19-20)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n \u2018Satan\u2019<\/strong> is used as a noun<\/strong> in 23 verses, in 8 of which it is translated in the sense of opposing, as follows, for example:<\/p>\n But God was very angry when he (Bileam was on his way to curse the people of Israel) went, and the angel of the LORD<\/strong> stood in the road to oppose<\/strong> him. Balaam was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him.\u00a0\u00a0 (Numbers 22:22)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Even the Angel of the Lord acts as an \u2018adversary\u2019 (a Satan ??)<\/p>\n And:<\/p>\n Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said, \u201cShouldn\u2019t Shimei be put to death for this? He cursed the LORD\u2019s anointed.\u201d David replied, \u201cWhat does this have to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? What right do you have to interfere<\/strong> (literally: that you are my adversary (Satan)<\/strong>)? Should anyone be put to death in Israel today? Don\u2019t I know that today I am king over Israel?\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 (2 Samuel 19:21-22)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Shimei had cursed David during the rebellion of Absalom, one of David\u2019s sons. In his joy at being restored to his kingship King David had intended to be gracious and to forgive his immediate enemies. Now Abishai comes and gossips about Shimei. \u2018Satan\u2019 is a proper name in our use of language. It is quite possible that people in Old Testament times did not so much think of the name of a fallen angel when using the word \u2018satan\u2019, but rather of \u2018the adversary\u2019 of God.<\/p>\n When reading the Bible, the word \u2018adversary\u2019 could be inserted where \u2018satan\u2019 is found. This expresses who he really is more clearly.<\/p>\n The character of Satan according to Greek terminology.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\nThis word has been adopted into English terminology as a proper name.<\/p>\n\n
\nWhen Absalom was defeated and David was restored to his royal dignity, Abishai thought that Shimei should be put to death for this curse.
\nAt that moment David calls Abishai \u2018satan\u2019<\/strong> in Hebrew, translated as interfere<\/strong>.
\nAbishai could also be called a slanderer<\/strong>, a gossiper<\/strong>.<\/p>\nWhy King David calls Abishai an \u2018interferer\u2019<\/span><\/h3>\n
\nThis could have dissuaded<\/strong> King David from his good intentions<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\u2018Satan\u2019 in our use of language.<\/span><\/h3>\n
\nIt begs the question as to whether \u2018Satan\u2019 was also used as a proper name in Bible times.<\/p>\n